By Scott Hansen
MaxPreps.com
Some of the best pass-rushers and run-stoppers in the Class of 2009 call the state of Texas home.
Not all are on the hotlist of the some of the upper-echelon college football powers nationally, but do not let that take away from their abilities. When they get between the lines, no matter how they project at the next level, these players can simply get the job done.
Here are the top defensive line prospects in the state of Texas heading into the 2008 season:
Nate Bonsu, Allen (6-1, 250)
Defensive Tackle
Bonsu was a unanimous choice for All-District honors in 9-5A following a season where he recorded 41 tackles and two sacks. Bonsu is a bona fide Division I-A talent and will be looking to make a huge splash as a senior.
Michael Brockers, Houston Chavez (6-6, 255)
Defensive End
The Lobo defense blanked opponents four times in 11 games last season with Brockers being one of the main reasons why. Brockers was an All-District selection in 20-5A after recording 59 tackles and 10 sacks last season. Brockers is committed to LSU.
Brayden Burnett, Southlake Carroll (6-3, 240)
Defensive End
Southlake Carroll is known for the outstanding offensive players it has produced, but Burnett makes headlines for his prowess on the defensive side of the football. Burnett was a 4-5A All-District pick after recording 32 tackles and 9.5 sacks last season. Burnett is committed to Missouri, joining former Carroll quarterback Chase Daniel.
Ryan Calender, Caddo Mills (6-8, 220)
Defensive End
This prospect redefines the term upside. At a whopping 6-foot-8, Calender made a lot of dates with opposing quarterbacks. Calender had 80 tackles and 20 sacks as a junior, garnering 12-2A All-District honors. Arkansas was quick to realize his potential and wasted no time in securing his verbal. Calendar also saw time at quarterback and scored four touchdowns last season.
Justin Ceballos, Corpus Christi Calallen (6-0, 220)
Defensive Tackle
Calallen rattled off 12 straight wins to kick off the 2007 season before falling in the 4A-II state playoffs. Ceballos recorded 106 tackles and three sacks last season for the Wildcats and was named to the 32-4A All-District unit for his efforts.
Eric Chavez, El Paso Franklin (6-0, 230)
Defensive Tackle
Chavez was third on the Franklin defense in tackles as a junior with 52, adding 5.5 sacks to pad his résumé. Chavez was named to the All-District team in 1-5A after his impressive performance. The Cougars posted three shutouts last season in a playoff season with Chavez as one of the main reasons for the success.
Meyer Criss, Fort Worth Wyatt (6-1, 195)
Defensive End
Criss is another player that proves that size is not always the most important ingredient to finding the quarterback. Criss was a 7-4A All-District East selection as a junior after recording 115 tackles and eight sacks for Wyatt.
Randall Dent, South Grand Prairie (6-5, 270)
Defensive End
Dent was an All-District choice in 7-5A after an impressive junior campaign for South Grand Prairie. Dent logged 50 tackles and five sacks and is regarded as one of the top players in the Dallas area. Dent has received offers from Division I schools heading into a promising senior season.
James Dunbar, Maud (6-5, 290)
Defensive Tackle
Maud was well-represented in the All-District team in 19-1A in 2007. Dunbar was one of five Cardinals to garner postseason first team honors, four of them coming back this season to make Maud a favorite in Texas’ smallest 11-man class. Dunbar, nearly 300 pounds, also plays some running back at Maud. Dunbar is committed to Texas Christian, switching from his original pledge to Tulsa.
Nosa Eguae, Mansfield Summit (6-3, 240)
Defensive Tackle
Eguae is a Division I-A prospect after being named to the All-District team in 4-5A as a junior. After winning its district, Summit went on to the state playoffs to lose to powerful Midland Lee. As a junior, Eguae registered 76 tackles, 18 of them for a loss, and seven sacks.
Marvin Foster, North Crowley (6-2, 265)
Defensive End
Foster was an All-District selection in 4-5A as a junior. The Missouri verbal also was named a District Sophomore MVP for North Crowley. Foster’s father played football at TCU and Foster’s brother currently plays in the NFL.
