Park Ridge is in the house for this next Illinois 2025 Rising on the Recruiting Trail Early this Offseason! A sleeper in the emerging and evolving 2025 IL DL race, Maine South’2 6’3, 265 lb. DT Tyler Fortis Tyler Fortis 6'3" | 270 lbs | DL Maine South | 2025 State IL is coming off an All-Conference junior season and is fresh off his first offer from the Akron Zips, who reached out on January 23rd.

Still a lot of runway left in this recruitment, and it looks like Fortis is primed for some more recruiting attention, as his film shows off a big kid with athleticism, physicality, and a motor for days. I absolutely love how fired up and enthusiastic his play style and on-field energy are, and it shows up on tape, as he’s a celebration machine after his big tackles in his junior film that I would love to play defense with. The 265 lber. is a traditional 3-4 5T who can also bump inside when called upon, possesses one of my favorite attributes in a lineman, and is a successful and talented wrestler in the upper weights of his high school’s lineup. Fortis opens his tape with a bone-crunching and massive suplex on a helpless RB like the Undertaker taking on a no-named regional opponent as a warmup, and he’s a crushing tackler who gets the most out of every hit and even hits a Bob Sapp-esque clothesline reminiscent of the new Longest Yard movie. Fortis displays pop at the point of attack, sheds blocks seamlessly, and plays opponents’ hands effectively, and he does a good job of consistently working half a man and not allowing OTs and OGs to get hands-on, much less inside and on his chest plate. I also like his arm over, how he closes in space, is instinctive enough to get his hands up into passing lanes when he can’t reach the QB in time, and is laterally quick when working a blocker’s inside shoulder. Fortis is an overall aggressive, active, physical, high-motor kid who leaves it all on the field snap to snap and through four quarters. At a premier position in football and the recruiting world, I’d expect a boatload of more offers to cruise in soon. Good luck with the rest of this wrestling season, Tyler!

Tyler Fortis Tyler Fortis 6'3" | 270 lbs | DL Maine South | 2025 State IL earned the well-deserved title of Defensive Line MVP at the showcase, and what set him apart was his unwavering effort throughout the event. Fortis’s relentless work ethic was on display all day as he consistently put in the effort, and this dedication translated into success, particularly in winning the majority of his 1-on-1 pass rush battles. His versatility along the defensive line was another noteworthy aspect of Fortis’s performance. He showcased the ability to play both inside and on the edge with effectiveness.

I have been a big fan of the 6’3″ 265 lbs DT out of Maine South ever since first watching him at The Line Showcase early this year. Since then, Tyler went on a tear through summer camps, winning reps, and developing his game. Now watching him on the field it has all come together. The big man has really refined his hand fighting technique. He does a consistently strong job of using his hands to keep get separation from OL, or to get their hands off him. Tyler is also very stout at the line of scrimmage. He is able to hold the line or drive his man off the ball, and then find the ball, shed, and make the tackle. The blend of power and technique is going to make Fortis a tough matchup the rest of his HS career and beyond. Get him on your boards if he isn’t already.

An athlete who is poised to explode onto the recruiting scene is the 2025 DL Tyler Fortis Tyler Fortis 6'3" | 270 lbs | DL Maine South | 2025 State IL . The 6’3″ 265 lbs DL has a bright future. Despite his big frame, Tyler stood out from the crowd with his quickness and explosiveness. The big man hinted to how good he was going to look in the drill work where we got a close look at his body control and light feet. Fortis is able to move so smoothly in every direction. When we got to the one on one work it all came together. That is where Tyler was able to show off a wide array of pass rush talents. His lateral agility allowed him to cross his man’s face. He could change direction in an instant, and his hand usage is well developed. His swim move helped him collect win after win Sunday afternoon, and his overall abilities should have him collecting a lot of D1 interest going forward. Don’t miss out on the underclassman.