Top 10 defensive linemen in the final 2024 On300 rankings

On3 has released its final recruiting ranking for the 2024 class. This final update comes after the end of the high school playoffs and postseason All-American games, where top prospects across the country faced off in a week of practices and ended with nationally televised games.

These are the top 10 defensive linemen in the final 2024 On300 rankings.

1. LJ McCray — Florida signee

School: Daytona Beach (Fla.) Mainland
On300 Ranking: No. 6
On3 NIL Valuation: $499K

Scouting Summary: “Big-framed, athletic defensive lineman with pass rush ability. Has translatable physical attributes and athleticism at the position that point to a high developmental ceiling. Measured in at over 6-foot-6, 260 pounds prior to his senior season. Has outstanding length and a large frame. Arms check in at 34.75 inches, with hands measuring 10.5 inches. Lines up as a big defensive end on Friday nights. Shows upside as a pass rusher, using first-step quickness to get into the backfield. Has high-end closing speed for a player of his size. Plays with a very encouraging level of physicality. Bullies offensive linemen on contact and finishes plays with violence. Works to get off blocks with vigor. Also sees time as a tight end. Finished his senior season with 17.5 tackles for loss. Can continue honing his technical skill as he fills out and grows into his body.”

2. Justin Scott — Miami signee

School: Chicago St. Ignatius
On300 Ranking: No. 11
On3 NIL Valuation: $350K

Scouting Summary: “Naturally-gifted defensive tackle with rare movement skills. One of the more unique jumbo athletes early on in the 2024 cycle. Considered the top prospect from Chicago in several cycles. Measured in at 6-foot-4 and close to 315 pounds prior to his senior season. Has solid length with 33-inch arms. A light-footed, nimble athlete who moves like a much smaller player. Lines up both on the interior and the edge for his high school. Creates regular disruption with his quickness and ability to convert speed to power. Chases down plays from the back side and runs sideline-to-sideline with ease. A loose, fluid mover with natural flexibility. Shows his natural explosion as a finisher. Also doubles as a dominant offensive lineman. Could be one of the top offensive line prospects in the cycle, as well. Relatively new to football, playing his first season at the varsity level as a sophomore. Has a background as a soccer and basketball player. Will need to continue developing from a technical aspect, particularly with his hands. Rapid ascension and quick improvement point to a high ceiling.”

3. Dominick McKinley — LSU commit

School: Lafayette (La.) Acadiana
On300 Ranking: No. 24
On3 NIL Valuation: $306K

Scouting Summary: “Imposing interior defensive line prospect who combines pure power with impressive explosiveness and hand usage at the point of attack. Stature immediately catches your eye. Measures in at 6-foot-5, 280-plus pounds with tremendous length. Jumped an 30 inches in the vertical and ran a sub-5.0 40-yard dash during the summer camp circuit prior to his junior season. Threw 47-foot-11 in the shot put as well during his junior track and field campaign. Plays with outstanding leverage for someone his size. Possesses the ability to anchor at the point of attack. Uses his length effectively in order to gain control of his opponent. Sheds blockers with ease in the run game. Can really dig in and unlock his hips in order to maintain control at the point. Disruptive player who can knife between opponents and live in the backfield. Excellent get off and ability to penetrate off the snap. Finished his junior season with 18 tackles for loss and 10 sacks. Not very nuanced as a pass rusher but will come with time and reps. High upside prospect with the potential to develop into an early round draft pick.”

4. David Stone — Oklahoma signee

School: Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy
On300 Ranking: No. 29
On3 NIL Valuation: $408K

Scouting Summary: “Twitched up disruptor along the interior defensive line with outstanding short area quickness and burst. Measures at around 6-foot-4, 280 pounds with elite length for the position with arms that register around 35 inches. Violent off the snap, can split gaps with ease. Shoots his hands quickly and with precision off the line. Excellent hand usage and very slippery as a pass rusher. Uses his elite length and quick hands at the point of attack. Makes it tough for offensive linemen to ever get a hand on him. Stout against the run, with excellent ability to disengage from blockers. Not looking to stack and shed, wants to get off of blocks immediately. Can convert speed to power. Also a strong bull rusher. Can play a bit erratic at times and work himself out of plays. Just needs to play with more discipline and see the field better, but will come with time. High floor prospect who will always be a threat on passing downs. Will become a complete three-down player with further development. Transferred to IMG Academy after his first two seasons at Del City High School in Oklahoma.”

5. Joseph Jonah-Ajonye — Georgia signee

School: Conroe (Texas) Oak Ridge
On300 Ranking: No. 34
On3 NIL Valuation: $250K

Scouting Summary: “Athletic, versatile defensive lineman with one of the higher developmental upsides at the position in the 2024 cycle. Measured at around 6-foot-3.5, 275 pounds prior to his senior season. Has a big frame and plus length with a 10.5-inch hand and arms that measure over 34 inches. An easy, natural athlete who moves like a much smaller player. Lines up at defensive end and inside on Friday nights. Flashes outstanding speed in pursuit, running down plays from the backside. Plays to the whistle and makes second effort plays. Shows quick hands at the point of attack. Is a mismatch due to his quickness and overall athleticism when he slides inside. Capable of overpowering offensive tackles as a edge setter against the run. Will need to continue honing his skill and growing as a player. Could stand to improve his pass rush. Born in Nigeria and did not start playing football until his freshman year of high school. Also extraordinarily young for the cycle, with a November birthday. Is the age of a 2025 prospect. Has notable upside based on his lower level of development and the room for growth relative to most other top 2024 prospects.”

