Under Armour All-America Game Position Preview: Defensive Tackles

Welcome to our in depth coverage of the 2013 Under Armour All-America Game. We will presenting previews of all the positions through out the week. This fourth preview will look in depth of all the defensive tackles in this year’s game.

#17 Greg Gilmore | South View HS | Hope Mills, NC | 6’4, 285 | LSU
Gilmore is an LSU commitment, making the verbal back in early November 2012. Gilmore was also being lured by other SEC powerhouses, Florida and Alabama before making LSU his choice. Gilmore has used his strength to help him in his ability to stopping the run from opposing offenses. Gilmore is rated #104 overall on the ESPN 150 player rankings and is rated the 9th best overall defensive tackle in the nation according to ESPN.

#51 Maquedius Bain | University School | Fort Lauderdale, FL | 6’5, 285 | Undeclared
Undecided about where he will head, Bain is a player that is being recruited by Florida’s Big Three (Florida, Florida State and Miami), but is likely looking to take his services out-of-state to LSU. Bain is a leader and was one of the major contributing factors that allowed University School to appear in a state championship game in 2010 before the school final won its first title in 2012. Watch for Bain to once again show why he is one of the best that includes being disruptive once he gets in opposing backfields. Bain is ranked #43 overall in the ESPN 150 player rankings and is considered the 6th best overall defensive tackle in the nation according to ESPN.

 #57 Caleb Brantley | Crescent City HS | Crescent City, FL | 6’3, 304 | Florida
Brantley has been committed to Florida since the start of 2012 and while it has been thought he might be wavering from that commitment he has stayed true to it. Brantley was invited to The Opening this past summer and helped lead his team to the playoffs in Florida’s Class 1A Rural Division for the first time in several seasons. Brantley performs well on the line with stopping the run and using his strength to his advantages. Brantley is the #38 overall player on the ESPN 150 player rankings and the 5th best overall defensive tackle in the nation according to ESPN.

 #91 Kennedy Tulimasealii | Waianae HS | Waianae, HI | 6’1, 300 | Hawaii
Only one of two players this year to come from the state of Hawaii for the Under Armour All-America Game., Tulimasealii is a Hawaii commitment and has been since November 2012. Tulimasealii is ranked the 48th best defensive tackle according to ESPN. Tulimasealii attends the same school that former NFL linebacker Kurt Gouveia graduated from. Gouveia spend most of his NFL career with the Washington Redskins and won two Super Bowl rings with the team.

Henry Poggi, #17 | Gilman School | Baltimore, MD | 6’3, 260 | Michigan
One of the top players in Maryland and a Michigan commit, Henry Poggi will a force to be reckoned with against the run. Leading the Gilman Greyhounds to a state championship win in the MIAA Conference A Title Game, Poggi went up against top tier talent and opponents such as Don Bosco Prep (New Jersey), Archbishop Moeller (Ohio) and Good Counsel (Maryland). He is listed as the 288t best player in the country according to the ESPN 300 rankings for the Class of 2013.

Dee Liner, #25 | Muscle Shoals HS | Muscle Shoals, AL | 6’3, 270 | Auburn
Recruiting battles between Auburn and Alabama are quite intense and the battles for Muscle Shoals defensive tackle Dee Liner is no different. Liner selected the Auburn Tigers over the Alabama Crimson Tide on June 11, 2012. The disruptive and talented Liner, rated as the number 12 overall player on the ESPN 150 list also has offers from USC, Tennessee and Arkansas.Liner’s Muscle Shoals Trojan squad finished with a 13-2 overall record en route an AHSAA Class 5A State Semifinals.

Montravious Adams, #51 | Dooly County HS | Vienna, GA | 6’3 281 | Undeclared
Montravious Adams is considered to be one of the toughest, most physical and quickest defensive tackles for the 2013 Class for his size. Adams, rated as the seventh best overall player for the 2013 Class on the ESPN 150, led the Dooly County Bobcats to an 11-3 record and an appearance in the Georgia Class A Public League State Championship. In his senior season, Adams compiled 127 total tackles, 7.5 sacks, six forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries. Adams is expected to be a Signing Day decision with schools from across the country looking lure his services, Among the top schools on the list includes Florida, Alabama, Clemson and Georgia.

Kelsey Griffin, #94 | Mill Creek HS | Hoschton, GA | 6’1, 285 | South Carolina
Coming in with offers from schools such as Florida, Florida State and North Carolina, Mill Creek (Ga.) defensive tackle Kelsey Griffin settled in with an October 10 commitment to the South Carolina Gamecocks.Griffin is rated as the 134th overall prospect and 13th best defensive tackle in the 2013 ESPN 150 player rankings. On September 21 in front of TV cameras and media, Griffin committed to the Georgia Bulldogs, only to have is committed deemed unacceptable a few hours later. In his senior season, Griffin collected a total of 108 tackles, 10 sacks and one interception.

Chris Jones, #98 | Houston HS | Houston, MS | 6’7, 260 | Mississippi State
In terms of height, alongside Logan Tuley-Tilman, Chris Jones will be the tallest player on the field of play. After leading his Houston Hilltoppers to the state championship game, Jones sets his sights on Mississippi State. where he committed to on June 11, 2012. The 164th best player according to the ESPN 300 rankings, finished his senior season with 160 tackles on the year including 14 sacks and one interception.