By LEE BRECHEEN, Louisiana Football Magazine
Defensive line is a hard position to recruit for all colleges, especially the bigger programs. Coaches are evaluating three different types of linemen: ends, tackles and nose guards and each position requires different attributes.
Then comes the challenge of projecting where a really good high school lineman will fit at the next level.
It is really hard to find kids who are tall and carry anywhere from 230 pounds playing end in high school, 300 pounds or more playing inside. Recruiters’ eyes light up when they see a 270-310 pounder who can run sideline to sideline and be ready to play right away in college. The big fellas also have to be strong and agile and give high effort to be recruited by the bigger schools.
There’s not a deep group of sure-fire D-line prospects in Shreveport/Bossier this year – but there are quality players coming out in the Class of 2026.
My favorite local linemen to watch in my lifetime have been Huntington DE Kenny Davidson (6-5, 265), who played at LSU and in the NFL; Evangel DT Stevie Lee (6-4, 310), a Texas Longhorn who played on Sundays; Airline nose guard O.J. Smith (6-3, 305), who played at Alabama; the late, great Evangel DE Cole Pittman (6-4, 265) who went to Texas; and a guy who is prominent today locally, Centenary head football coach Byron Dawson, who was 6-0, 300 when he starred at Evangel before lining up at LSU. He once was on the cover of Louisiana Football Magazine – I picked him as a sleeper and boy, that was on target.
A special case was Woodlawn’s James Gillyard. This 6-2, 230-pound athlete was a quarterback for the Knights but everyone knew he would switch to another position in college. He fit up front on defense at LSU.
That was then. This is now.
My list of the top three local D-linemen coming out begins with Ashton Dawson at Evangel, a 6-2, 285-pound tackle who has commited to Arkansas. Dawson has good feet and the ability to start in the SEC.
Ian Gray (6-2, 255) at Byrd can play both end and tackle in college. With college weight added Gray should get to over 270 easily and play inside. He’s a tough kid, strong and gives coach Stacy Ballew all out effort every snap.
Another Evangel Eagle, Christian Speight (6-3, 300) plays up front both ways for coach Denny Duron’s ballclub. He could play nose in college because he is so agile and strong – as demonstrated by the fact he’s an All State wrestler.
Of course, I have some sleepers, players who are earning good looks from colleges and should find a roster spot at the next level. One of my favorites, who was profiled here a couple of weeks back, is Parkway’s Nathaniel Kemp (6-2, 250) who has good feet for his size because of his boxing, MMA and wrestling experience.
Woodlawn DE Adonnus Smith (6-2, 235) has the frame and feet to add even more weight in college. Right now he is lean and quick. Calvary Baptist noseguard Conner Brookshire (6-0, 265) is a tough, all-out player. Southwood DE Winfred Avant (6-2, 225) is quick and lean, and Parkway’s Korde Sharp (6-0, 290) is a nose guard at the college level. He’s a smart kid who gives relentless effort.
There is also a kid who I think is much improved and caught my eye already this year — Byrd tackle Tayvious Washington (6-1, 290) looks like a nose at the next level. He gives high effort and moves well for a big guy.
Evangel has lots of talent on the defensive front. Here’s another ECA sleeper, Nick Lopez (6-2, 250), a defensive end who was mostly a tight end and is getting to show his upside playing defense. Lopez has great feet and hands, which is a big plus for the trench warfare.
A lot of game tape will be watched by dozens of college coaches and analysts, and as usual, they’ll find a good group of prospects on the defensive front among the Shreveport-Bossier talent pool in the Class of 2026.
Contact Lee at lbrecheen@aol.com
(Lee Brecheen is the longtime publisher of Louisiana Football Magazine, covering all of the state’s high school teams each year since 1997. Free content can also be found at the website lafootballmagazine.com. District previews with scouting reports on every team are posted now. Lee hosts a podcast with guests from around the state — The Sports Scouting Report with Lee Brecheen, available on YouTube)