Midwest Showcase Quick Hits: Defensive Line

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sunday was a beautiful day to head up the road to Midland to check out the Midwest Showcase at Northwood University. A ton of defensive linemen came out to show off their skill sets and attempt to give their stock a bump this spring. Time to check out some of the top performers! </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Jett Esterline ","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'3u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"200","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"5926","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Jackson Lumen Christi ","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a1e3043e8242"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">This was the closest I have watched Jett up to this point, and he put on a clinic in rushing the QB, with great moves and tremendous athleticism. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-Explosive first step, catches tackles off guard with his speed </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-Great use of hands, understands how to counter whatever the offensive line throws at him </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-Deep bag of swim moves, spins, power and more. Growing skillset. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["510691"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a1e3043e82af"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">We have been high on Issa for awhile, and he has really started to gain momentum on the recruiting trail, and Sunday's performance was a great display of what makes him so special. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-Huge upside as an edge rusher, with great speed and power </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-Seemed very coachable throughout the day, taking coaching and applying it to the next rep </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-Athletic but physical build, measured in at nearly 6'4 and over 235 lbs </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1052386"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a1e3043e82ed"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">I just recently evaluated Leland's film from 2025, but he has definitely added some tools to his bag, including size and physicality. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-Gained significant weight, much stronger especially in the lower half </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-Still great bend and a great first step, making tackles pay for lunging or standing up </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-Great variation between speed and power moves, knows how to manipulate the tackle and keep them guessing </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1687646"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a1e3043e8325"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">This dude was absolutely tearing apart his opponents all day long. What started off as a good day ended as one of the most impressive performances of the session. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-Incredibly strong, nearly impossible to stop his bull rush </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-Very aggressive and competitive, bringing the juice to every rep, never walking, always staying locked in </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-Showed great character, got coached hard and took it and applied it </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1680007"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a1e3043e835a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The Birch Run defensive lineman showed up and showed out. He showed that he could absolutely compete with the big school guys, and was able to get the best of them more often than not. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-Extremely physical with no hesitation </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-Good bend and agility, can win with speed </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-High motor and very high effort </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1687686"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a1e3043e838e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Our first 2028 on the list! This dude was a problem. So strong, so physical and has the build to take up gaps in the middle and cause havoc at the point of attack. This comes on the heels of showing out at our PRZ Exposure Series camp. I will absolutely be watching his film-more to come on Gavyn! Great day overall against some high flying competition. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1682668"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a1e3043e83bf"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The Okemos 2028 came out and worked hard. This was my first time seeing him in person, and the physical traits made me very interested in what he could develop into. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-Twitchy on takeoff, fires off hard and low and staying balanced </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-Very strong, gets offensive linemen on their heels from the snap </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->