Preseason All-6A Team Defensive Line
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Today we discuss the big guys doing work in the trenches in the 6A region! James Smith HEIGHT 6'3" WEIGHT 270 POS DL CLASS 2023 View Profile James Smith Twitter State: Alabama School: Carver As one of the best prospects…
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Continue ReadingToday we discuss the big guys doing work in the trenches in the 6A region!
As one of the best prospects in the nation, Smith was a no-brainer in the selection process for the All- region team. With a tremendous first step at and closing speed for his size, Smith is a blue chip prospect. He consistently beats guys to the spot, jumps gaps, and generates tackles for losses – making him a force to be reckoned with as an edge rusher. Despite his elite speed, Smith also has to dominate strength and can is very physical when he needs to be. He shows good technique on his bull rush and isn’t afraid to mix it up at the line of scrimmage. Lastly and maybe most importantly, Smith has an elite competitive nature and relentless motor. He’s consistently making the extra effort when running down plays, staying alive with his rushes, and playing til the whistle. With prototypical size, athleticism, and mentality, Smith is one of the state’s brightest stars.
Highlights
Though Crawford is an underclassman, he’s a standout at one of the state’s deepest positions. As an interior rusher, he shows great burst relative to his size and can get instant wins at the point of attack. He has an elite first step and is constantly shooting gaps and making plays in the backfield. However, Crawford is fully aware of his frame and doesn’t mind getting physical to disengage from blockers, take on double teams, and anchor his gap in the run game. Though he does have great short-distance burst, the big fella has a nice set of wheels on him and a motor that enables him to make plays far beyond his perceived range. With schools like Michigan, Miami (FL), Oklahoma, and Arkansas lining up for his services, Crawford is already a can’t miss prospect that will do damage in the 6A region.
Collins is a tenacious lineman with size, strength, burst, and motor. The Gardale product produced 109 tackles and 17 sacks in his junior campaign. With a quick first step and excellent upper body strength, he can create instant pressure, put opposing linemen on their heels, and attack in a multitude of ways. He can win with bull rushes, shoot the gap, beat you to the spot, or simply disengage blockers and get to the ball. His all-around skill set and athleticism are impressive given his size and make him effective in the interior and edge. With offers from elite programs such as Alabama, Georgia, Oklahoma, and Texas A&M, it’ll be interesting to see where he chooses to continue his career and how he develops throughout the season.
Pierre is one of the more nuanced edge rushers in the state and was an easy pick for the list. Pierre is a highly twitchy athlete whose explosion off the line makes him an offensive coordinator’s worse nightmare. His elite first step and closing burst allow him to dominate matchups and consistently get to the QB in a timely fashion. Though he’s a gifted athlete, Pierre’s game has some maturity to it. He’s active with his hands, can work multiple moves, and can be an asset in the run game in addition to his rushing prowess. Pierre isn’t afraid to lower the boom when he is in the backfield and plays with a linebacker mentality in tackling. This physicality and competitive fire put him over the top as a blue chip prospect and force to be reckoned with in the 6A region. The Alabama commit is sure to continue his dominance through the fall and anchor the defensive side of the ball for Eufaula.