Rivals Rankings Week: Breaking down the 2025 defensive linemen
With the updated 2025 Rivals250 being unveiled Tuesday, it's time to look at the updated position rankings. The offensive position rankings were released Wednesday and today the defensive position rankings are in the spotlight. Up first is the defensive line.
NEW 2025 POSITION RANKINGS: Pro-Style QB | Dual-Threat QB | Running Back | All-Purpose Back | Wide Receiver | Tight End | Offensive Tackle | Offensive Guard | Center | Defensive Tackle | Weakside Defensive End | Strongside Defensive End | Inside Linebacker | Outside Linebacker | Cornerback | Safety | Athlete
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RIVALS RANKINGS WEEK
Sunday: Who should be No. 1?
Monday: Five-Star Countdown | Meet the new five-stars
Tuesday: New Rivals250 unveiled | Gorney's thoughts | Biggest movers
Wednesday: New offensive position rankings released | QB rankings spotlight | RB rankings spotlight | WR/TE rankings spotlight | OL rankings spotlight
Thursday: New defensive position rankings released | DL rankings spotlight | LB rankings spotlight | DB rankings spotlight | ATH rankings spotlight
Friday: New state rankings released | Breaking down state rankings
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FINAL 2023 TEAM RANKINGS: Comprehensive (overall) ranking | High school/JUCO ranking | Transfer portal ranking
CLASS OF 2024 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Team | Position | State
TRANSFER PORTAL: Latest news | Transfer portal player ranking | Transfer portal team ranking | Transfer Tracker | Message board
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Who's No. 1?
Griffin remained the top defensive lineman and No. 1 overall prospect in the Rivals250 in this rankings update. While his lead on No. 2 overall player David Sanders Jr. has shrunk significantly, Griffin's spot as the highest-ranked defensive lineman wasn’t strongly questioned.
Now up to 285 pounds, the 6-foot-6 Griffin was very nearly switched to a defensive tackle instead of a strongside defensive end. Regardless, Griffin has all the hallmarks of a potential first-round draft choice and he should be a difference maker early in his college career if he continues to develop at his current rate.
He has the size, strength, quickness and fundamental techniques to dominate every play. Griffin's motor really stands out on film, especially when you consider just how big he already is. He doesn't play great competition but his tools would make him a game changer even against some of the best high school competition out there.
Georgia, Alabama, Florida State, South Carolina and Clemson are the major contenders for his commitment.
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Movers & Shakers
Armondo Blount seems to be heavily favoring Florida State. The in-state five-star is expected to attend its game against LSU and that experience could help push the Seminoles even further in front of his other suitors. It's very likely that Blount ends up committing to one of the Florida programs but they're all chasing Florida State right now.
Andrew Maddox is a priority target for Texas A&M and it would make sense that the Aggies are viewed as the favorite. Maddox's brother, 2024 four-star quarterback Anthony Maddox Jr., is already committed to Jimbo Fisher and it sure seems likely that the two brothers will end up in College Station. That being said, there are plenty of programs pursuing the elite defensive lineman. Georgia, Tennessee, Florida State, LSU, Alabama and the in-state programs are all in the mix.
There were a number of notable additions and risers to the Rivals250 and position rankings this week. Georgia commit Justus Terry (No. 30 in the Rivals250), Christopher Burgess Jr. (No. 61), Randy Adirika (No. 82), Christopher Isaiah Campbell (No. 100) and Nathaniel Marshall (No. 109) all moved up at least 35 spots in the Rivals250. Entering the Rivals250 at No. 101 and earning an initial four-star rating is Javion Hilson. He saw his recruitment take off this spring and summer thanks to his impressive measurables and camp performances. Christian Garrett and Damien Shanklin were also elevated to four-star status.
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Top three classes so far
