Lake Show Mega Camp: Best of the DL Group

*Johnson30 sees you 30% on a Prep Redzone subscription. Don't miss out!*   We wrap up our 2026 coverage of the Lake Show Mega Camp at UW- Oshkosh with a look at the DL group. This was a group that brought out some 2027s that are well worth getting on recruiting boards, as well as several up and coming athletes who are sure to break even more onto the scene this fall in their junior seasons. This was a group that was loaded up with kids who are just starting to scratch the surface. Let's discuss what was on display from the group during the padded OL/DL portion of the Mega Camp.    I wrote about Trevor being an under the radar DL who could really make some noise this summer and fall. The first camp I crossed paths with him he was grabbing my attention and standing out from the crowd of DL in attendance. Trevor checked in at 5'10" 255 lbs, ran a 5.07 40, 4.77 shuttle, and broad jumped 8' during the combine. All solid numbers, but it was when the pads went on that Trevor truly verified his talents. The first major takeaway was that Trevor plays with a powerful lower body that allowed him to change direction in drills and in 1 on 1 battles very suddenly. The '27 also uses that to play with a sudden first step for a big man. The rising 2027 has a stout frame that is built to one gap and penetrate. Don't overlook the disruptive 2027.     Zaine is an interesting recruit. We have him as an LB, but competed as a DL in Oshkosh. The 5'10" 225 lbs athlete has a compact frame, but has sufficient arm length that caught my eye multiple times as he was able to use it to win reps. Zaine started the day with a 5.09 40, 4.75 shuttle, 7'10" broad jump, and a 7.75 L-Drill. As it usually happens with the linemen, it was when the pads came out that Zaine really started making noise. The 2027 repeatedly demonstrated that he has the ability to quickly dip or bend to get underneath OL on his way into the backfield. It was also very noteworthy how quickly he could explode out of changes of direction when it be in drills or while countering off an initial rush move. The Westosha Central athlete is a versatile athlete that I recommend the WIAC keeps an eye on.     Of all the combatants, [player_tooltip player_id='2103538' first='Demarcus' last='Mitchell'] of Milwaukee Lutheran would be my pick for DL MVP. The 2027 is so physical and explosive and it led to him winning at a consistent rate vs OLs. The 2027 has a quick and explosive first step that instantly put OL in bad leverage positions and trying to catch up to him. Demarcus did a great job transitioning from that first step to a hand fighting move. His strong hands were very effective at keeping himself clean and with space to use his speed and flexibility to dip or bend around an OL. The 2027 DL dominated in 1 on 1s with his physical gifts and high motor. It was a great showcase of his abilities all afternoon long. Don't miss out on this kid.     When attending these summer camps one of the first things I will do is go around and make notes of athletes who pass the eye test. Ashland DL Rowan Hansen was one of those kids. The 2028 checked in at a long and lean 6'5" 215 lbs with long arms. The 2028 DL also looked the part while running a 5.00 40, 4.85 shuttle and jumping 8'1". These elite frames will get you attention, but only so far. Rowan's drill work when the pads went on also heightened my intrigue. The 2028 was able to show next level body control as he could smoothly and comfortably change direction. The breakout 2028 is also just starting to scratch the surface on the finer techniques of the position, but was still able to win using his length and hands. Definitely make sure to have this way up north 2028 on your radar, coaches.     [player_tooltip player_id='1954041' first='Oliver' last='Walker'] of La Crosse Central has had an offseason of growth, packing on the size and moving from that 210 range up to 238 lbs at the Lake Show. When a massive leap in size like that it was important for me to verify that the kid can still do his job with the required mobility, flexibility, and quickness. Oliver didn't wait long to verify all that was still apart of his game. In the drill work Oliver was able to highlight that he can still quickly change direction and his pad level. Having that athleticism to pair with the new size and strength should make the reigning 2nd Team All Conference DL even more dangerous this fall in his junior season. I'll definitely be watching.     One of the most impressive DL of the entire group was [player_tooltip player_id='2138169' first='Dominic' last='Walter'] of Sheboygan Lutheran. The 6'1" 255 lbs incoming senior has a prototypical frame that has solid length and carries good weight throughout the frame with room to continue to fill out. I loved watching this kid compete in pads. He brings a very effective blend of athletic lower body and powerful upper body. That opened the door for him to win in a variety of ways throughout the afternoon. It was also great to see him rush and win using multiple different plans of attack. The versatile DL should be on the radar of all the D3 programs in WI and the surrounding D2 programs. He currently holds offers from St. Norbert's and River Falls.     Another athlete from the DL position who instantly passes the eye test is Freedom DL [player_tooltip player_id='2118313' first='Mason' last='Van Groll']. Mason checked in at 6'2" 305 lbs, overshadowing a lot of the other DL talent in attendance. These camps aren't quite built for guys like Mason who thrive off their ability to dominate one or two gaps by controlling the OL, finding the ball, and then shedding to make the stop in the hole. However, Mason was able to let that strong upper body flash just like it does on his sophomore highlights. Having a kid with this size and his production on varsity as a sophomore sets him up to be on a lot of radars by the end of his junior season. Keep a close eye on Mason and this Freedom team.

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