Rivals Rankings Week: Updated 2022 defensive line rankings
Rankings for the class of 2022 have been updated this week, and we now take a look at the defensive line position. The class of 2021 finished with 60 defensive line prospects who rated four-stars or higher, but this 2022 class has already surpassed that number.
After this most recent update of the position rankings, a total of 74 prospects rate at least four stars, with five coming in at the five-star level.
2022 DEFENSIVE RANKINGS: Strongside defensive end | Weakside defensive end | Defensive tackle
2022 OFFENSIVE RANKINGS: Offensive tackle | Offensive guard | Center | Wide receiver | Tight end | Running back | All-purpose back | Pro-style quarterback | Dual-threat quarterback
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RIVALS RANKINGS WEEK SCHEDULE:
Monday: Five-Star Countdown
Tuesday: New Rivals250 | Big movers | Where five-stars stand | Five-star watch | Farrell's thoughts
Wednesday: Offensive position rankings released | Programs with most commits
Thursday: Defensive position rankings released
Friday: State rankings released
CLASS OF 2021 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Position | Team | State
CLASS OF 2022 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Position | Team
COVERAGE: Rivals Transfer Tracker | Rivals Camp Series
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PROGRAM WITH TOP COMMITS: Georgia
There are two five-star defensive line prospects currently committed, and both are pledged to Georgia. The Bulldogs landed a commitment from in-state defensive tackle Tyre West back in December. Then, on the February Signing Day, five-star Texan Keithian “Bear” Alexander announced he was headed to Georgia as well.
Kirby Smart and his staff also have a commitment from four-star Darris Smith, the No. 9 weakside defensive end in the 2022 class, who made his pledge to the Bulldogs one day after West.
No other school has two four-star defensive line commitments in this 2022 class yet. Georgia has two five-stars and a four-star, giving it far and away the best early group of commitments along the defensive line.
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PROSPECT ON THE RISE: Samuel Okunlola
One of the biggest movers in this update of the 2022 class is new four-star weakside defensive end Samuel Okunlola. The Boston-area defensive end started to build recruiting momentum in the fall despite the state of Massachusetts postponing its high school football season. Okunlola countered by disseminating loads of practice, 7-on-7 and workout film via social media and Hudl.
His star turn came in December at The Show camp in Florida. There, the athletic edge rusher showed a combination of speed and power that was reminiscent of class of 2019 four-star and current Florida Gator Khris Bogle.
Okunlola’s offer list has now surpassed 30 total schools, with recent additions coming from Arizona, Maryland and Purdue. He moves up from No. 27 to No. 11 in the weakside defensive end rankings, with the state of Massachusetts set to play a spring high school season starting this month.
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PROSPECT TO WATCH: Mykel Williams
Could Georgia be in line to add a third five-star to its 2022 defensive line class? Columbus (Ga.) Hardaway’s Mykel Williams became the first defensive end prospect in this 2022 class to earn his fifth star with the latest update, and he climbs to the top of the strongside rankings after previously holding down the third spot on that list.
Williams is a prospect to watch not just because of his rising stock, but also because he is set to announce a commitment on March 15. Officially, Williams has a top 10 that includes Alabama, Clemson, Ohio State and USC. The Rivals FutureCasts are 100 percent for the home-state Georgia Bulldogs, however.