As we head towards a new football season in the fall of 2024, IdahoSports.com is once again getting fans ready by unveiling the Top 10 players at each position.  These lists feature players from all corners of the state, and from all six classification levels.  Each week, we'll publish a new list of Top 10 players.  Here's the schedule:

July 3 (Offensive Linemen)

July 9 (Defensive Linemen)

July 16 (Special Teams)

July 23 (Running Backs)

July 30 (Linebackers)

August 6 (Wide Receivers/Tight Ends)

August 13 (Defensive Backs)

August 20 (Quarterbacks)

Without further ado, here are the Top 10 Defensive Linemen to watch out for in 2024.  These selections have been made by the editorial staff at IdahoSports.com, and are listed in alphabetical order by school.  We made these selections based on a number of factors, including: returning All-State or All-Conference pedigree, college recruiting hype, and the good old-fashioned eye test.

Tannon Nelson, 11, Aberdeen

Ask anyone in East Idaho, and they’ll tell you: Aberdeen players are tough.  What Aberdeen lacks in low roster numbers overall, they make up for in pure grit, determination and toughness.  Nelson exemplifies this perfectly.  No one outside of Aberdeen had heard of him at the start of 2023, but everyone sure knows his name now.  Nelson led Aberdeen’s defense with 90 tackles, including eight for loss.  He also tallied four sacks and three forced fumbles.

Jayson Cady, 12, Coeur d’Alene

This 5-foot-11, 196 pound missile roams all over the field for Coeur d’Alene, lining up at safety, slot cornerback, and outside linebacker.  He even lends a hand on offense as a slot receiver.  The Inland Empire League’s Defensive MVP finished with 111 tackles, seven tackles for loss, five interceptions, two forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries.

Quinn Hood, 12, Fruitland

The 5-foot-11, 200 pound Hood is a true three-sport athlete.  After picking up All-Conference and All-State honors at linebacker last year, Hood hit the wrestling mats and claimed the 220-pound championship in Class 3A.  Then in the spring, Hood handled the catching duties for the Grizzlies’ baseball team.  In terms of football, Hood was a tackling machine, finishing with 114 tackles and three interceptions.

Trevor Corn, 12, Garden Valley

Just by analyzing the stats, Corn blows away the competition: 150 tackles, 23 tackles for loss, ten sacks, three fumble recoveries, and two forced fumbles.  Then consider that he plays eight-man football, where there are less teammates to help out, and bigger areas for explosive backs and receivers to roam.  Garden Valley will be strong again in 2024, and Corn is a big reason why.

Brock Walker, 12, Homedale

Death, taxes, and excellence from Homedale’s football team.  Their stout running game garners a lot of the attention, but Homedale’s defense has quietly been the bedrock of coach Matt Holtry’s program.  Walker finished last season with 75 tackles, four tackles for loss, and two interceptions, picking up 1st Team All-State and All-Conference honors along the way.

Ben Carlson, 12, Logos

Carlson is a stout (6-foot-1, 210 pounds) two-way player for the Knights.  While Carlson will be heavily featured in Logos’ offense as a slot back, it’s his defensive chops that get him on this list.  Last year, Carlson finished with 92 tackles, 12 tackles for loss and three sacks.  Carlson missed a pair of games due to injury, and without those, you’re most likely looking at 100-plus tackles overall.

Luke Steinmeyer, 12, Marsing

The 6-foot-3, 200-pound Steinmeyer holds down the middle of Marsing’s defense at mike backer.  And while college coaches have visions of Steinmeyer’s abilities at tight end dancing in their heads, there’s no denying he’s an excellent linebacker as well.  Steinmeyer has been a starter since his sophomore year, and is part of a group of seniors that have helped resurrect the Huskies’ program.

Mason McDaniel, 12, Nampa Christian

McDaniel is the lone repeat selection on our list.  The 5-foot-8, 160-pounder covers a lot of ground defensively.  McDaniel led the Trojans with 106 tackles a season ago, and added 1.5 sacks, two interceptions, three forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery.

Gage Haws, 12, Owyhee

For the longest time, it appeared that Haws’ college future was in baseball, as the 6-2, 200-pounder has been Owyhee’s starting catcher and third baseman since his freshman year.  That narrative only picked up steam after Division 1 Utah Valley University offered Haws a scholarship during his sophomore season, followed by a verbal commitment last year as a junior.  But after a coaching change at UVU, Haws has re-opened his recruitment, and football could certainly be on the table after he finished with 129 tackles a season ago.

Mason Krahn, 12, Skyview

Krahn is a physical specimen, standing 6-foot-2 and 220 pounds.  He earned 1st Team All-Conference honors at both tight end and linebacker a year ago, but he’ll make his bones on defense at the college level after committing to the Idaho Vandals to play linebacker earlier this summer.  Skyview intends to topple Bishop Kelly at the top of the Southern Idaho Conference this year, and with an ace up their sleeve like Krahn, it’s definitely possible.