Prep Redzone IL/IN Showcase: DL Standouts
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Believe it or not, the lineman are always the most intense and fun group to watch at any showcase I attend. And this past weekend in Crown Point wasn’t any different as it got “real” in the trenches as there…
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Continue ReadingBelieve it or not, the lineman are always the most intense and fun group to watch at any showcase I attend.
And this past weekend in Crown Point wasn’t any different as it got “real” in the trenches as there was a ton of lineman on hand to compete.
This article will focus on the standout defensive lineman who were in attendance. For the most part, there was a good mix of size, strength, and speed and a ton of athletes with promising futures.
So without further ado, let’s get to know some of the defensive linemen who stood out…
Brooks Bahr | Loyola Academy ’23
Bahr was by far one of the most impressive DE prospects in attendance. One of the first things that stood out when I saw him was his extremely long arms. His 82 inch wingspan allows him to consistently re-direct opposing lineman and is a good tool for mucking up quarterbacks passing lane. His motor runs high, and he is very aggressive off the snap with his overwhelming physique—another ultra-talented athlete from Illinois’ C/O ’23.
Eddie Tuerk Eddie Tuerk 6'4" | 265 lbs | DL Lyons Township | 2024 State IL | Lyons ’24
Tuerk is immensely talented, although he’s only going into his sophomore year. His upside is through the roof, and opposing quarterbacks are going to dread the day this kid puts it all together. He tested well in the agility drills, and his athleticism was on display as he was able to win with finesse and power during 1-on-1s where he also flashed good bend and active hands.
Keevan Blanton | Phillips ’23
Blanton is a low-center-of-gravity savant who flashed some good stack-and-shed talent during this weekend’s showcase. Agile off the snap and is a sneaky good athlete for his size. Proper hand placement enables him to unleash his bull rush, which will only improve over the years.
Andrew Laurich Andrew Laurich 6'5" | 250 lbs | DL Yorkville | 2023 State IL | Yorkville ’23
Laurich is put together at 6’4″ 230lbs and has the athleticism to go with it. Has good speed for his size and it showed with his ability to explosively get off the line during 1-on-1s. Laurich was also able to beat his opponents with skill and good fundamentals. Has impressive feet and active hands and showed no problem disengaging from blockers.
Leighton Jones | Brownsburg ’23
Jones was another athlete in attendance who has the size and athletism to be a force in the trenches and is your ideal strong side defensive end. He plays some TE, so it’s no surprise how well he was able to move around the opposing blockers with his good feet and quickness off the line. However, what stood out to me the most was Jones’s ability to widen out the blockers before making his inside move.
Jaylin Adams | Thornwood ’22
The DT out of Thornwood is a force in the trenches. He uses his size and strength to overpower blockers and flashed good leg drive this past weekend. Has good mobility for a guy his size and moves well in tight spaces.
Daniel Coffey | Glenbard West ’22
Coffey showed that he has the necessary tools to make his presence felt in the trenches. Drive. Drive. Drive. Most of the reps I saw of him were driving his opponent backward with his strong base and disengaging from blockers with impressive upper body stregnth.