Shifting to the defensive side of the ball in our top players series this week, here are the Top 10 defensive linemen – featuring tackles and edge rushers – entering the 2023 Alabama high school football season. (Recruiting rankings according to 247Sports Composite.)
10. Isaia Faga (Central-Phenix City)
We begin with Faga, who is entering his senior season at Class 7A’s Central-Phenix City. The three-star Alabama commit had 29 tackles, 8.5 TFL, and 3.5 sacks for the Red Devils a year ago, and he is likely to have a big 2023 season.
9. Jared Smith (Spain Park)
Next up on our list of top Alabama high school defensive linemen is another name from Class 7A, Smith, who is entering his junior year at Spain Park. Smith, a four-star prospect, is one of the top edge rushers in the 2025 class, and he is poised for a big season as one of the Jaguars’ top returning players.
8. Jourdin Crawford (Parker)
The first of two players on this list from Class 6A’s Parker is Crawford, who is entering his junior season. Crawford, a four-star prospect, had 60 tackles with 15 TFL and 9 sacks a year ago, and he rushed for 3 touchdowns in limited action on offense.
7. Malik Blocton (Pike Road)
Entering his senior season as one of the biggest names at Class 6A’s Pike Road, Blocton is a four-star Auburn commit who had 54 tackles and 6 sacks for the Patriots a year ago.
6. Joseph Phillips (Booker T. Washington)
Phillips, a senior at Class 4A’s Booker T. Washington, is another four-star Auburn commit. He played both ways for the Golden Eagles a year ago, posting 75 tackles, 19 TFL, and 9 sacks, and catching 29 passes for 336 yards and 6 touchdowns.
5. Kavion Henderson (Leeds)
We begin the top five of our list of top Alabama high school defensive linemen with a selection from Class 5A. Henderson, the biggest returnee for a Leeds team that finished last season at 11-1, is a four-star prospect in the 2024 class who is committed to Arkansas.
4. Jeremiah Beaman (Parker)
The second of those two aforementioned Parker defensive linemen to make this list, Beaman enters his senior season as a four-star Alabama commit. He amassed 50 tackles, 10 TFL, and 10 sacks with the Thundering Herd last season.
3. Sterling Dixon (Mobile Christian)
Dixon was one of the state’s most productive players on defense last season. A four-star Alabama commit in the 2024 class, he compiled an impressive stat line of 172 tackles, 39 TFL, and 18 sacks for the Leopards, who reached the Class 3A state semifinals.
2. Zion Grady (Charles Henderson)
Grady, one of the state’s top juniors at any position, could easily sit atop this list – the five-star edge rusher is one of the nation’s best players at his position in the 2025 class. He racked up 106 tackles with 35 TFL and 19 sacks for the Class 5A runner-up in 2022.
1. Jordan Ross (Vestavia Hills)
Sitting atop this loaded list of the top Alabama high school defensive linemen is Ross, who is considered one of the state’s top overall players entering his senior season at Class 7A’s Vestavia Hills. Ross, a five-star prospect, is one of the top edge rushers in the 2024 class, and he is likely to play a significant role for the Rebels defense this season.
Honorable Mention
- Jamari Payne (Loachapoka)
- Cole McConathy (Spanish Fort)
- Grayshaun Swain (Jemison)
- Jakaleb Faulk (Highland Home)
- Antonio Coleman (Saraland)
- Landen Marshall (Andalusia)
- Tyler Durant (Daphne)
- CJ May (Highland Home)
- Kevin Norwood (Theodore)
- Malik Autry (Opelika)
