High school football: Lebbeus Overton, Jeremiah Alexander lead list of top 10 defensive ends entering 2021 season

By Zack Poff Jul 19, 2021, 1:00pm

Alabama's Thompson High School lands two on the list.

Our position-by-position look at the top players in high school football continues with the defensive ends. College programs looking for elite pass rushers should look no further as just two of the 10 on our list have made commitments.

Mykel Williams of Hardaway (Columbus, Ga.) committed to USC in June while Jeremiah Alexander recently picked Alabama. Alexander is one of two players on the list hailing from defending Alabama Class 7A state champion Thompson (Alabaster) along with Peter Woods.

The rest of the bunch have decisions to make and powerhouse programs are lining up to make their pitch.

Lebbeus Overton of Milton (Ga.), the top prospect in the Class of 2023, is one of three non-seniors on the list. The dual-sport star was named MaxPreps National Male Athlete of Year as a sophomore and already has 25 scholarship offers.



See the complete list below.
Lebbeus Overton moves in for one of this 21.5 sacks last season.
Lebbeus Overton moves in for one of this 21.5 sacks last season.
File photo by Will Fagan
Top 10 defensive ends

Height: 6-4 | Weight: 240
Status: Uncommitted | Class: Senior (2022)
Has played against the best competition in Texas during his prep career while dominating for one of the top programs in the country.

Height: 6-4 | Weight: 245
Status: Uncommitted | Class: Senior (2022)
Selected to the MaxPreps Junior All-America first team in 2020 after recording a team-high 15.5 sacks, while leading the Patriots to a 5A state championship.

Height: 6-6 | Weight: 230
Status: Uncommitted | Class: Senior (2022)
The second-rated 2022 edge rusher has landed more than 40 FBS offers. He recently cut his list to eight: Alabama, Clemson, Florida, Georgia, Miami, Ohio State, Oregon, and Texas A&M.

Height: 6-5 | Weight: 265
Status: Committed to USC | Class: Senior (2022)
A 2020 MaxPreps Junior All-America first team selection had 17 sacks and 19 tackles for loss last season.

Height: 6-4 | Weight: 265
Status: Uncommitted | Class: Junior (2023)
Rated the third best prospect overall in the Class of 2023 and will help give the No. 5 team in the MaxPreps Top 25 rankings one of the top defenses in high school football.



Height: 6-6 | Weight: 265
Status: Uncommitted | Class: Junior (2023)
One of the best all-around players in the country will make a huge impact on both sides of the ball for the No. 3 team in the MaxPreps Top 25. Uiagalelei, brother of Clemson quarterback D.J., also checks in as the nation's No. 3 tight end.

Height: 6-3 | Weight: 280
Status: Uncommitted | Class: Senior (2022)
Nearly impossible to block one-on-one because of his size and speed. The five-star prospect can line up anywhere on the defensive line and wreak havoc.

Height: 6-6 | Weight: 265
Status: Uncommitted | Class: Senior (2022)
Missed time during his junior season battling through injuries but expect the five-star recruit to get back to what he did during his sophomore campaign when he racked up 15 sacks.

2. Jeremiah Alexander, Thompson
Height: 6-2 | Weight: 235
Status: Committed to Alabama | Class: Senior (2022)
Helped lead the Warriors to their second consecutive 7A state championship in 2020. Has piled up more than 300 tackles, 72 tackles for loss, and 24 sacks during his career.

Height: 6-4.5 | Weight: 265
Status: Uncommitted | Class: Junior (2023)
The nation's top-ranked player from the Class of 2023 was named the MaxPreps Male Athlete of the Year and National Sophomore Football Player of the Year in 2020 after recording 70 tackles — 38 for loss — and 21.5 sacks. He also averaged 12 points and 12 rebounds per game for the seventh-ranked team in the MaxPreps Top 25 basketball rankings.

Recruiting rankings according to 247Sports Composite 2022 and 2023 lists.