Big Country Preps Preseason Football Position Rankings: Defensive Linemen

With the start of football season around the corner, it’s time to take a look at the players who will be making the biggest impact in 2025.

For the first installment in an eight-part series that will cover all position groups, we’ll be taking a look at the area’s top defensive linemen, ranking our top 10 with a list of others to watch this fall.

As with any such list, these rankings are subjective. We hope you enjoy reading through them.

10. Colt Gentry, Sr., Jayton — It’s not easy for a six-man player to crack our position rankings lists, but this standout defensive end does so off a big junior season in which he helped his school to its first state title in 39 years.

For the year, he tallied 127 tackles, three forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, an interception and four defensive touchdowns — numbers made even more impressive by the fact that most of Jayton’s games were over by halftime.

9. Kyson McGee, Sr., Hamlin — An outstanding athlete with a motor that doesn’t stop, McGee collected 91 tackles, nine tackles for loss, nine sacks, 32 quarterback pressures, four forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries as a junior.

Coming off that campaign, he will be on every opponent’s radar this year — including on offense, where he’s earned a growing role as a receiver in addition to his defensive end duties.

8. Taegen Pimpton, Sr., Stamford — One of six returning starters from a defense that helped the Bulldogs reach the Class 2A Division I state championship game last year, Pimpton will be leaned on heavily this year as a senior.

He’ll enter his final high school season off a huge junior year in which he amassed 93 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, four sacks and a forced fumble — elite numbers for a nose guard.

7. DeMarcus Reed, Sr., Brady — An athletic interior lineman with great feet to go with his size (5-10, 245), Reed produced at a high level as a junior, tallying 77 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, five sacks, three forced fumbles and a fumble recovery he returned for a touchdown.

The senior big man, who is also an excellent offensive lineman, will try to build on that production this year as he looks to lead Brady to its most successful season in years.

6. Zane Green, Jr., Albany — This talented defensive end was one of the area’s top young linemen last season, collecting 100 tackles, 18 tackles for loss, eight sacks and three fumble recoveries as just a sophomore.

With that year of experience under his belt, and the first-team all-district recognition that came with it, Green will be out to climb the list of Big Country pass-rushers this fall.

5. Trent Yowell, Sr., Mineral Wells — A one-man wrecking crew for Mineral Wells coach Cody Worrell, this 6-3, 215-pound end was one of the toughest players in the Big Country Preps coverage to block in 2024.

That was evident in the 82 tackles, 19 tackles for loss, eight sacks, four forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries he had to claim Defensive Lineman of the Year recognition out of District 3-4A Division II.

4. CJ Spellmeier, Sr., Stephenville — A menace off the edge for the Yellow Jackets, Spellmeier recorded 92 tackles, 18 tackles for loss, nine sacks, 25 hurries, three forced fumbles and a defensive touchdown as a junior to claim Defensive Line MVP honors out of District 4-4A Division I.

Now a senior, he could have an even bigger year for what should be an outstanding Stephenville defense.

3. RJ Gomez, Sr., Big Spring — This 5-11, 220-pound lineman has a motor that never stops. And his team is the beneficiary of that relentless effort.

Coming off a junior year in which he collected 81 tackles, 21 tackles for loss, 10 sacks, six forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and two pass breakups, he’ll be a major part of anything the Steers accomplish this season.

2. Kolton Dearth, Sr., Stephenville — A big-bodied defensive tackle with great feet to go with his size, this 6-3, 315 behemoth is an absolute monster in the middle of the Yellow Jackets line.

He proved this last year when he tallied 70 tackles, 36½ tackles for loss, 10½ sacks and 24 hurries on his way to District 4-4A DI Defensive MVP honors.

1. Dycin Davis, Sr., Cooper — The most physically gifted player on a list full of talented linemen, Cooper’s 6-3, 235-pound defensive end should be poised for a huge senior season.

The University of Texas-El Paso commit will have to have one to best the 95 tackles, 25 tackles for loss, 13 sacks, 11 hurries and one fumble recovery he recorded last year on his way to first-team all-District 2-5A DII recognition.

OTHERS TO WATCH

Jayden Starks, Sr., Abilene High; Aamanni Strahan, Sr., Abilene High; Deandre Rodriguez, Sr., Wylie; Adyn Tristan, Jr., Big Spring; Nolan Griswold, Jr., Stephenville; Slade Mathis, Sr., Brock; Alexis Muro, Jr., Glen Rose; Andrew Ramirez, Sr., Graham; Douglas White, Sr., Breckenridge; Brandon Niblett, Sr., Breckenridge; Peyton Baugh, Michaiah Powell, Sr., Jim Ned; Ty Holguin, So., Jim Ned; Nasir Menefield, Jr., Brady; Landon Wells, Sr., Coahoma; Gage Simmons, Sr., Coahoma; Jayden Balvantin, So., Dublin; Luis Elicerio, So., Dublin; Ben Wilson, Sr., Early; Cameron Wilson, Sr., Eastland; Cayden Abrego, Jr., Tolar; Dylan Sellers, Sr., Wall; Ben Taylor, Sr., Wall; Alijah Lozano, Jr., Anson; Drew Knickerbocker, Sr., Ballinger; Landon Cornutt, Sr., Ballinger; Garrett Offutt, Jr., Cisco; Easton Meador, Jr., Coleman; Darren Hurtado, Sr., Coleman; Jace Garcia, Jr., Colorado City; Eli Garza, Jr., De Leon; Gage Heinz, Jr., De Leon; Hunter Hudson, Sr., Hawley; Jefferson Stencil, Sr., San Saba; Kolton Pierce, Sr., San Saba; Colt Sanderson, Sr., Cross Plains; Carson Breedlove, Sr., Munday; Nate Jones, Sr., Roscoe; Luke Sides, Sr., Santo; Michael Lockwood, Sr., Santo; Mark Moreno, Sr., Winters; Braden Hoppe, So., Winters; Justin Smith, Hermleigh; Kannon Kensing, Sr., Blanket; Kaleb Green, Sr., Guthrie; Jayce McCormick, Sr., Rochelle; Chris Overton, Sr., Woodson; Trapper Schoenhals, Sr., Zephyr; Ja’Vonne Jones, Sr., Abilene Christian