2026 Defensive Lineman Dylan Malone Dylan Malone 6'4" | 250 lbs | DL/TE Cactus Shadows | 2026 State AZ is poised to be an unrelenting force on this front four for the Falcons’ Defense. He finished his junior season with 29 total tackles, 17 of those as solo tackles, 4 TFLs, 3.0 sacks, 2 hurries, and 1 forced fumble. As an interior defensive lineman, Malone gets impeccable push at the point of attack at a stellar 6’4 250lbs frame. He holds his gap soundly in the run game, utilizing his solid arm reach to grab the ball carrier and yank them down to the ground. In his pass rush, he possesses lateral movement to be effective on stunts and great finish on the quarterback to put fear in the opposing team’s signal caller. With much of the senior talent from the previous year departing, look for Malone to take a significant step as a leader and playmaker for this defense in 2025.

Dylan’s the kind of defensive lineman who just never lets up. From the jump, you can feel his presence on the field — he’s big, physical, and plays with the kind of non-stop drive that wears offensive lines down. There’s no quit in his game. If the first move doesn’t get him free, he’s immediately working into the next one. You’ll see him throw a push-pull, then a quick sidestep, or just flat-out power through with a bull rush. He’s always coming. What really makes him tough to deal with is how developed his toolbox already is. For a guy his size, he moves better than you’d expect. That little side step he uses to shake off contact is quick and clean. Then there’s his spin move — he sets it up well and throws it with real violence. It’s not just flashy, it works. And when none of the finesse stuff is needed, he can rely on raw strength and just bulldoze his way through a block. Malone’s got the kind of game that jumps off the film because he combines size, effort, and technique. You can tell he’s put real time into developing different ways to win, and he brings the same energy every snap.