Top Class of 2019 Defensive Linemen

defensive lineman
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When it comes to strongest positions in the Class of 2019, the defensive linemen don’t have to take a back seat to anyone. According to the most recent 247Sports.com composite rankings, the top four senior college football recruits work up-front on defense.

Weak-side defensive end Kayvon Thibodeux of Oaks Christian in Southern California is the overall No. 1 prospect in the nation. He has 28 college offers.

Thibodeux, who stands 6-5 and weighs 235, is coming off an outstanding junior season that included 20 sacks with two fumble recoveries. He led the team in tackles with 99, seventy of which were solo, according to MaxPreps.

IMG Academy’s (Florida) Nolan Smith, who stands 6-foot-3 and weights 230 pounds, is the No. 2 overall recruit. He’s given his verbal to Georgia.

In 2017, Smith had 41 tackles (28 solo) with four sacks.

Defensive tackle Ishmael Sopsher from Amite (Louisiana) is the top ranked DT and No. 3 overall college football prospect.

The 6-3, 330 pound Sopher currently has 22 offers.

The No. 4 overall prospect on the 247Sports composite rankings is Ohio’s Zach Harrison from Olentangy Orange High School. The 6-6, 240 pound weak-side defensive end holds 16 offers.

Top Defensive Linemen Class of 2019

No. 1 Kayvon Thibodeux, WDE – Oaks Christian (California) – Uncommitted

No. 2 Nolan Smith, WDE – IMG Academy (Florida) – Georgia

No. 3 Ishmael Sopsher, DT – Amite (Louisiana) – Uncommitted

No. 4 Zach Harrison, WDE – Olentangy Orange (Ohio) – Uncommitted

No. 5 Zacch Pickens, SDE – T.L. Hanna (South Carolina) – South Carolina

No. 6 Chris Hinton, SDE – Greater Atlanta Christian (Georgia) – Michigan

No. 7 Travon Walker, DT – Upson-Lee (Georgia) – Uncommitted

No. 8 Faatui Tuitele, DT – St. Louis (Hawaii) – Uncommitted

No. 9 Savion Jackson, DE – Clayton (North Carolina) – N.C. State

No. 10 Nathan Pickering, SDE – Seminary (Mississippi) – Uncommitted

No. 11 DeMarvin Leal, DT – Judson (Texas) – Texas A&M

No. 12 Antonio Alfano, SDE – Colonia (New Jersey) – Alabama

No. 13 Jowon Briggs, DT – Walnut Hills (Ohio) – Uncommitted

No. 14 Khris Bogle, WDE – Cardinal Gibbons (Florida) – Uncommitted

No. 15 Stephen Herron, Jr., WDE – Trinity (Kentucky) – Michigan

No. 16 Kevin Harris, WDE – Grayson (Georgia) – Alabama

No. 17 Jacob Bandes, DT – Pittsburg (California) – Uncommitted

No. 18 George Karlaftis, SDE – West Lafayette (Indiana) – Purdue

No. 19 Charles Moore, SDE – Louisville (Mississippi) – Mississippi State

No. 20 Jaren Handy, SDE – Hattiesburg (Mississippi) – Auburn

No. 21 NaNa Osafo-Menah, WDE – Nolan Catholic (Texas) – Notre Dame

No. 22 Byron Young, SDE – West Jones (Mississipp) – Uncommitted

No. 23 Mazi Smith, DT – East Kentwood (Michigan) – Uncommitted

No. 24 Justin Eboigbe, SDE – Forest Park (Georgia) – Alabama

No. 25 Jaquaze Sorrells, DT – Largo (Florida) – Uncommitted

Top Defensive Linemen Class of 2020

No. 1 Bryan Bresee, SDE – Damascus (Maryland) – Uncommitted

No. 2 Chris Braswell, WDE – St. Frances Academy (Maryland) – Uncommitted

No. 3 McKinnley Jackson, DT – George County (Mississippi) – Uncommitted

No. 4 Desmond Evans, WDE – Lee County (North Carolina) – Uncommitted

No. 5 Jason Harris, WDE – Higley (Arizona) – Uncommitted

Editor’s Note: Heading toward the release of the High School Football America Preseason 100 on July 1, HSFA is looking at the top players by position around the nation.

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About the Author

Jeff Fisher
Jeff is an award-winning journalist and expert in the field of high school sports, underscored with his appearance on CNBC in 2010 to talk about the big business of high school football in America.Jeff turned to his passion for high school football into an entrepreneurial venture called High School Football America, a digital media company focused on producing original high school sports content for radio, television and the internet.Jeff is co-founder and editor-in-chief of High School Football America, a partner with NFL Play Football.