Brandon Henderson, Abilene Cooper (6-3, 240)
Defensive End
Henderson was the top performer for Cooper’s defense last season. The defensive tackle had 52 tackles and 15 sacks and was named to the All-District team in 3-5A for the Cougars. Henderson is receiving Division I interest after his impressive junior campaign.
Chris Henderson, Dallas Carter (6-1, 250)
Defensive Tackle
Henderson is verbally committed to Texas A&M, coming off a campaign where he was named to the All-District team in 11-5A. Henderson has recently been in the news for possibly wavering on his commitment to the Aggies. Henderson will lead the tradition-rich Cowboys defense as they drop to 4A this season.
Matt Hornbuckle, Colleyville Heritage (6-1, 265)
Defensive Tackle
Hornbuckle was named All-District 5-5A, one of only three juniors to garner such an honor last season. Teaming with fellow junior linebacker Bobby Schneider, the Panthers finished second in the district behind Southlake Carroll last season with one of the top defensive units in the Dallas metro. Hornbuckle had 49 tackles and five sacks as a junior.
Calvin Howell, San Antonio Warren (6-4, 280)
Defensive Tackle
Howell is one of the most highly recruited players in the state. Helping Warren to the state playoffs in 5A last season, Howell recorded 34 tackles and two fumble recoveries. Howell is committed to the University of Texas
Kerry Hyder, Austin Johnson (6-3, 235)
Defensive End
Hyder was an All-District performer in 17-4A for Johnson after recording 153 tackles, five sacks, and two interceptions as a junior. Hyder has received Division I interest heading into his senior season.
Dominique Jones, Kilgore (6-3, 230)
Defensive End
Jones elected to stay in-state to attend the University of Texas nearly immediately following a stellar junior campaign. As a junior, Jones had 75 tackles and five sacks for the Bulldogs. Big things are in store in 2008 for this budding star.
Kyle Kriegel, Elysian Fields (6-5, 240)
Defensive End
Kriegel was a big-time player at a smaller school last season. Kriegel helped his team reach the state championship game in 2A-II. Kriegel was an All-District performer in 19-2A after an impressive 69 tackles and eight sacks as a junior. Kriegel is verbally committed to the University of Texas.
Terrance Lloyd, Houston Stratford (6-4, 230)
Defensive End
There are not enough superlatives to describe Lloyd’s junior campaign for Stratford. Against 5A competition, Lloyd was busy as a run-stopping and pass rushing threat. Lloyd had 95 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, and eight sacks in 2007 and was named All-District in 19-5A. Lloyd has plenty of Division I interest heading into his senior season.
Troy Lawson, El Campo (6-0, 295)
Defensive Tackle
Lawson was an All-District pick in 24-4A on the offensive line. This platoon specialist is a four-year starter for the Ricebirds and could play his way onto the All-State roster on either side of the ball before season’s end.
Arturo Lopez, San Benito (6-0, 180)
Defensive End
Despite lacking size, Lopez more than made up for it in a big way. Lopez was named as a 32-5A All-District selection after recording 163 tackles, eight quarterback sacks, six forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries. Lopez was also named as an All-State selection for his disruptive defensive efforts.
Stansly Maponga, Hebron (6-3, 245)
Defensive End
Maponga is a huge run-stopper for Hebron. As a junior, Maponga was an All-District selection in 6-5A after logging 69 tackles and three sacks. All three sacks came in a victory over Coppell in district play. Maponga is on the radar of some Division I-A schools and has unlimited potential heading into his final year of prep football.
Chris McAllister, Converse Judson (6-3, 215)
Defensive End
McAllister was one of the key reasons this traditional powerhouse was able to make a run deep into the 5A playoffs in 2007. McAllister is a defensive end for the Rockets, but projects as a linebacker at the next level. McAllister recorded 83 stops as a junior, 10 of them behind the line of scrimmage.
Matt McBain, El Paso Burges (6-3, 255)
Defensive Tackle
McBain recorded 66 stops as a junior, adding a pair of quarterback sacks, two fumble recoveries, and a blocked field goal. McBain was named to the 1-4A All-District team pacing the Burges defensive unit last season.
