Missouri's top high school football players: Meet the state's best defensive linemen

Who are the top defensive linemen in Missouri this season?

By Jon Walker

We’re taking a position-by-position look at some of the top players in Missouri high school football. This list focuses on the defensive linemen. 

There are hundreds of standout football players in Missouri and these lists are not intended to be comprehensive. Use the comments section to discuss the other defensive linemen worthy of fans’ attention in 2021. 

Adepoju Adebawore, 6-4, 210, Jr., North Kansas City

Adebawore has the attention of a lot of midwest schools Division I schoools, receiving offers from Arkansas, Minnesota, Iowa, Iowa State, Kansas and more. That list should expand heading into his senior season, though, as he was as dominant as ever with 51.5 tackles, 19 tackles for loss and 10 sacks this fall. The performance that personified his domination was during a 38-0 win over Central (St. Joseph) in Week 2, when he had four sacks and 5.5 tackles for loss. 

Jaylen Banks, 6-4, 270, Sr., Lutheran North

Banks, a three-star recruit who committed to Southern Illinois University on July 31, terrorized opposing offensive lines this fall while the Crusaders went 7-4. He recorded 40 tackles, including 12 tackles for loss, and four sacks. His best game of the season was against rival Lutheran South Sept. 24, when he had nine tackles, four tackles for loss and two sacks.

Chandavian Bradley, 6-5, 210, Jr., Platte County

Bradley is just a junior, and he’s been reeling in offers ever since the end of his sophomore season. His list is continuing to grow, although it already includes offers from Vanderbilt, Arkansas, Wisconsin, Penn State, Michigan, Kentucky, Michigan, Oklahoma and Notre Dame. The Pirates’ defense allowed a mere 10 points per game this season, and Bradley was a key part in stifling opposing offenses.

Ryan Clark, 6-1, 220, Sr., Aurora

Clark does it all for Aurora, reeling in a couple of passes on offense, but it’s on defense where he excels. The lineman used his farewell tour to pile up 66 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, six sacks and two pass deflections en route to Aurora finishing the season 7-3.

Jackson Cline, 6-0, 212, Jr., Aurora

The senior has been able to put points up on the board from his spot on the defensive line this season, recording two safeties. Along with that, he was one half of Aurora’s two-headed monster on the defensive line with 56 tackles. 16 tackles for loss and four sacks.

Ikenna Ezeogu, 6-6, 220, Sr., Blue Springs

The 6-foot-6, 220-pound senior worked his first three years of high school trying to earn an offer at the next level. He did that, eventually committing to Iowa State just a month prior to the start of his final season of high school football. It was an uncharacteristic season for Blue Springs, a team that finished this fall 2-8, but Ezeogu isn’t done being a Wildcat just yet. He’s a basketball star too, and he averaged 14.2 points and 6.6 rebounds per game as a junior.

Tyson Ford, 6-5, 250, Sr., John Burroughs

John Burroughs didn’t have the type of season the program is accustomed to, but Ford was nothing short of a bright spot for the Bombers. Seven months prior to the season even starting, Ford committed to the University of Notre Dame. This fall, he showed why he’s a four-star recruit — with 24 offers from Power Five programs, including Georgia, Clemson, Baylor, Oklahoma, Michigan and LSU — recording 43 tackles, 10 tackles for loss and a sack. 

Marquis Gracial, 6-4, 310, Sr., St. Charles

After a slew of Power Five offers, including one from Nick Saban and Alabama, Gracial decided to stay home with his commitment to Missouri in May. He used his farewell tour to show why the Tigers wanted him, too, compiling 38 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, five sacks and three fumble recoveries.

Deacon Haag, 5-10, 230, Sr., Mexico

Haag helped Mexico to a 10-4 record this fall, making it all the way to the semifinals before a 27-16 loss to St. Mary’s. A large part of Mexico’s success was the defensive, which Haag led with 72 tackles, 22 tackles for loss, seven sacks, forced fumble, fumble recovery and pass deflection.

