JACKSONVILLE, Florida. – O Five-star rivals It’s in the books and now it’s time to continue analyzing the positions and giving opinions on many of the players who competed in the biggest event of the summer. We break down the top 10 defensive linemen.
1. DEUCE GERALDS
The MVP of the Defensive Line of the Five-star rivals, Geralds gained reps at every front spot and did not lose a rep during the event. One of the top 30 prospects in the 2026 Rivals250, Geralds has excellent ball quickness and plays downhill. His mix of quickness and power is incredible.
Alabama, Oregon, Clemson It is Ohio State are some of the headliners involved in recruiting Geralds from the beginning.
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2. JAHKEEM STEWART
Stewart was right in the middle of the conversation for the Defensive Line MVP award in Jacksonville. A native of Reserve, Louisiana, Stewart earned reps at every spot on the defensive line and did so emphatically. College coaches across the country view Stewart as a prospect with generational advantages, exceptional size and athletic traits. Stewart can often rely on his innate power to win one-on-one and open up an arsenal of different pass-rush techniques and moves successfully in this setting.
LSU, USCOhio State and Oregon are in contention for the five-star spot.
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3. JARQUEZ CARTER
Carter was not only an excellent individual player, but he also won first place in the bench press competition. Carter’s power in the weight room was evident in the individual portion of camp. The four-star is strong and also equipped with great hands and a fast engine. He also distinguished himself with a series of second and third efforts as an interior DL prospect.
Ohio State, Miami It is Florida are among the programs in Carter’s mix.
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4. LONDON MERRIT
Merritt played at a different clip in Jacksonville. The Ohio State committee worked to the limit and played downhill with purpose. Merritt is a restless player with an explosive first step and a strong finish at the whistle. He has consistently pushed past opposition tackles and has the makings of a havoc-maker in a premium position.
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5. MALIK AUTRY
Autry routinely occupies blockers and fills gaps for Opelika (Ala.) High, and he unleashed his pass-rush ability on the Five-star rivals. O Auburn commit is immensely powerful and has added a few other tools and moves to generate pressure and intimidate opposing attackers from the middle. Autry has a rare combination of size, power and engine.
Ohio State is working to change the former Auburn commitment’s mind.
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6. LANDON TRACK
Rink was one of the most productive defensive linemen in the state of Texas as a junior and has been excellent this offseason, including a strong showing in the Five-star rivals. O Texas A&M commit is versatile in terms of position and dynamic outside the line on both ends and especially inside.
Rink is quick to the ball and bouncy. His power and strength of play at the rim and his quickness inside caused attacks from opposing forwards. Rink is also a high-IQ football player equipped with multiple moves to keep attackers guessing.
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7. JAKE KREUL
Kreul turned heads in the Five-star rivals with his explosiveness firing the ball over the rim. The four-star prospect is strong and still has the ability to continue to grow in this area.
Working off the edge, Kreul brings together speed, balance and good length to cause slower tackling problems as he curls around the edge.
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8. ZION GRADY
Grady has all the tools to be a dynamic three-down defensive lineman at the next level. At 6-foot-2 and 225 pounds, the new Ohio State commit wins with speed and power. He has enormous power, fires off the line, and is equipped with an elite engine to wreak havoc on the edges as well as work inside.
Given the skill set, Grady has a chance to play multiple positions up front for the Buckeyes.
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9. JAYLEN WILLIAMS
Williams took one of the most explosive first steps of any edge-rusher available in the Five-star rivals. At 6-foot-2 and 250 pounds, Williams certainly passes the eye test and offers a physically gifted presence at a premium position.
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10. ASHER GHIOTO
A 2028 prospect from nearby Bolles High School in Jacksonville, Ghioto was a force working off the edge. At 6-foot-2 and 235 pounds, he already has prospects in classes above him, with four more years to continue gaining weight. We’ll be keeping an eye on Ghioto’s freshman season.
Editor’s note: This article first appeared in Rivals.com, the leader in college football and basketball recruiting coverage. Be the first to know and follow your teams by signing up here.