JaMarkus McFarland, Lufkin (6-4, 280)
Defensive Tackle
McFarland is regarded as one of the top prospects nationally at any position. McFarland recorded 67 tackles as a junior, 18 of them for losses. McFarland also had six quarterback sacks last time, gaudy number from a defensive tackle. McFarland has a huge motor and is arguably the top prospect in the entire state of Texas for this coming season.
Tevin Mims, Round Rock Stony Point (6-4, 225)
Defensive End
Mims was a 14-5A All-District selection after recording 40 tackles and three sacks as a junior. Mims may have been lost in the shuffle competing in the same district as Texas commit Alex Okafor, but Mims has his own list of potential Division I suitors as well. Mims has loads of potential and is one to keep an eye on this season.
Colton Nash, Sulphur Springs (6-6, 240)
Defensive End
Nash was a Second Team All-District selection in 11-4A last season after recording 39 tackles, five sacks, an interception, and a safety as a junior for the Wildcats. Nash will look to add to his Division I offers in a nationally televised game against Wichita Falls Rider in September.
Alex Okafor, Pflugerville (6-5, 235)
Defensive End
Okafor is one of the top defensive end prospects nationally. Local power Texas wasted no time in snapping this local up for its Class of 2009. As a junior for the 5A-II runner-up, Okafor picked up 72 tackles and five sacks. Okafor was a unanimous choice for All-District honors in 14-5A.
Thaddeus Randle, Galena Park North Shore (6-1, 255)
Defensive Tackle
Randle was a second team All-District selection in 22-5A after logging 80 tackles and seven quarterback sacks as a junior. Randle was part of a North Shore defense that posted three shutouts en route to a 14-1 record in 2007. Randle is committed to attend Nebraska.
Victor Reta, El Paso Montwood (5-11, 220)
Defensive End
Reta was one of the main contributors on a team that rolled through District 1-5A with an 8-0 record. Reta was named to the All-District team after compiling 58 tackles and a whopping 16 sacks despite his pint-sized nature on the defensive line. If you are looking for a steal in this class and want a playmaker, forget the size and look no further than Reta.
Eric Rojas, Palacios (6-0, 185)
Defensive End
Rojas was tabbed as one of the top defenders in all of 3A last season after an outstanding junior season. Rojas was a unanimous All-District selection in 29-3A after his 105 tackles, 18 sacks, four forced fumbles, and five fumble recoveries.
Radermon Scypion, Port Arthur Memorial (6-4, 235)
Defensive End
Scypion posted solid numbers as a junior for Memorial, picking up 89 tackles, nine of them for a loss, and five sacks. Scypion has committed to the University of Houston following his junior season.
LaMarc Strahan, Humble (6-4, 300)
Defensive Tackle
Strahan was a second team All-District performer in 21-5A after recording 39 tackles and two fumble recoveries as a junior. Strahan is on the radar of some Division I-A programs heading into the curtain call of his high school career.
Siosaia Tuipulotu, Euless Trinity (6-2, 285)
Defensive Tackle
Tuipulotu was an All-District performer in 7-5A, and more importantly, was a member of a championship-winning defense last season at Trinity. Many regard the Trojans as the top team nationally heading into the 2008 season. Tuipulotu will join linebacker Earnest Norman to form another top-level unit. Tuipulotu had 78 tackles as a junior for the Trojans.
Andrew Weaver, Waco (6-2, 210)
Defensive End
Weaver logged 34 tackles, 16 of them for a loss, and six sacks as a junior for Waco. Weaver was named to the All-District team in 16-4A for his efforts. Weaver has a tremendous upside and has numerous Division I-A schools courting his services.
Joe Wilborn, Lubbock Monterey (6-3, 280)
Defensive Tackle
Wilborn was one of two unanimous selections to the All-District team in 2-5A on defense. Wilborn had 30 tackles and two sacks for Monterey last season as a junior. Wilborn was also named to the All-Plains team by the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal.
Devin Williams, Katy Cinco Ranch (6-3, 205)
Defensive End
Williams might be a ‘tweener’ due to his lean frame, but he could be one of the emerging prospects in this class. Williams was left off the All-District team in 18-5A last season, but managed to make an impact with 64 tackles and four sacks. Watch this space. Williams could have a huge season this time around.