Seth Hasekamp, 5-10, 245, Jr., Centrailia

Centrailia didn’t have the season it wanted, but it’s 6-5 record was in part due to Hasekamp terrorizing opposing linemen in the trenches. He bullies people on the offensive line, but it’s on defense where he thrives. Hasekamp used this fall to record 53 tackles. 7.5 tackles for loss, four sacks and a fumble recovery.

Edric Hill, 6-3, 271, Jr., North Kansas City

Hill is just a junior, but he used this fall to show why he’ll be a problem for offensive linemen in the Kansas City metro area during his senior season. Throughout the Hornets’ 10-game season, Hill had 19 tackles, 10 tackles for loss and five sacks. His breakout game came during a Week 2 win over Central (St. Joseph), when he had 4.5 tackles, 2.5 sacks and 2.5 tackles for loss.

Carson Lang, 6-0, 255, Sr., Gallatin

Gallatin compiled a 10-3 record, but its title chase that was halted with a 42-8 loss to Hamilton Nov. 12. Lang was a bright spot for the Bulldogs, though, compiling the highest tackle total on this list with 83, including 13 tackles for loss. He also had four sacks, a pass deflection and fumble recovery.

Jahkai Lang, 6-3, 240, Jr., Troy-Buchanan

The junior has earned more than a dozen Division I offers throughout three seasons of action at Troy-Buchanan. As a sophomore, he had 60 tackles with eight sacks and four fumble recoveries. He followed that campaign with one that featured 51 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, six sacks, a fumble recovery and an interception.

Domonique Orange, 6-4, 300, Sr., North Kansas City

Orange had a ton of offers to choose from before finally settling on a final four that includes Texas A&M, Oregon, Ohio State and Iowa State. The senior was part of one of the best defensive lines in Missouri, and he led the way with 47 tackles, five and a half sacks, 24.5 tackles for loss and an interception.

Mike Phillips, 6-0, 265, So., De Smet Jesuit

Phillips is helping lead De Smet Jesuit to be a perennial powerhouse, and he’s doing it as just a sophomore. The defensive lineman used this fall to record 23 tackles. In addition to his efforts on the gridiron, Phillips was all-state in the shot put as a freshman.

Jayshawn Richmond, 6-0, 195, So., Lutheran St. Charles

Richmond is the first part of Lutheran St. Charles’ three-headed monster on the defensive line that’s featured on this list, and he’s only in his second year. While learning behind Jaydon Wannstedt and Ashtin Rustemeyer, Richmond has used the first 13 games of this fall to record 21 tackles, three tackles for loss and a sack. 

Ashtin Rustemeyer, 6-2, 270, Sr., Lutheran St. Charles

Rustemeyer is another third of Lutheran St. Charles’ defensive line that’s represented on this list, and he’s perhaps the most dominant. The Arkansas State commit led the Cougars’ defensive attack with 70 tackles, including 13 tackles for loss, four sacks and a fumble recovery. They’ve mustered five shutouts throughout this fall, and the Cougars will play Lamar in the Class 2 title game.

Jaydon Wannstedt, 6-2, 285, Sr., Lutheran St. Charles

Wannstedt committed to Murray State about nine days prior to Lutheran St. Charles’ first game of the season, and he used this fall to show why other schools are missing out. Alongside Jayshawn Richmond and Ashtin Rustemeyer, Wannstedt has been part of a defensive line that limited opponents to an average of 15.7 points per game throughout the first 13 games of the season, and he’s done so while piling up 74 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, a sack and fumble recovery.

DJ Wesolak, 6-4, 235, Sr., Boonville

Wesolak has used his 6-for-4, 235-pound frame to earn a whopping 50 Division I offers, including ones from Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, Georgia, Penn State, Oklahoma, Penn State, Florida, Texas and Michigan. His efforts on the defensive line willed Boonville to an 8-3 record this season.

Logan Westling, 6-3, 275, So., Oak Park

Westline shines when he’s on the wrestling mat during winter, but he makes sure he takes care of business on the football field first. The sophomore has been invited to the Gladiator Gridiron Games following his second high school season, and he was an honorable mention as a freshman.