Written by | Dorrington Myers
Name: Rj Cruz III
Class: 2028
Position: OG/ OT
Skinny:
Rj is the perfect prototype of a lineman if there was to be the standard. He’s one of the premier players in the country. He has the size to play at the college level as it’s seen now and he carries his body weight well. Rj is flexible with the ability to play the OG and OT positions. His hands are tenacious, dominating any defender that tries to approach him. Rj is extremely physical, his strength is that of an ox. I love his ability to use his kick steps to ground himself in position and his whereabouts to know how to adjust from that position. This shows me that Rj takes pride in being technically sound. Rj is athletic as well, his ability to move in space is outstanding. On screen plays and draws, he knows how to position himself so the RB can maximize his yardage. It can only go up from here, Rj’s stock is rising expeditiously.
Name: Don Cato III
Class: 2028
Position: OT / OG
Skinny:
Don is another player that’s versatile on the line. As one of the premier linemen in the country, Don can play multiple positions on the line. Power is his niche. Don is a dominant run blocker who loves contact. His ability to drive his feet is amazing, he takes his defender to the bleachers. Don has a quick first step and his ability to use this first step to climb to the next level of the defense is impressive. He’s dominant in one on one situations but can also be dominant when combo blocking. I like how Don uses his hands as well, violently. I expect great things from Don in the near future.
Name: Zach Robinson
Class: 2031
Position: DT
Skinny:
Zach is an impressive interior D-lineman. His awareness is uncanny, he knows the offensive plays before the offense even knows. Zach has a unique ability to time the snap of the ball perfectly as well, that’s rare on any level. It shows me that Zach knows how to focus in. He’s a perfect mix of a power and speed rusher. I love how Zach uses the rip and bull rush to control the gaps, forcing the runner to go to the help side of the defense. Zach is very quick off the ball, forcing his opponents to rethink why they even suited up that day. He’s faster than what you might think at first glance, this paired with his tackling ability puts Zach in some very good company. Zach’s stock is rising quickly.
Name: Dracen Martin
Class: 2028
Position: DE
Skinny:
Dracen is a dominate speed rusher who lives to cause havoc in the backfield. He’s fast, smart, and his tackle pursuit is impressive. Dracen has a unique ability to set the edge, this is a rare skill that he can use to his advantage. Most DEs don’t do well at setting the edge. This is a vital skill to know, especially when facing dual threat QBs and scat backs who love to get to the edge. Dracen is a long athlete and once he grows into his frame, he’ll be a matchup nightmare season after season.
Name: Devon Lopez
Class: 2032
Position: DE
Skinny:
Devon is an exciting player to watch. He’s exceptional on the D-line. He’s super quick with the ability to locate the ball and go get the ball. Devon is one of the premier tacklers in his class, once he hunts the ball and finds it, he doesn’t miss. I love how Devon uses the rip move to get inside leverage on his opponents and the bull rush to get outside leverage. This displays Devon’s very high IQ. As Devon keeps developing, I expect great things and more dominant performances from him. His stock is steadily rising.
Name: Brayden Jones
Class: 2031
Position: DE
Skinny:
Brayden simply put, is that guy! A tenacious pass rusher who is fearless. Brayden has lethal hands that are quick, allowing him to destroy his opponents in one on one matchups. Paired with his quick feet and elite agility, this makes Brayden one of the those players that an OC has to set a game plan for. You can’t stop him, but you can try to contain him. Brayden has a super high motor and he only gets stronger as the game goes on. If there’s a game that needs to be closed out by the defense, Brayden is your guy.
