Ranking the top 5 defensive linemen of the 2025 recruiting class ft. Elijah Griffin

By Byron Terry

Modified Oct 22, 2024 02:58 GMT

The 2024 High School football season is nearing its end; there's still plenty of football left. Defensive linemen are an essential piece to a team and their success. Here's a list of the top defensive linemen of the 2025 class.

Top 2025 class Defensive Linemen

1.Elijah Griffin

Elijah Griffin is a defensive lineman out of Savannah Christian in Georgia. The 6-foot-5, 285-pounder is quick and athletic with good technique. He can play on either interior of the defensive line and be productive.

Elijah has been a highly sought-after recruit, accumulating over 35 offers from schools like Miami, Georgia, Alabama, Arkansas, and other top college football programs.

Elijah is committed to Georgia and is ranked as the number 1 defensive lineman and 4th best player in the country per 247sports.

2. Justus Terry

Justus Terry, out of Manchester High School in Georgia, is a 6 foot 5 275 pound defensive lineman who uses his strength to shed blocks and make plays against the offense.

In 2023, he was a 2nd-team MaxPreps Junior All-American. Justus is a 5-star recruit and the number 2-ranked defensive lineman and number 9 player nationally per 247sports, with offers from schools like Georgia, Alabama, Texas etc.

He is currently uncommitted, but the 247Sports Crystball Prediction has him at 100% to Georgia.

3. Iose Epenesa

Iose Epenesa of Edwardsville High School in Illinois is a 5-star edge rusher and rated as the number 1 player in Illinois.

He holds offers from Iowa, Miami, Utah, Penn State and others. He committed to play his college football at Iowa. Iose is exceptional at stopping the run and can set the edge for the defense.

He is a multi-sport athlete who has played basketball and participates in shot put in track and field. He was named to the MaxPreps sophomore All-American team in 2022.

4. Amare Adams

Amare Adams from South Florence High School is a 5-star prospect and is rated as the number 1 player in South Carolina per 247Sports.

He obtained offers from Clemson, Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Florida, and a myriad of other programs, but he committed to play for the Clemson Tigers.

He has a quick first step and gets into his pass rush with speed and explosiveness. Adams' physicality is a dominating factor in the run game and his size is a problem for opposing linemen.

5. Nate Marshall

Nate Marshall of Fenwick High School in Illinois is a 4-star prospect and is listed as the number 3 player in Illinois.

The 6-4 265 pounder was offered by multiple SEC programs such as Auburn, Arkansas, and Alabama. He originally committed to Michigan but flipped to Auburn on August 23rd, 2024.

Nate is an athletic player who has played wide receiver in addition to basketball. He can play multiple positions on the defensive line. In 2022, he was awarded the Chicago Catholic League Defensive Player of the Year.