High school football preview: Ranking the Top 10 Fort Worth-area defensive linemen in 2022
Next up in our Fort Worth-area high school football player-by-player preview we look at the mighty defensive linemen. A bulk of the tackles for loss, sacks and fumbles come from this group.
Seven of the Top 10 are college commits, led by 4-star Enow Etta.
These guys are about to wreak havoc this season.
Here’s the Top 10 defensive linemen in 2022:
1. Enow Etta
Senior, 6-5, 260, Colleyville Covenant
Commit: Michigan
Facts: The 4-star Etta is as good as advertised coming in as the 10th best senior defensive lineman in the country and the 12th best senior player overall in the state. He’s also No. 71 nationally by 247Sports. Etta is the preseason all-area defensive MVP. He led the area last season with 22 1/2 sacks and was second with 41 tackles for loss. During the past two seasons, Etta has posted 191 tackles and 40 sacks.
2. Riley Van Poppel
Senior, 6-4, 270, Argyle
Commit: Nebraska
Facts: The 3-star athlete was the district utility player of the year in 2021 after seeing time on the D-line as well as tight end and half-back. On the line, Van Poppel made over 40 tackles and eight sacks for the Eagles. He ranks as the 60th best senior player in the state. He’s father, Todd, was an MLB pitcher for more than 10 years.
3. Kaleb James
Senior, 6-4, 250, Mansfield
Commit: Arkansas
Facts: The 3-star James shined at Nolan Catholic during the past thee seasons before making the leap to Mansfield. He ranks in the top 100 among both senior linemen in the country and players in the state. Last season at Nolan, James had 110 tackles, 25 for loss and 15 sacks.
4. Legend Journey
Junior, 6-2, 250, Mansfield Summit
Facts: Last year’s all-area defensive newcomer of the year excelled for the Jaguars as the team went to their second straight state semifinal. Journey made 72 tackles, 29 for loss and had nine sacks. He holds eight offers.
5. Ricky Lolohea
Senior, 6-3, 280, Euless Trinity
Commit: Oklahoma State
Facts: The 3-star OSU commit is an absolute beast with a big frame. He will be match-up nightmare with opposing offensive linemen. He ranks in the top 125 among all senior defensive linemen in the country, by 247Sports.
6. Michael Madrie
Senior, 6-4, 255, Argyle
Commit: Boise State
Facts: Madrie and Van Poppel are going to be trouble for whoever plays Argyle this season. The 3-star Madrie had 15 offers before committing this summer. He was district defensive MVP last season with 50 tackles and six sacks.
7. Joseph Mutombo
Senior, 6-5, 240, Keller Central
Commit: Rice
Facts: The 3-star Rice commit shined for the Chargers’ defense in 2021 where he made 50 tackles, 12 for loss and nine sacks.
8. Garrett Finley
Senior, 6-2, 200, Colleyville Heritage
Facts: Finley is a preseason all-area defender after finishing 2021 with the third-most tackles for loss among 2022 area returners (27), third in sacks (18) and fourth in hurries (28).
9. Bryan Neal
Senior, 6-3, 225, Lake Worth
Facts: Neal was voted first-team all-district last season after helping Lake Worth reach the second round of the playoffs. He finished with 81 tackles, 27 tackles for loss and 13 sacks. Those last two stats are good to rank Neal in the Top 10 among 2022 area returners.
10. Ansel Din-Mbuh
Senior, 6-2, 270, Aledo
Facts: The multi-sport star exploded on the recruiting scene this summer and has picked up nine offers, including from Washington and Air Force. Last season, Din-Mbuh made 50 tackles and three sacks. He also made deep postseason runs in both track and wrestling.
This story was originally published August 23, 2022 at 5:30 AM.