6. Armondo Blount — Miami signee

School: Miami Central
On300 Ranking: No. 45
On3 NIL Valuation: $291K

Scouting Summary: “Versatile, athletic defensive lineman who is capable of creating disruption from any spot on the defensive front. Looks like one of the more physically-gifted defenders early on in the 2025 cycle. Measured in at close to 6-foot-3.5, 250 pounds. Has the size of a future defensive tackle but the athleticism and pass rush skills of a top EDGE prospect. Flashes a plus first-step and quick hands both on Friday nights and in camp settings. Turned in a dominant sophomore campaign at Miami Dillard, showing advanced pass rush skills as a stand up rusher. Lives in the backfield, using his athleticism, strong hands and instincts to make plays behind the line of scrimmage. Also doubles as a top track and field athlete, with a personal best of 55-6 feet in the shot put. Remains to be seen where he’ll end up from a size perspective, adding to some ambiguity around his position long-term.”

7. Gabriel Reliford — LSU signee

School: Shreveport (La.) Evangel Christian
On300 Ranking: No. 50
On3 NIL Valuation: $117K

Scouting Summary: “Versatile interior defender whose ability to knife between offensive linemen and wreak havoc in opposing backfields strikes fear into offensive play callers. Tremendous first step and ability to get upfield in a hurry. Excellent flexibility and fluidity in space. Can change direction and bring down ball carriers in the open field. Has the movement skills and athleticism to stand up off the edge. Strong and violent hands at the point of attack. Quality run defender that makes plays consistently in the backfield. Excels in tight quarters by winning with leverage and twitch. Ideal fit at next level would be to gain necessary weight in order to develop into pass rushing 3-technique or dominant 5-technique in 4-3 fronts. Could maintain size and be an effective 3-4 outside linebacker as a stand up pass rusher or keep his hand in the dirt as a weakside-end in a 4-3 front. If he can maintain his first step after adding mass he will be a dominant interior player for the next 3 to 4 years.”

8. Charleston Collins — Arkansas signee

School: Pine Bluff (Ark.) Wilbur D. Mills
On300 Ranking: No. 55
On3 NIL Valuation: $121K

Scouting Summary: “Athletic defensive line prospect with a well-rounded skillset and projectable frame for the next level in order to fill a multitude of roles along the defensive front. Strong hand usage and power at the point of attack. Excellent movement skills and flexibility in order to bend the corner as a pass rusher. Capable of lining up as a stand up pass rusher off the edge with his get off. Has the frame to add impressive weight throughout his frame. Projects to the interior defensive line as a 3-technique in a 4-3 front or as a 4i-technique in a 3-4 front. Has the length and power to stop the run as well as the athleticism and first step to be an effective pass rusher. Will need to see if he can maintain his athleticism as he adds weight but will always have the power to be a dominant run stopper at the next level. High ceiling prospect if he can maintain burst with the added mass with an equally high floor due to his play strength and frame.”

9. Jeremiah Beaman — Alabama signee

School: Birmingham (Ala.) Parker
On300 Ranking: No. 96
On3 NIL Valuation: $192K

Scouting Summary: “Pass rushing defensive lineman with the potential to grow into a disruptive force on the interior. Measured at a shade under 6-foot-4, 250 pounds in the off-season prior to his senior year. Has solid length with a wing-span around 6-foot-7.5. Big-jointed with a big frame that should be able to add weight. Has 10.5-inch hands. Lines up on the interior, at defensive end and as a pass rusher out of a two-point stance on Friday nights. Has upside as a pass rusher along the interior. Shows good instincts coming off the ball with his first step. A flexible athlete and uses his length and hands to get past offensive linemen. Capable of taking on and beating double teams. Plays with good effort in pursuit. Finished his junior season with 10 sacks, which is on the higher end for blue-chip defensive linemen. Also throws the shot put, with a best of 41-9 feet as a junior. A very good player who is a solid, not elite athlete at this stage.”

10. Dominic Kirks – Ohio State commit

School: Painesville (Ohio) Riverside
On300 Ranking: No.115
On3 NIL Valuation: $103K

Scouting Summary: “Kirks is a strong prospect and has good use of his hands. The 6-foot-5, 250-pound defensive lineman will start off on the edge for the Buckeyes but there is a chance he could bump inside. A big portion of Kirks’ on-field skills comes from his off-field habits. He spends plenty of time studying film and translating that into his game. Once again, the strength with which Kirks plays is going to help him ease into the college game.”