From Keishaun Calhoun to Cal Thrush, The Dispatch selected the top defensive linemen for the 2024 Ohio high school football season in the Columbus area.
With the start of the 2024 Ohio high school football season rapidly approaching, The Dispatch is naming the best players at every position across central Ohio.
After revealing our picks for the top quarterbacks, running backs and wide receivers/tight ends, our attention turns to the defensive line – the ends and tackles who provide the first resistance to the offense.
Height, like that of 6-foot-5 Holtz Maine from Fairbanks, is a plus, and so is a sturdy build, such as the 6-0, 260-pound frame of Groveport’s Jalen Joyce.
Here are The Dispatch’s top 10 defensive linemen in central Ohio, in alphabetical order:
Keishaun Calhoun, Groveport
Vitals: 6-foot-4, 245 pounds, sr.
College commitment: Indiana
Part of a massive, talented defensive line, Calhoun’s 42 tackles in 2023 included 11 for loss and 5 ½ sacks. The first-team all-district honoree also had two defensive touchdowns, three forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries.
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Javion Jones-Cunningham, South
Vitals: 6-1, 225, sr.
College offers: None
One of the City League’s top linemen, Jones-Cunningham was named second-team all-state in Division III last fall after racking up 15 tackles for loss, eight sacks, a defensive touchdown and two forced fumbles.
Jalen Joyce, Groveport
Vitals: 6-0, 260, sr.
College offers: Ohio Dominican
A third-team all-state selection in Division I a year ago, Joyce finished with 69 tackles, including 26 for loss and 9 ½ sacks. He was OCC-Buckeye Defensive Player of the Year and first-team all-district.
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Tyreek Lewis, Northland
Vitals: 6-1, 187, sr.
College offers: None
The special mention all-district senior racked up 51 tackles in 2023, including 14 for loss and 11 sacks, with a forced fumble and two fumble recoveries in helping the Vikings (9-2) to the City League-North championship and a Division II, Region 7 first-round home game.
Braddock Lusher, Grandview Heights
Vitals: 6-2, 235, sr.
College offers: None
A mainstay on the line who also contributes on offense and at long snapper, Lusher’s 97 tackles as a junior included 27 stops for loss and 5 ½ sacks. Lusher earned first-team all-district and third-team all-state in Division VI.
Holtz Maine, Fairbanks
Vitals: 6-5, 225, sr.
College offers: Mercyhurst, Ohio Dominican
Maine, a defensive end who also plays tight end, had 49 solo tackles among his 66 stops last season with 11 sacks, 17 tackles for loss, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. Maine was first-team all-district and second-team all-state in Division VI.
Ty Neubert, DeSales
Vitals: 6-3, 250, sr.
College commitment: Ohio University
Having started every game of his career on the defensive line, Neubert had 42 tackles, including 12 for loss, and three sacks a season ago. The honorable mention all-state selection in Division II also started all 11 games on offense at left tackle.
Talil Spikes, Africentric
Vitals: 6-2, 270, sr.
College offers: Ohio Dominican, Rio Grande, Tiffin, Wheeling, Wittenberg
The third-team all-state selection in Division V played a large part in the Nubians winning a program-record seven games, finishing with 60 tackles, including 32 for loss, 15 sacks, one forced fumble, a fumble recovery and a blocked field goal.
Daniel Stephens, Olentangy
Vitals: 6-0, 250, jr.
College offers: Eastern Michigan, Miami University, Toledo
The defensive tackle quickly became a key cog for the Braves as a sophomore, making 63 tackles – 33 solo and 24 for loss – with 11 sacks. Stephens was first-team all-district and second-team all-state in Division I.
Cal Thrush, Upper Arlington
Vitals: 6-4, 250, sr.
College commitment: Michigan State
The three-star defensive end made his name as an edge rusher last season, earning second-team all-district and honorable mention all-state in Division I. UA reached its second Region 3 final in three seasons.
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Publish date : 2024-08-12 00:01:00
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