Michigan's Top 10 Defensive Line Prospects for the Class of 2018

As usual, the state of Michigan is absolutely loaded on the defensive line for the class of 2018. This upcoming season has run-pluggers, pass rushers and players with raw, but unlimited potential talent-wise, throughout the entire Great Lakes State. Here are the top 10 defensive line prospects for Michigan's class of 2018.

Top 10 D-Line Prospects --

1. Jalen Mayfield-6-5, 255-DE-Grand Rapids Catholic Central-Truly one of the best players in the Midwest. Mayfield, a soon-to-be four-year varsity football and basketball player for Catholic Central, is a high-level D-I prospect on either side of the line. I'm a proponent of putting your most explosive and talented athletes on the defensive side of the football, so I envision Mayfield fleshing out to 6-5, 285-ish and becoming as close to a "J.J. Watt-type player" as this state has produced in recent memory. Last season, Mayfield led Catholic Central to the Division 4 football state championship. He has strength, speed, athleticism, balance, everything you'd want in a defensive line prospect. Most Big Ten schools have offered.Verbal to Michigan.
2. Aidan Hutchinson-6-6, 265-DE-DT-Dearborn Divine Child- A pure, natural talent, Hutchinson was born to play football. With instinctive skill and technique, Hutchinson is, at times, a man among boys. Along with Mayfield, the state of Michigan has arguably the two best DE prospects in the Midwest. Hutchinson, who runs a 4.9 40, could add 30-40 pounds at the next level and compete at DT at 6-6, 295-305 and be just a beast down low. Or he could stay lighter and hold down one side of the line at DE. Either way, Hutchinson is one of the best players in Michigan. Verbal to Michigan. 
3. Andre Carter-6-4, 255-DE-DT-Detroit Cass Tech- A transfer from Southfield A & T, Carter is a force inside or outside for the national powerhouse Technicians. He can rush the passer or slide down inside to stuff the run, if need be. I love his versatility and the fact he can gain muscle and weight at the next level and become a player who coaches could move up and down the line of scrimmage. Despite an early verbal commitment to WMU, Big Ten schools are hot on his trail. Verbal to WMU.
4. Jaylan Franklin-6-5, 205-DE-Gibraltar Carlson- Don't let Franklin's light weight fool you, he's this high on my D-Line list because of his "through-the-ceiling" potential. Super coordinated for a big guy and explosive, Franklin, who runs a 4.6 40, is a fantastic athlete, first and foremost. He's a D-I level high hurdler in track and field, finishing seventh in the 300-meter hurdles (39.44) at this year's state meet. He has the frame to redshirt at the next level, add 30-35 pounds of muscle/weight, and be ready to contribute at 6-5, 235-240 in his initial year of eligibility. Nowadays, it's all about pressuring the QB and Franklin has the potential to become an unrelenting edge rusher of the highest caliber at the next level. Verbal to Wisconsin.
5. Julius Lee-6-4, 295-DT-River Rouge-A big-time run-plugger with better-than-average mobility for a player his size. Like Franklin, Lee is from the Downriver area, a blue-collar, hard-working section of metropolitan Detroit. Lee is a scrappy, fearless and rugged performer who battles deep inside the trenches each and every week. Big Ten and MAC schools are recruiting Lee.
6. Maurice White-6-5, 250-DE-Detroit King-Big, fast and long-armed, White helped lead King to the Division 2 state championship last season. A bit of an "under-the-radar" type guy nationally right now, I predict White will blow up once his senior season begins. Verbal to Toledo.
7. Tyden Ferris-6-4, 260-DE-Delton-Kellogg- Small-town kid with big-time ability. Ferris is extremely physical and intense upfront along the line of scrimmage. One of the top wrestlers in the state of Michigan, Ferris uses his grappling background to control opponents and maintain balance and a center of gravity unusual for most players his age. I see Ferris continuing to add weight at the next level and eventually move inside. Verbal to CMU.
8. Devin Koscielniak-6-6, 250-DT-Johannesburg-Lewiston- A northern Michigan giant who dominates opponents with his shear size and length. One of the best prospects ever out of "Jo-Burg," Koscielniak could also play OT at the next level. Last season he was named to the AP Division 7-8 first team All-State squad. A sleeper-type player from a smaller school, Koscielniak is a bonafide D-I level recruit.
9. Ronnie Buford-6-4, 215-DE-Chelsea- A lightning quick blur from the edge, Buford is another player who will add 25-35 pounds at the next level and suit up at 6-4, 240-250 and be a guy who can put his hand in the dirt or stand up and rush the passer. An outstanding basketball player, Buford has the quick-twitch explosiveness defensive coordinators dream about when seeking out pass rusher-type players. Verbal to WMU.
10. (Tie) Dan VanOpstall-6-6, 255-DE-Jenison- Long and rangy, VanOpstall is a big-framed player with good quickness and mobility. Another player who will add plenty of weight as a collegian, Also outstanding OT prospect. VanOpstall runs a 4.9 40. Army offer. Kenyon Story-6-3, 290-DT-Breckenridge- Arguably the best player in Breckenridge history, Story was a dominating force last season for the Huskies recording 74 tackles and 10 sacks. Named to the Detroit Free Press Division 8 All-State first team and the Saginaw News Dream Team last year, Story is a D-I talent at a small mid-Michigan school.

