I might be the most confident in this selection, and that is because I was able to see it live in Monona Grove’s playoff game vs Germantown in 2025. We have preached about the elite production and the dominant traits for two years now. Powerfully athletic, violent, and always creating ways to get to the football and usually while it is still in the backfield. Clay definitely has the ability to change a game from the DL. He throws off timing, forces OLs to change how they are protecting, and even if he doesn’t get home can have QBs seeing or feeling ghosts. This is a game changing DL and one of the best available athletes in WI.

Stats: 80 Tackles, 25 TFLs, 9 Sacks, 18 Att. 86 Yards, 2 TDs

Good luck finding a more disruptive DL in 2026. We have already been lucky to witness Deangelo’s dominance over the past couple years. If he can better those numbers then we are in store to watch the finale of one of the most dominant forces we have seen in a long time. Clay brings violence, quickness, and explosive athleticism to the field. His technique at the DE position is among the best in the state. Monona Grove is going to be one of the top rosters in the state, and Deangelo can go a long way in helping them make a push for State with one last monster season.

If you love disruptive defensive play, elite DL prospects, and consistent production in opposing backfields then you need to pay the admission to watch Deangelo Clay Deangelo Clay 5'11" | 235 lbs | DL Monona Grove | 2027 State WI ball out for the Monona Grove defense. Over the past two seasons there hasn’t been a more disruptive individual defender in the state of WI. A big reason why is because we also haven’t seen a more explosive, violent, and technically sound DL in recent years. From his feet to his hands, everything Deangelo does is loaded up with power. He also plays with extremely low pad level and uses leverage perfectly to get OL off balance when he goes with a power move. Clay is able to win is so many ways and is not only worth the price of admission, but someone that other young DL can learn from. If you want to see impactful defensive football then Deangelo Clay Deangelo Clay 5'11" | 235 lbs | DL Monona Grove | 2027 State WI is a must watch!

We can’t do a Top Uncommitted 2027 article without including the Monona Grove nightmare that is Deangelo Clay Deangelo Clay 5'11" | 235 lbs | DL Monona Grove | 2027 State WI on the DL. The 2027 DL takes the cake when it comes to the most disruptive defender in WI. The kid has lived in offensive backfields the past two seasons. The should only be more apparent this season with Clay returning to the field up to 250 lbs. Despite the leap in size, we have seen him in person this summer and it is clear that there has been no loss in quick twitch athleticism or burst off the snap. The only change is that Deangelo is able to create even more power at the point of contact with the extra weight behind him when he makes that strong initial punch to create separation. The hands are violent, the feet are quick, and the instincts are high. A big senior season is on the horizon. I can’t wait to see where Deangelo eventually commits.

Stat Line: 80 Tackles, 25 TFLs, 9 Sacks

I love that Deangelo is not only on this list, but leads the way with his 9 sacks returning in 2026. Not to mention that unbelievable 25 TFLs. What more can we say about the Monona Grove freak DL that we haven’t already. He is a Swiss Army knife of traits built to wreck havoc on a snap to snap basis on Friday nights. He can whoop an OL with his speed and quick hands. Let him get his hands inside and Deangelo will also bull rush you until your OT is on their back. It is a special blend of explosive athleticism and violence that will be sure to dominate again this fall. I can’t wait to see his production as a senior! The kid is one of the Must Watch athletes in the state. So fun to watch!

This was an easy first choice as Deangelo would have been my MVP of the entire DL group. The 5’11” 247 lbs DL brings an elite level of disruptive talent to the trenches. He plays with a consistently explosive get off. The way he can transition from speed to power while also using his leverage allows him to win quickly with his power. His heavy hands are quick and violent, keeping him clean. The full array of traits were able to be displayed at the padded camp. Deangelo is one of the toughest DL matchups in the midwest. It shows up at camps and most importantly it has shown up for years on Friday nights where the Monona Grove product has piled up some unbelievable production. The 2027 DL has a growing list of next level options for him to choose from. If you’re not involved in the pursuit of this DL you need to change that before it is too late. He is a special talent.

My Selection for DL MVP

There is a reason why DeAngelo Clay of Monona Grove is the highest ranked defensive linemen out of this group as the 1v1 reps we watched at the UWEC Big Man MEGA Camp were something else. The most relentless DL prospect I watched in Eau Claire by far, DeAngelo showed off the eye-catching agility on every rep to feel like he was breaking the offensive linemen in half with how dominant he was. He’s had a monster month too on the recruiting trail as the hometown Wisconsin Badogers offered him a PWO and he’s picked up another five offers thus far and I wouldn’t think that would end anytime soon.

Talk about a strong first impression! I was not familiar with Monona Grove’s Deangelo Clay Deangelo Clay 5'11" | 235 lbs | DL Monona Grove | 2027 State WI , as well as his game, prior to attending the UWEC Big Man OL/DL Mega Camp, but he sure put me on notice, and quickly, I should add. Clay backed up his vaunted ranking with PRZWI as a Top 40 prospect and then some, and despite a frame that measured in at 5’11.5″, 247 lbs. with a 6’2″ wingspan, Clay was up there with just a handful of prospects the past few cycles in terms of power. I’m talking mouth-left-agape kinds of power. There were a couple of reps wherein afterwards I simply looked at PRZWI Lead Scout Mark Johnson and couldn’t say anything but “wow.”

Clay flew off the ball like a he was shot out of a shotgun, and his explosive first step, natural leverage advantage, toughness, strong hands, and force at the contact point were knocking OL back, knocking them on their butts, knocking them off their feet, and knocking them on their back, depending on the rep. Leverage, power, and first impact was so consistently strong and so square that it was hard to believe at times. Clay also won with impressive twitch, power, and leverage/force resembling a missile. Sioux Falls and UWEC offered after camp, and Clay went onto earn a PWO from Wisconsin the next day in Madison. What a talent this young defensive lineman is!

Deangelo was the first athlete to come to mind while creating this article topic. Over the past two years we haven’t seen a more disruptive athlete in the trenches in the entire state. The 5’11” 235 lbs DL has proven to be unblockable at times. He is violently explosive off the snap, has such strong and effective hand use, and his ability to dip and change pad level makes him so hard to get hands on and stick a block on. Clay’s blend of speed and power are unmatched and the reason that he is a top 3 DL despite being undersized for the position. Nobody lives in the backfield like Clay does and it forces offenses to have to identify him every snap if they want to find any sort of success.

Next up we have one of the state’s most disruptive athletes along the DL. Deangelo has put up video game numbers vs some of the best competition in this state. He may be undersized for the position, but that is right about where the weaknesses in his game stop. Clay is extremely explosive, and can play with such a low pad level that OL have fits trying to get hands on him. He plays with elite leverage and the power he can create pairs with that leverage to be able to shock a lot of OL as he drives them into the backfield. The 2027 DL is so impressive when it comes to his active hands too. The tools and traits he has built are extremely effective. Don’t miss out.