In the 2021 season, four of the top five college recruits in Florida came from along the defensive line, a loaded group that included both edge rushers and defensive tackles. Now we look at the upcoming season – who are the top 10 defensive linemen among Florida high school football teams returning in 2022?
1. Keon Keeley (Berkeley Prep)
Our list of top 10 defensive linemen is topped by this five-star prospect and Top 10 player nationally. Not only is Keeley the top returning defensive lineman in Florida, he’s in the conversation for the top edge rusher in the country. A long-time Notre Dame commit, the Berkeley Prep star is coming off a junior season in which he collected 65 tackles, 35 TFL and 16.5 sacks.
2. Rueben Bain (Miami Central)
Bain was a MaxPreps Junior First Team All-American selection, and you simply will not find a better 2021 performance from a defensive lineman in Florida. The four-star prospect totaled a combined 60 tackles for Class 5A state champion Miami Central, along with an eye-popping 48.5 TFL and 29.5 sacks.
3. Malik Bryant (Jones)
Few stand-up edge rushers in Florida are better at getting to the quarterback than this four-star prospect. After spending the last two seasons at IMG Academy, Bryant has transferred back to Jones, where he collected 78 tackles and 14 sacks as a freshman in 2019, and is now set for a potentially massive senior season.
4. Damon Wilson (Venice)
Defending Class 8A state champion Venice lands the fourth name on this list in Wilson, a four-star prospect. Wilson is coming off a junior season in which he collected 90 tackles for the Indians, along with 23 TFL and 15 sacks.
5. Derrick LeBlanc (Osceola)
Arguably the headline name from one of Florida high school football’s top defensive fronts is LeBlanc, a four-star prospect from Osceola. A versatile defensive lineman at 6-foot-4 and 270 pounds, he is coming off a junior season in which he collected 38 tackles and eight sacks.
6. John Walker (Osceola)
Right alongside LeBlanc is his teammate at Osceola, Walker, who is also rated as a four-star prospect. The 6-foot-3, 310 pounder is coming off a junior season in which he collected 77 total tackles with 17 TFL and 13 sacks.
7. Jonathan Echols (IMG Academy)
Arguably the top edge rusher in the 2024 class, Echols transferred in the offseason to IMG from Georgia’s Heard County High School, where he was a two-way player. Totaling 25 tackles with three sacks during that span defensively, Echols is eyeing a productive junior season with the Ascenders.
8. David Stone (IMG Academy)
Stone, one of the top defensive lineman in the 2024 class, also transferred to IMG Academy in the offseason from Del City High School in Oklahoma. The five-star prospect collected 52 tackles a year ago as a sophomore, as well as 16 TFL and nine sacks.
9. Kamran James (Olympia)
A name that has continued to rise since the conclusion of the 2021 season is James, a four-star prospect. The Olympia standout is coming off a junior season in which he collected 47 tackles for the Titans with 21 TFL and 13 sacks.
10. Dylan Stephenson (Killian)
While there are numerous options for the final spot on our list of top 10 defensive linemen, it’s hard not to include Stephenson on this list. One of Florida’s top 2024 edge rushers, the Killian four-star is coming off a sophomore season that included 76 tackles, 16 TFL, and 15 sacks.
Honorable Mention:
Will Norman (IMG Academy), Jordan Hall (Westside), DeeJay Holmes (Pahokee), Orlando Holland (Baker County), Adarius Hayes (Largo), Lamont Green Jr (Gulliver Prep), Cameron Lenhardt (IMG Academy), Booker Pickett Jr (Wharton), Isaiah Nixon (Lakewood), Gavench Marcelin (Belen Jesuit)