Other top D-Line prospects (all are high, mid or low D-I level players) -- Griffen Best-6-3, 300-DT-Birmingham Groves, Steven Laws-6-2, 235-DE-Battle Creek Lakeview (Battle Creek Enquirer All-City selection last season), Athletic Jones-6-4, 235-DE-Rochester Hills Stoney Creek, Gio Kizer-6-6, 225-DE-Warren Fitzgerald (55 tackles, 19 TFL), Tremaine Dent-6-3, 225-DE-Warren Lincoln (four-year varsity player, 4.8 40), Fazon Flanegin-6-4, 240-DE-East Lansing, Brandon Rake-6-6, 235-DE-Whitehall, Andrew Kraatz-6-6, 250-DE-Standish-Sterling (Army verbal), Jamar Bennett-6-1, 250-DE-Wyoming Godwin Heights (five sacks, 68 tackles, Grand Rapids All-South), Jacob Cleypool-6-2, 275-DT-Hopkins (six sacks, 53 tackles, Grand Rapids All-South), Josh Perkins-6-7, 225-DE-Ypsilanti, Nick Jungel-6-6, 225-DE-Olivet (Battle Creek Enquirer All-Area), Nathan Bellinger-6-5, 245-DE-Ithaca (107 tackles, 12 TFL, Div. 5-6 All-State, Lansing State Journal Dream Team), Eli Jackson-6-1, 280-DT-Muskegon, Cameron Herrod-6-2, 260-DT-Belleville, Bradley Novess-6-4, 310-DT-Flushing, Malachi Price-6-2, 305-DT-Grand Rapids Christian, Christian Love-6-1, 285-DT-Detroit Country Day (starter on D-4 state runner-up), Javeon Coleman-6-3, 280-DT-River Rouge, Eric Smith-6-1, 280-DT-Detroit Cass Tech (starter on D-1 state championship team, named to the Detroit Free Press Division 1 All-State first team), Orniska Webster-6-0, 245-DT-Detroit East English Village (eight sacks, 16 TFL, Detroit News All-Detroit first team), Ray Cunningham-6-2, 250-DT-Charlevoix, Chuckie Anthony-6-2, 285-DT-Muskegon Mona Shores, Nick Cominos-6-1, 240-DE-Warren DeLaSalle, Rafael Reyes-6-2, 275-DT-Chelsea (5.2 40), Levi VanDam-6-4, 225-Holland Christian, Elijah Gruley-6-3, 240-Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central, Dave Blake-6-1, 270-DT-Detroit Denby (Detroit Free Press All-Detroit first team), Trevor Dilley-6-5, 255-DT-St. Joseph, Jordan Lewis-6-1, 290-DT-Lake Orion, Michael Laurencelle-6-4, 225-DE-Birmingham Brother Rice (eight sacks, 15 TFL), Tyler Carter-6-2, 230-DE-River Rouge, Alregio Sanders-6-5, 230-DE-Livonia Churchill, Vernon Rush-6-3, 220-DE-Detroit Renaissance (4.8 40), James Davis-6-1, 295-DT-Detroit King, Kamron Wheeler-6-3, 240-DT-Oscoda (5.2 40), Stewart Newblatt-6-4, 255-DT-Clarkston, Sean Sikkema-6-3, 275-DT-McBain, Maxwell Green-6-3, 270-DE-West Bloomfield, Laquan Johnson-6-4, 230-DE-Burton-Bendle (CMU verbal), Dwayne Lewis-6-4, 310-DT-Chippewa Valley, Mikel Seals-Porter-6-2, 240-DE-Benton Harbor, Chris Smith-6-2, 245-DE-Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook-Kingswood (315 bench, 420 squat, 4.8 40, Harvard verbal), Jack Sape-6-4, 240-DE-Bloomfield Hills (Ball State verbal), Desjuan Johnson-6-3, 240-DE-Detroit East English Village (WMU verbal), Tirrell Hausmanis-6-4, 260-DE-Three Rivers (three-year starter, also hoops player).