Layton stays the # 1 OL MD/DC/DE Prospect and the #1 DE prospect as he has been since his freshman year. With ideal size at 6’6+” 270lbs with 34″ arms, Layton is what colleges look for in OTs. The former Penn State commit has some of the top colleges in that nation courting him right now.

A pure LT, Layton has agile feet and good overall athleticism for the position. He can get out in space and get upfield taking on and blowing up defenders. He has the power and strength to dominate in run blocking. As well as the hand work, flexibility and feet to be a wall in pass pro. I like how Layton plays attitude and violence, throwing opponents out the club and burying them in the dirt. With his size and ability and positional value Layton is always in contention for the #1 spot.

I’ve seen Layton in multiple camp settings and a couple of games, and I genuinely believe he has the highest upside of any prospect on this list. At 6-foot-6, 260 pounds, he quickly passes the eye test, but what stands out most is his work ethic and year-over-year improvement.

Layton is a strong pass protector with good footwork and strong hands. He encounters a lot of speed rushes due to his physical advantage against anyone he goes against. Layton’s footwork and agility have improved and will only get better.

Since I first saw Layton as an eighth-grader, he’s developed significantly, and with two more seasons of high school football left, his ceiling is incredibly high. His older brother plays college football, so he’s already learning the preparation and dedication needed at the next level. Add in his high character, and it’s no surprise he’s already committed to Penn State.

Layton Von Brandt Layton Von Brandt 6'6" | 270 lbs | OL Appoquinimink | 2027 State MD , a 6-foot-6, 245-pound offensive tackle from Appoquinimink in the Class of 2027, is the top prospect in the state of Delaware regardless of class. Already committed to Penn State as a sophomore, he still has two full high school seasons ahead of him. From when I first saw him as an eighth grader to now, Von Brandt has consistently improved each year, both as a player and in his overall confidence. He plays with a nasty streak and refuses to be satisfied with where he is in his development. Over the past five months, I have seen Von Brandt in both game and camp settings, and one word comes to mind when watching his sophomore-year highlights—domination.

The most significant leap in Von Brandt’s game from last year to this year is his emphasis on finishing blocks. His hand usage and placement have sharpened, and he brings power at the point of attack. Despite Von Brandit’s improvement as a player, he knows he is far from a finished product and remains dedicated to getting even better. One area where he can continue to grow is agility; while he moves well for his size, he has the potential to get even better. In addition to his physical tools, Von Brandt has developed a healthy level of nastiness—an essential trait for a blue-chip offensive lineman. His elite size, relentless work ethic, and aggressive playing style make him a standout prospect with tremendous upside.

I was able to get out and see Layton live at practice back in last November, and he was impressive from first viewing. He worked out for me personally, going through some change of direction, bend, and OL drill work. Just from watching him live at practice & in those drills you could see he had all the tools of a Power 4 OT prospect. Layton has then picked up 10 total offers since this February, 7 of them being from Power 4 schools.

Layton is every bit of 6’6″ and a frame that continues to fill out with good muscle. When I saw him in Nov.,he had added 20lbs. already since the start of the season, so he is hitting the weight room and growing and growing. Mainly playing on the DL in the 2023 season as the team/coaching staff brought him along with the offense. He ended up playing more and more on the OL as the season went along and will be an OT at the next level, as well as going forward for Appo. Layton is a natural knee bender, runs on his toes, and a good overall athlete with fluid & quick lateral movement. He plays with some nasty and shows a good punch and explosiveness off the snap. Can get into the defenders chest and can lock out his arms using his impressive length to widen out the edge. Again, he demonstrates all the tools, physical boxes and skill set of an Elite OL Prospect.

Another thing I like about Layton is he is a hard working personable kid, wants to be coached ands knows what it takes to get better. His older brother is a former Appo QB who is now a TE at VMI, and Layton’s dad is on staff as an assistant coach at Appoquinimink as well. Layton has all the potential to be a National Recruit, and he will be a 20/30+ offer kid in no time in my mind.