Uncommitted Florida 2024 defensive line prospects to watch
Written by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @RyanWrightRNG
A build of electricity in the air is happening – the 2023 high school football season is about to begin. Across the country, players that have been putting their heart and soul into their game over the spring and summer months are ready to showcase their skills for fans, family, and college scouts all while putting wins on the board.
Out of the Sunshine State, the following is a listing of some of the overlooked defensive linemen to watch for this fall.
THE LIST
Da’von Bryant (6-3, 230) – Dwyer – West Palm Beach
The Details: Going against the pass or the run, Bryant is a playmaker. Lining up on the line, Bryant does a great job of using his hands fighting off offensive linemen to get to the ball. In some areas Bryant is listed as an outside backer, most of his junior film is with a hand in the ground.
Recruiting: Offers from Coastal Carolina, FIU, Illinois State, Indiana, Louisville, Pitt, UCF, and Western Michigan.
Adrian Stone (6-4, 290) – North Fort Myers – Fort Myers
The Details: Stone is arguably as overlooked as it gets. He has the size, productivity, and is versatile capable of lining up at 3- and 5-tech with speed and twitch to come off the edge. Play after play, Stone shows persistence to the ball using his hands to cause chaos in the backfield. Tallied 78 total stops with 13 tackles for a loss, nine sacks, and 18 QB hurries as a junior.
Recruiting: Six offers with interest coming in from Louisville and Jacksonville State. Potential officials to Lafayette and Bethune-Cookman.
Jackson Klein (6-4, 235) DE – American Heritage – Fort Lauderdale
The Details: Klein spent his junior campaign in a backup role at powerhouse Cardinal Gibbons. Klein will get his chance to impress college scouts this fall at American Heritage. Klein has good size, with a good get off, and does a good job of holding the block and keeping his gap. Klein could be one of those guys that comes out of nowhere pulling in offers left and right if all goes to plan.
Recruiting: Offseason visits taken to Miami, Florida, and UCF while camping with the Hurricanes in late June.
Sedrick Clarke (6-4, 255) DE– 2023 Palm Beach Gardens – Palm Beach Gardens
The Details: Clarke is well known in certain circles but being missed on by P5 squads. His junior season was with Benjamin School producing 42 tackles with five tackles for loss, and five sacks. Clarke is an edge rusher who is all over the field on the snap of the ball. Clarke is a constant presence in the opposition’s backfield on passing downs, gets his hands up batting down passes, and can seal the edge against the run.
Recruiting: Offers from Illinois State, St. Thomas University, Bethune-Cookman, Delaware, North Carolina A&T, Western Kentucky, Temple, Marshall, Youngstown State, UAB, Akron, Charlotte, Liberty, Toledo, FAU, and USF.
Kamyren Holloman (6-3, 290) – St. John Paull II – Tallahassee
The Details: Holloman added some weight to his frame to better handle getting nasty in the trenches. A few things set Holloman apart from others in 2022, his quick get off, twitch, use of hands, and speed to the ball. If he continues at his previous pace with about 25 more pounds on him, another monster season ahead leaving college scouts drooling.
Recruiting: Offers have come in from Samford, Albany State, Valdosta State, Clark Atlanta University, and Campbell.
D’Andre LaVassaur (6-1, 275) – The Benjamin School – Palm Beach Gardens
The Details: Bullish at defensive tackle, aiming to make a statement when making contact with the opposition. LaVassaur is a heads-up player and a hustler. If he can’t get to the QB, he spies him with closing speed on roll outs. Going down the line the other way, LaVassaur will finish the play if a running back starts dancing in traffic.
Recruiting: Austin Peay, Bethune-Cookman, Boise State, Charlotte, Coastal Carolina, Dartmouth, Florida Memorial, St. Thomas University, Troy, and Wright State have offered.
Ryan Daly (6-2, 280) – Venice – Venice
The Details: A breakout season is ahead for Ryan Daly. Daly spent last fall with IMG Academy’s national team. This fall, he will be highlighted in the defensive trenches with the Indians. A traditional defensive tackle that linebackers love playing behind, Daly stands up and drives back offensive linemen plugging gaps with his strength and size.
Recruiting: Duke and South Florida are among the teams wanting him on their roster next season extending a preferred walk-on spot. Expect full ride offers to drop once Daly gets a full season of tape in front of next level scouts.
Ajani Mason (6-2, 280) DT/DE – Lincoln High School – Tallahassee
The Details: Received snaps since freshman season. Credited with 31 tackles last fall; the stat line falls short of what’s on tape in terms of sacks and tackles for loss, Mason appears to be far more productive. Mason is quick off the ball and has to be accounted for on each snap.
Recruiting: Georgia State, Eastern Michigan, Alabama State, Alcorn State, St. Thomas University have offered with interest coming in from teams like Charleston Southern, East Carolina, and Troy.
Taylor Faalele (6-2, 325) – IMG Academy – Bradenton
The Details: Faalele is that traditional zero-three-tech that eats up offensive linemen and plugs holes with his size and strength. Linemen don’t get a push on Faalele. The senior defender does a great job of using his hands chunking offensive linemen out of his way when the ball comes in his domain.
Recruiting: Brown, Illinois, Alcorn State, and Tennessee-Martin have offered Faalele.