2024 HSSN football position-by-position breakdown: Scouting the defensive line

By: Chris Harlan
Sunday, August 18, 2024 | 6:01 AM

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TribLive HSSN will break down the top players at one position per day until Week Zero. Here is a look at the top defensive linemen for the 2024 season.

1. Christopher Climes

Elizabeth Forward

Senior, 6-2, 305

The “Sack Sensei” is the fun moniker Climes added to his social media bio. But the Buffalo commit can certainly back up the nickname after racking up 18 sacks last season. Climes earned first-team all-conference honors on both sides of the football, but it was his deceptive quickness on defense that earned him nearly three dozen college offers. He finished his junior season with 62 total tackles, including 29 tackles for a loss. Rated by Rivals.com as a three-star prospect, Climes committed in July to Buffalo over finalists James Madison and Eastern Carolina.

Watch Christopher Climes highlights

2. Jaiden Brown-Demery

West Mifflin

Senior, 6-4, 315

A knee injury cost Brown-Demery his sophomore season and a few games last year, but when finally healthy he was able to show what he can do. A two-way starter for West Mifflin, Brown-Demery earned first-team all-conference honors on both sides of the football. Western Hills coaches also voted him as the conference’s Defensive Lineman of the Year and the Defensive Player of the Year. He excelled as a run-stuffer, yet his college future could be on the offensive line. His blocks helped the Titans rush for more than 2,000 yards last season. He committed this summer to Akron, having listed close to a dozen FBS offers, including a few Power 4 schools.

Watch Jaiden Brown-Demery highlights

3. Clancy Orie

Bethel Park

Senior, 6-3, 255

Orie has a knack for getting into the backfield. The disruptive defensive tackle had eight tackles for a loss and five sacks among his 65 tackles last season. Allegheny Six coaches voted him first-team all-conference. The Navy commit drew nearly two dozen college offers, including from FBS schools Akron, Air Force, Bowling Green, Buffalo, Eastern Michigan, Miami (Ohio) and Toledo.

Watch Clancy Orie highlights

4. Lincoln Hoke

North Allegheny

Junior, 6-1, 210

Hoke earned first-team all-conference for offense after helping the Tigers win the WPIAL 6A title and reach the state finals. But the guard doubles as a high-motor defensive lineman who made 57 tackles, six tackles for a loss and four sacks last year. Watching him work might stir memories of his NFL father, Chris, a former Steelers lineman. Hoke’s older brothers, Cade and Nathan, both were recruited to BYU, where their father also played college football.

Watch Lincoln Hoke highlights

5. Henry Barbisch

Bishop Canevin

Senior, 6-5, 242

Barbisch had 16 tackles for a loss and nine sacks among his 42 tackles last season. He committed to Air Force, where he may play tight end. But his bigger impact on Friday nights has been felt on defense, where he plays defensive end. He was recognized in all-conference honors for defense last season. His list of college offers reached 20, including other FBS schools Akron, Bowling Green, Kent State, Marshall, Miami (Ohio) and Toledo.

Watch Henry Barbisch highlights

One to watch

Vann Kavals

Our Lady of the Sacred Heart

Senior, 6-5, 240

A broken leg ended Kavals’ junior season in his third game. The Akron recruit played only nine quarters but was off to a blistering start with 7½ sacks, 12 tackles for a loss and four forced fumbles. Now healthy, he is back playing defensive end and quarterback for the Chargers. Along with the Zips, Kavals had FBS offers from Air Force and Miami (Ohio).

Watch Vann Kavals highlights

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Position breakdowns

QB | RB | WR | TE | OL | DL | LB | CB | S | K

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Chris Harlan is a TribLive reporter covering sports. He joined the Trib in 2009 after seven years as a reporter at the Beaver County Times. He can be reached at charlan@triblive.com.

Tags: Bethel Park, Bishop Canevin, Elizabeth Forward, North Allegheny, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, West Mifflin