Checking in on the Top 5 Defensive Linemen in the Class of 2023
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How have the top dogs in 2023 been performing? Spoiler alert: they’ve all been balling out. These 5 seniors have earned recognition in being the best of the best in the state, and all are set to play Division 1…
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Continue ReadingHow have the top dogs in 2023 been performing? Spoiler alert: they’ve all been balling out. These 5 seniors have earned recognition in being the best of the best in the state, and all are set to play Division 1 Football. This article will outline how each of the top 5 DL have been performing so far this season.
As expected, Jalen Thompson Jalen Thompson 6’3″ | 245 lbs | DL Cass Tech | 2023 State MI has been an absolute monster so far this season against Michigan’s best. The Michigan State commit had himself a well-documented great game against Detroit MLK, and will undoubtedly continue to dominate against Cass Tech’s future opponents.
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Thompson isn’t the only D-Lineman who balled out during the Detroit “City Super Bowl”. Merriweather has proven to be a leader for this King team, even getting involved in the offense with a receiving TD vs Cass Tech. He’s a tall DE with a knack for the football, and even though I don’t have many stats on hand from this season, he made his name known last season and that’s why he’s committed to Iowa.
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I’m heavily impressed by Muragin’s performance thus far, and I think Illinois have themselves an absolute steal. He brought his game to a new level against Muskegon and their supposed elite offensive line, totaling 2 sacks, 4 TFLs, and an offensive TD.
I haven’t seen much about his games against U-D, Brother Rice, etc, but I’m looking forward to seeing what he can do against the rest of the Catholic League, as well as River Rouge & the postseason.
Highlights
Eryx is an imposing force on the defensive line, and he’s been playing extremely well lately.
Against Dakota, he caused many issues for their offensive line, and he recovered a fumble. Last week against De La Salle, Eryx was a crucial part of that team win. He’s bigger than most on this list at 6’4 285, and he uses that size to his advantage. Brother Rice is a state championship contender, and please don’t tell me otherwise, and Eryx is a critical piece to their puzzle.
Speed and ferocity are the words that come to mind when I watch Luke Fletcher Luke Fletcher 6’3″ | 245 lbs | DL Port Huron Northern | 2023 State MI play. As I noted, speed is the name of his game. Whether he’s lined up on the edge or inside, he beats linemen with his get-off and speed moves. 16 Tackles and 6TFLs through 3 weeks isn’t bad. Check out more of the EMU commit’s film below.