SARASOTA – If the maxim holds true that defense wins championships, the unit that leads that title journey is a football team’s defensive line.
When those players closest to the ball do their jobs, whether it’s pressuring the quarterback, or stuffing a team’s running game, the jobs of the players behind them, the linebackers and defensive backs, become easier. When they don’t, opposing offenses feast.
The players from Sarasota and Manatee counties on our list are accustomed to doing their jobs. That means getting defensive.
Top underclassmen: Listing the top 41 Sarasota, Manatee high school football freshmen, sophomores for 2024 season
Here’s the Herald-Tribune’s list of the Sarasota, Manatee area’s top defensive linemen, in alphabetical order:
Top high school defensive linemen in the Sarasota-Manatee area for 2024
Arthur Amorim
Palmetto
Vitals: 6-foot-2, 230 pounds
College Offer: Albion College
Playing defensive end last season for the Tigers, the junior recorded 28 tackles and 2.5 sacks in nine games. He also recovered a fumble.
Asharri Charles
Venice
Vitals: 6-foot-2, 192 pounds; Jr.
College Offers: Miami, Duke, Florida, FSU, and LSU
Last season the four-star defensive end led Venice with 11 quarterback sacks. Charles had 98 tackles, 15.5 for loss, 13 QB hurries, and one fumble recovery.
Hale Durfee
Riverview
Vitals: 6-foot-4, 235 pounds; Sr.
College commitment: None
The Ram defensive end didn’t play much early on last season for the Rams. But Durfee’s playing time picked up, and he finished with 26 tackles and a sack in nine games. He hurt his knee playing lacrosse and missed spring football, but when Durfee is healthy, head coach Josh Smithers said he will start.
Bryce Fulda
Cardinal Mooney
Vitals: 6-foot-3, 225 pounds; Jr.
College commitment: None
The Cougars’ defensive end finished last season with 43 tackles, six sacks, an interception, one pass defended and one fumble recovery.
Kevontay Hugan
Booker
Vitals: 6-foot-3, 245 pounds; Jr.
College Offers: Has 16 including USC, Miami, and Louisville.
The 6-foot-3, 245-pound defensive end finished last season with 46 tackles,16.5 for losses. Hugan added 5.5 quarterback sacks, four hurries, and two passes defended.
Cutter Johnson
Sarasota
Vitals: 5-foot-11, 215 pounds; Sr.
College commitment: None
Playing in six games last season along the Sailor defensive line, the 5-foot-11, 215-pound Johnson finished with 13 tackles and a sack. First-year head coach Amp Campbell will count on Johnson’s senior leadership on a young team.
Eli Jones
Venice
Vitals: 6-foot-4, 240 pounds; Sr.
College commitment: South Florida
The Venice defensive end last season recorded 117 tackles, five sacks, eight QB hurries, caused a fumble, and recovered two.
Ean Johnson-Kelley
Manatee
Vitals: 6-foot-1, 275 pounds; Sr.
College commitment: Mercer University
The Hurricanes’ defensive lineman recorded a team-high 53 tackles last season – 16 for loss – five quarterback sacks, 18 QB hurries, three recovered fumbles, two caused fumbles, a blocked punt, and blocked field goal.
Alvoid Kennon
Manatee
Vitals: 6-foot, 250 pounds; Sr.
College commitment: None
Playing defensive tackle and end, the Hurricane finished last season with 48 tackles, four quarterback sacks, nine quarterback hurries, one caused fumble, and one blocked field goal.
Brian Klingel
Sarasota
Vitals: 6-foot-2, 200 pounds; Sr.
College commitment: Albion College
The 6-foot-2, 200-pounder finished tied for third on the Sailors with 60 tackles, including a team-high 14 tackles for losses.
Kayvon Love
Riverview
Vitals: 5-foot-11, 300 pounds; Jr.
College commitment: None
As a sophomore, the Ram defensive tackle saw action in nine games for the Rams, finishing with 19 tackles. Love will start this season as a junior.
Blake Roulund
Cardinal Mooney
Vitals: 5-foot-10, 210 pounds; Jr.
College commitment: None
Finishing third on the Cougars last season in tackles with 58, the Cougar defensive lineman/linebacker also had six quarterback sacks, two fumble recoveries, and a forced fumble.
Carson Spenn
Sarasota Christian
Vitals: 6-foot-3, 160 pounds; Sr.
College commitment: None
The son of Blazer head coach Jacob Spenn finished third on the team in tackles last season at defensive end with 60. The senior also forced two fumbles and recovered one. Spenn is drawing interest from Hillsdale College.
Ashton Springfield
Parrish
Vitals: 6-foot-3, 215 pounds; Sr.
College commitment: Albion College
Last season the Bulls defensive end…
Herald-Tribune
