Defensive Tackle has long been one of the most important positions for college teams, separating mediocre defenses from the great ones. It has also been an area where Tech has traditionally struggled mightily in recruiting. With only 1 DT added in the 2017 class, it was imperative that the Jackets hit their targets at this position in 2018, and boy did they. With 2 of their top targets committed, the team may not take any more this class, but there are still a couple to keep an eye on.

The ratings are the same as they were for the DE article I wrote, which is here. If you need a refresher on the explanations for the categories, they are in the link.

• Size
• Explosiveness
• Bend
• Run Defense
• Pass Rush

The grades for each category are as follows:

• 5 - Power 5 Elite
• 4 - Power 5 Above Average
• 3 - Power 5 Average
• 2 - G5
• 1 - FCS

TK Chimedza

• Size - 4
• Explosiveness - 4
• Bend - 4
• Run Defense - 4
• Pass Rush - 3

Chimedza is perhaps the biggest get of the class so far. A highly-rated player out of IMG Academy, Chimedza is further along in his physical and technical development than any DT Tech has recruited in some time. Already at 300 lbs, Chimedza looks almost maxed out on his frame, and looks college ready before his senior season. His length is more on the average side, but his overall frame and current weight makeup are really, really good.

Chimedza has a great explosive step and punch off the snap, especially for someone who already weighs 300 lbs. He also is flexible, allowing him to take on angle blocks and shed blocks in the run game. In his camp pass rush reps, he shows an ability to bend around a blocker in a pass rush situation

His run defense is as refined as I’ve seen on a Georgia Tech commit as long as I’ve been watching. He uses his hands to completely control blockers, and is able to shed easily to either side. Even when on the wrong side of the blocker, he can use his hands to get across the blocker’s face, then shed to make the play. Nobody was moving him off the ball, and while he didn’t take on a ton of double teams, he did well with the ones he did see. It was hard for me not to give this one a 5, but I said I’d be stingy with those, and I’m sticking with it. I don’t know that Chimedza will be an elite run defender in college, but he’ll be a good one.

Pass rush film on Chimedza is limited sadly, but there are a few reps of him in shorts against other top recruits. He shows good use of hands, not allowing the OL to get hands into his chest and fighting to bend around the block to the “QB.”

TK is ideally suited for the 3 Technique role at Georgia Tech, but could comfortably swing between both the 1 and the 3 spots over the course of his career.

Austin Smith

• Size - 4
• Explosiveness - 4
• Bend - 3
• Run Defense - 4
• Pass Rush - 3

Smith hasn’t played his senior season of high school football yet, but he already looks like a grown man. Smith has good height, and while his arm length looks about average, he has a thick frame that is mostly filled out on top. He still has room to add more lower body mass, however, and should easily eclipse 300 lbs in a college program.

Smith has that explosive first step I like to see for a defensive linemen, it helps him to be disruptive and create havoc play after havoc play. He routinely uses it to get leverage on blockers as he penetrates into the backfield.

Smith isn’t the bendiest guy ever, and his inconsistent pad level on tape speaks to that. Despite the pad level, he is way too strong for his competition, and dominates in the run game. His coaches have him act as more of a disruptor than a traditional DT, but he’s quite good at what he does. He’ll need to be coached in the other aspects of the position once on campus.

As a pass rusher, Smith primarily utilizes a straight bull rush, and dominates with it. It will be difficult, however, to do that to Power-5 Guards, and he will need to develop an arsenal of secondary moves in college. This tool is still in development

Jalen Alexander

• Size - 3
• Explosiveness - 3
• Bend - 3
• Run Defense - 3
• Pass Rush - 3

Here’s where we get to the uncommitted guys. Alexander is a guy with good length who is not quite as filled out on his frame as the two committed players. He still has considerable good weight, and looks like he could add more in the future. His explosiveness projects average for a 3-Tech DT at the Power-5 level, and his bend does as well. He plays too high way too often, which could be technique or could be a warning flag for a lack of bend.

Like Smith, Alexander is more of a disruptor as a run defender, using his athletic advantage over his opponents to get into the backfield. He’ll have to develop more traditional run defense Techniques before he’s ready to contribute at the college level.

Alexander utilizes mostly a rip move in the pass rush, but needs to get more active with this hands and develop secondary rush moves. With his length, he could be a fairly good interior rusher if he hones his craft.

Some see Alexander as a guy who could play SDE, but I think 3 or 5 Technique is his eventual landing spot. He’s disruptive on the inside, and I don’t really see him bending the corner a ton in the pass rush. He could be a stout run defender outside with more development, however.

Alexander recently tweeted out his official offer, so it appears the coaches are still after him.

Jordan Redmond

• Size - 4
• Explosiveness - 4
• Bend - 3
• Run Defense - 4
• Pass Rush - 3

Here is a DT I really like out of Florida who has visited Tech a few times and recently had Tech in his Top 10. Redmond is about 300 lbs already and looks like he could possibly add a bit more weight still. He isn’t the tallest guy around, but he has long arms for his height, and he knows how to use them. His overall length is fantastic. He has an explosive first step. He doesn’t have great chase speed or bend, but it’s decent. His explosiveness is accentuated by his nasty punch, which helps him to win 1-on-1 from the outset. He uses his punch to get into the chest, get a pad level advantage, and completely control the blocker. This is where arm length comes into play. Against some of the guys he was up against on film, this was completely unfair, they were simply rag-dolled. Even against bigger opponents, he was able to control and shed, all well being immovable. He was occasionally double-teamed, but not often in his highlights. As a pass rusher, he utilizes a brutal bull rush off his punch and counters it with a swim move. Nobody could really block him. The swim will be hard to translate the the next level, but it shows he does rush with a plan, and when one thing isn’t working he can move to another.

Redmond is also great at diagnosing plays. He sniffs out screens and reads pass/run quickly. He’s a very smart player.

Which of these prospects are you excited about?