Defense wins championships.
We've all heard it.
But before the linebackers pile up tackles and before the secondary starts grabbing interceptions, somebody has to win the battle up front.
That's where these guys come in.
Defensive tackles don't usually get the headlines. They don't score touchdowns, and most Friday nights their biggest job is taking on two blockers so somebody else can make the play.
It isn't glamorous.
But every coach will tell you it's one of the most important jobs on the field.
Here are 28 Suspence/912 Suspence's Top 5 Defensive Linemen in the Coastal Empire.
No. 1 Kelvin "Tre'" Brown III – Richmond Hill
When you watch Richmond Hill play, No. 98 is hard to miss.
At 6-foot and 280 pounds, Brown has been a big reason the Wildcats have been so tough up front. He's physical against the run, moves well for a player his size and always seems to be around the football.
Last season, Brown finished with 46 tackles, 22 solo stops, one sack, two interceptions and eight quarterback hurries. He also earned an invitation to the All-American Bowl National Combine. Brown's hard work paid off in June when he committed to Gardner-Webb University, choosing the Runnin' Bulldogs over Florida Atlantic and Samford.
No. 2 Buddy Curry – Calvary Day
Buddy Curry is the kind of player every coach wants.
Need him on offense? He did it in the playoffs.
Need him on defense? He's ready.
The 5-foot-10, 260-pound lineman started on both sides of the ball and helped Calvary Day reach the state championship game. On defense, he finished with 37 tackles, seven tackles for loss, two sacks and five quarterback hurries, doing a lot of the dirty work that doesn't always show up on the highlight reels.
His numbers were solid.
His toughness was even better.
No. 3 Gavin Smith – Benedictine
Every great defense has someone who quietly goes about his business every Friday night.
That was Gavin Smith for Benedictine.
The 6-foot-3, 250-pound defensive lineman helped anchor one of Georgia's best defenses as the Cadets advanced to the Class 4A state championship game. Smith finished with 39 tackles and two sacks, but his biggest impact came by controlling the line of scrimmage and making life easier for everyone around him.
That's what winning football looks like.
No. 4 RJ Brown Jr. – Effingham County
Don't let the Class of 2028 fool you.
RJ Brown Jr. is already one of the most talked-about defensive linemen in Georgia.
After transferring from Savannah Christian to Effingham County, the 6-foot-5, 295-pound lineman continues to see his recruiting take off. Brown recorded 22 tackles and three tackles for loss last season while playing both ways. This summer, he picked up an offer from his dream school, Georgia, giving him 18 Division I offers, including Florida State, Georgia Tech, North Carolina, Virginia Tech and NC State.
The scary part? He's just getting started.
No. 5 Isaac Scott – Benedictine
Nobody appreciates football more than someone who's had it taken away.
After missing his sophomore season with a knee injury, Isaac Scott came back with something to prove.
He did exactly that.
The 6-foot-1, 275-pound defensive lineman finished the year with 27 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss and five sacks, helping Benedictine return to the state championship game. His biggest night came against Perry, where he piled up 2.5 sacks to help clinch the region title. After battling back from injury that cost him his sophomore season, Scott's comeback has also caught the attention of college coaches. He picked up his first Division I scholarship offer from West Georgia and continues to draw recruiting interest from Elon.
It's a comeback season he won't soon forget.
Final Whistle
Watch any football game this fall. Don't follow the quarterback. Watch the guys in the middle (trenches). That's where games are won. These five players may never touch the football, but they'll have as much to say about who wins on Friday nights as anybody wearing a helmet. They may not always get the headlines, but ask any coach, and he'll tell you championships start in the trenches.
Photos courtesy of proshot_sports for 28 Suspence/912 Suspence and the players' social media accounts.
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Optim Orthopedics wants you in the game.
Keeping Savannah-area athletes healthy and ready for gameday all season long.
Team physicians include Dr. Don Aaron (Bryan County), Dr. David Sedory (Benedictine, Bradwell Institute, Liberty County), Dr. David Palmer (Calvary Day, Richmond Hill, South Effingham), and Dr. Thomas Alexander (Savannah Country Day, St. Vincent’s Academy).
