UWEC Big Man Camp: Underclassmen DL All Camp Team

*Get yourself 30% off a Prep Redzone annual subscription with code Johnson30 at checkout*   We wrap up our coverage of the 2026 UWEC Big Man Camp with a look at the underclassmen DL who caught my attention. It was a group that was led by athletes who are right there on the verge of taking that next step and solidifying they have the talent to play at the next level. Every athlete in this article has a trait or two that stood out from the crowd and will be something they can lean on going forward. Dive into the rest of the article to see what each has to offer, and make sure to have them on your radars.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">First Team</h2>    Among the young athletes on the DL, [player_tooltip player_id='1709821' first='Kellen' last='Crow'] out of Regis in Eau Claire might have been my favorite. The 2028 is a kid steadily improving his game and should be set to launch into a big junior season this fall. He tipped the scales at 6'1" 231 lbs with a 6'2" wingspan at the camp weigh-ins. The build of the young DL is impressive, making it look easy to carry the 230+ lbs and giving me confidence he could hold even more. Being able to play even bigger would open the door to a lot of versatility along the DL. Kellen has a very effective skillset that flashes every time he hits the field. He is someone who can win with quickness, plays with his hands to create separation, and also can use his quick burst to create some momentum and power. I won't be surprised if Kellen is one of the top small school defenders in the state by the time his senior year rolls around. So get on him early.     A 2028 who has made a strong impression this summer is [player_tooltip player_id='1954041' first='Oliver' last='Walker'] of La Crosse Central. Oliver is a DL who has packed on the size this summer going from 210 up to around 240 lbs. That extra size has only helped his game and earned him time in our spotlight for this camp and his showing at the Oshkosh camp. The budding 2028 has not only grown, but along the way has learned to utilize that new size to his advantage. During 1v1s Oliver was able to show a strong flash of hands to create that initial separation. The way he could attack an angle or opening to beat the OL after that initial separation proved that the extra size hasn't slowed him down. Oliver is growing physically, improving his technique, and making himself a versatile weapon who could line up all along the DL depending on the scenario.     It was great to get a live look at one of the top Watch List DL in our 2028 rankings. The River Falls DL sure looked the part at 6'3" 250 lbs with a 6'3" wingspan. The big man stood out from the crowd of young DL with that immense size and he played like he knew it. A lot of reps featured Charlie leaning on his power to bully his way through an OL. He would position himself and attack a rush path that set him up to hit the shoulder of the OL and once he had half the man he would show that he could muscle his way into the backfield. It was impressive to see him be able to win that way rep after rep telling me he can definitely hold the line and win with power. Going into the season I want to see that more, but also see him start to utilize more technique and hand fighting because you won't always be able to win with power. But with two years ahead of him, Charlie is at a great spot with his size and strength.     Darren is going to be a DL/Edge to keep an eye on over in MN. His 6' 235 lbs frame features a 6'2" wingspan. All my notes from Darren revolve around his work once the pads went on. The '28 made a lot of noise with how explosive he was off the line of scrimmage and how he had the ability to instantly turn speed to power that was whooping OTs his age. The advanced development allowed Darren the chance to get to move up to the higher competition groups; an honor that was not given out much this year. Darren is advanced in his hand use, leverage, and that strength at the point of contact flashed throughout the reps I was able to watch.     It was great to get another live look at [player_tooltip player_id='1258906' first='Dashaun' last='Lewis'] with pads on. The 6' 190 lbs athlete has a 6'2" wingspan, and is clearly built for more of the LB or edge role. But the 2028 found a way onto varsity with his abilities to contribute at DE for West and has continued to ride that and spend his offseason working on making himself even better from that position. Dashaun understands he has the size disadvantage, so he has learned to win in spite of that. Whether it be arm length and hand use, ability to bend the edge, or with an explosive and well timed first step. It will be interesting to see how the 2028 continues to grow and develop.    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Second Team</h2>    Bay Port has been one of the premier powers in recent years, so for a sophomore DL to carve out a home on the varsity DL says a lot. That is what Peyton did in 2025, and he has rode that momentum into the offseason and summer camps. Peyton has been dominating in the weight room, increasing his vertical, bench, and squat maxes. At UWEC the 6' 225 lbs 2028 DL gave us good looks at that strength as he was able to drive OL backwards in board drills. Any scenarios or matchups where Peyton had to use his power gave him the advantage. I'm excited to see how Peyton continues to increase his impact for the Pirates this fall. Definitely keep an eye on this one.     Grady is a new athlete to my radar. The 2028 is an undersized DL, but was able to make an impact on the interior for his team in 2025. Grady is clearly a high motor kid. That shows up on tape and at the UWEC Big Man Camp. The size definitely put him at a disadvantage, but you could see the experience of playing upperclassmen last fall shine through. I will be watching to see how he continues to grow and how his impact changes over these next couple years.

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