Class of 2023 Top-Ranked DL

<span style="font-weight: 400;"><a href="https://prepredzone.com/colorado/rankings/2023-rankings/">The class of 2023 rankings</a> list has been updated with a lot of movement among the defensive line group, which is a powerful testament to the hard work and dedication these athletes apply to their craft.</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">The top-two spots belong to Cherry Creek teammates, and reigning state champions, </span><b>[player_tooltip player_id="62241" first="Blake" last="Purchase"] </b><span style="font-weight: 400;">and </span><b>[player_tooltip player_id="150256" first="Chase" last="Brackney"]</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span> https://twitter.com/Houseofpayne92/status/1546141827706761216?s=20&amp;t=0HIeqVoAFVF6-hC_pbvzJQ &nbsp; <span style="font-weight: 400;">Purchase continues to hold the top spot in the position group and remains the number-one overall player in the class. He has offers from a significant number of Power 5 schools, including USC, Iowa State, Oregon, Oklahoma, Cal, Kansas, and Texas. Brackney is an extraordinarily talented and disruptive defensive end who has committed to play for Iowa.</span> https://twitter.com/ChaseBrackney2/status/1493410737863204866?s=20&amp;t=0HIeqVoAFVF6-hC_pbvzJQ &nbsp; <span style="font-weight: 400;">Columbine's </span><b>[player_tooltip player_id="288459" first="Rocky" last="Shields"]</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> is a defensive lineman who can line up as an end or a tackle and disrupt the backfield. He has snagged the third DL spot in his rankings debut. Shields close to ten D1 offers, which include Eastern Washington, Northern Colorado, Utah State, and Air Force.</span> https://twitter.com/isthatrocky/status/1542271223211491328?s=20&amp;t=0HIeqVoAFVF6-hC_pbvzJQ &nbsp; <span style="font-weight: 400;">Coming in at fourth on the list is </span><b>[player_tooltip player_id="189119" first="Brody" last="Bliek"]</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> from Valor Christian. He is one of the state's better interior defensive linemen with power, speed, and advanced techniques at his disposal. Bliek holds offers from Northern Colorado, Augustana, and Sioux Falls.</span> https://twitter.com/BliekBrody/status/1540050666751762435?s=20&amp;t=0HIeqVoAFVF6-hC_pbvzJQ &nbsp; <span style="font-weight: 400;">Rounding out the top five is rankings newcomer </span><b>[player_tooltip player_id="303219" first="Hunter" last="Lay Jr"]</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> from Mullen. This dominating edge player is one of the best overall defenders in the state. Lay Jr holds over ten D1 offers from programs in the WAC, Ivy League, Big Sky, and Mountain West conferences.</span> https://twitter.com/HunterLay13/status/1527146154437140480?s=20&amp;t=0HIeqVoAFVF6-hC_pbvzJQ &nbsp; <span style="font-weight: 400;">Broomfield's </span><b>[player_tooltip player_id="376558" first="Garrett" last="Keeler"]</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> has secured the sixth spot, while </span><b>[player_tooltip player_id="376559" first="Javion" last="Smith-Combs"]</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> has landed in the seventh slot. Keeler is a must-know prospect with phenomenal techniques, skills, and talents with tremendous upside. Smith-Combs is a radar-pop up who has great size, length, and athleticism and is on the verge of having a dominating breakout season.</span> https://twitter.com/combs_javion/status/1538633237332779008?s=20&amp;t=0HIeqVoAFVF6-hC_pbvzJQ &nbsp; <span style="font-weight: 400;">Closing out the top ten is </span><b>[player_tooltip player_id="376560" first="AJ" last="Jordan"] </b><span style="font-weight: 400;">(8th) from Vista Ridge, </span><b>[player_tooltip player_id="149330" first="Mulumba" last="Wa-kalonji"]</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> from Grandview, and </span><b>[player_tooltip player_id="376561" first="Calem" last="Grimble"]</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> from Smoky Hill. Jordan is a rising star whose versatility on the line has helped to land him an offer from Fort Lewis College. Wa-kalonji has continued to impress with his on-field performances, garnering quite a bit of attention from college programs. Grimble is perhaps one of the more underrated players on this list, making him a sleeper with elite potential as a defensive lineman.</span> https://twitter.com/Aj_Jordan42/status/1539375342762176512?s=20&amp;t=0HIeqVoAFVF6-hC_pbvzJQ &nbsp; <span style="font-weight: 400; font-size: 14pt;">Top 15 defensive linemen</span> <ol start="11"> <li><b>[player_tooltip player_id="247221" first="Dedrick" last="Payne"]</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> - Thomas Jefferson</span></li> <li><b>[player_tooltip player_id="376562" first="Theo" last="Frericks"]</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> - Fossil Ridge</span></li> <li><b>[player_tooltip player_id="209842" first="Ethan" last="Bird"]</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> - Littleton</span></li> <li><b>[player_tooltip player_id="376563" first="Jordan" last="Turnbull"]</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> - Evergreen</span></li> <li><b>[player_tooltip player_id="269650" first="Devin" last="Furuiye"]</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> - Broomfield</span></li> </ol> &nbsp; <a href="https://prepredzone.com/colorado/rankings/2023-rankings/"><span style="font-weight: 400; font-size: 14pt;">Click here for the complete 2023 rankings list.</span></a>