Rankings / Football

District 11-6A Interior Defensive Line Rankings — Week 2 | Presented by Kinetic RX

Waxahachie junior Aaron Snell takes the No. 1 spot after an impressive performance against Coppell, headlining a district loaded with size, strength and disruptive talent in the trenches.

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1. 1

   Aaron Snell — Waxahachie

   Class of 2028 • DL

   Snell looks built for the middle of a defense.

   Playing primarily as a 2i, shaded inside the guard and outside the center, against Coppell, Snell was extremely difficult to move and even harder to keep blocked. His hands are heavy and violent, but it's the combination of those hands with his feet that separates him. Snell gets off blocks quickly, can split double teams and consistently creates penetration without compromising his responsibility against the run.

   At roughly 6-foot and 270-plus pounds, Snell is extremely quick in the phone booth. His ability to move in tight spaces is impressive for an interior defensive lineman his size. That athleticism showed up as a pass rusher as well. On one sack, Snell penetrated the pocket before redirecting and chasing the quarterback after the play changed direction — an impressive display of body control and pursuit for an interior defender his size.

   His game translates beyond simply eating up blocks. Snell can keep linebackers clean, but he's just as capable of beating the block and making the play himself.

   He enters 2026 after earning District Defensive Newcomer of the Year as a sophomore. He recorded 35 tackles, 15 tackles for loss and six sacks last season and already owns offers from programs including Texas, Texas A&M, Oklahoma, Kansas State, SMU and Arizona.

   Through Week 2, he's the district's most disruptive interior defensive lineman.

2. 2

   Antonio Smith — North Crowley

   Class of 2027 • DL

   Antonio Smith has already put together one of the biggest individual defensive performances in the Dallas area this season.

   Smith plays with power, effort and an ability to consistently finish plays behind the line of scrimmage. His production has come against quality competition, and his combination of strength and activity makes him difficult to account for with a single blocker.

   His season opener against Aledo was massive: 10 tackles, six tackles for loss, two sacks and a fumble recovery. North Crowley named him its Defensive MVP for the performance. Smith also entered the season as a returning First Team All-District selection.

   Against Southlake Carroll in Week 2, Smith continued to show why he belongs near the top of this list. He's stout enough to play inside, powerful at the point of attack and consistently finds his way around the football.

   There aren't many wasted snaps with Smith.

3. 3

   Joseph Barnes — Dallas Skyline

   Class of 2028 • DT

   Few interior defenders jumped off the Week 2 film as often as Joseph Barnes.

   His motor was relentless. The 2028 defensive tackle repeatedly penetrated the backfield against Braswell and produced multiple tackles for loss while showing enough athleticism to pursue plays outside his immediate gap.

   What stood out most was how frequently Barnes became the focal point of a play from an interior position. Defensive tackles can play good football without filling up a highlight reel. Barnes was different. He repeatedly created negative plays and forced the offense to account for where he was aligned.

   Even in a game Skyline didn't win, his presence was difficult to miss.

   His combination of motor, athleticism and production earns him the No. 3 spot through Week 2.

4. 4

   Derrick Gleason — North Crowley

   DL

   North Crowley having two players inside the top four says plenty about the Panthers' defensive front.

   At approximately 6-foot-1 and 295 pounds, Gleason gives North Crowley a powerful interior presence and entered the season as another returning First Team All-District selection.

   Gleason is difficult to displace at the point of attack and consistently affects the structure of the run game. His strength allows him to hold his ground inside, while his ability to get off blocks keeps him from becoming simply a space-eater.

   With Smith creating problems alongside him, offenses don't get many comfortable answers when trying to run directly at North Crowley's interior.

5. 5

   Kendrick Harris — Duncanville

   DL

   Duncanville seemingly reloads its defensive front every season, and Kendrick Harris gave the Panthers another disruptive presence inside through the opening weeks.

   Harris brings the combination of size, strength and movement ability expected from a Duncanville interior lineman. He can collapse space quickly, hold up against the run and affect plays without needing the scheme to manufacture opportunities for him.

   His film showed a defender capable of winning individual matchups and consistently affecting the point of attack. In a district filled with big bodies, Harris' ability to actually make plays from the interior earns him a spot inside the top five.

6. 6

   Johnnie Fitzgerald III — Red Oak

   Class of 2027 • DT

   At 6-foot-3 and roughly 280 pounds, Johnnie Fitzgerald III might be the most naturally immovable defender on this list.

   Against Lakeview Centennial, Fitzgerald showed tremendous strength against the run. He's exceptionally difficult to move once he establishes himself, and his size allows him to control space without appearing to strain to do it.

   Where Fitzgerald becomes especially interesting is with his hands.

   He showed legitimate pass-rush technique from the interior, using his hands rather than relying exclusively on his size and bull rush. That's a trait that should translate as he continues developing. There are still snaps where improved pad level would make him even more difficult to handle, but the physical tools are obvious.

   Fitzgerald is a three-year starter for Red Oak and has already attracted extensive college interest. He committed to North Texas this summer after building a recruitment that included numerous Division I opportunities.

   Against the run, very few players in the district make holding their ground look as effortless.

7. 7

   Janero Welch — Duncanville

   Class of 2028 • NG

   At approximately 6-foot-4 and 300 pounds, Janero Welch gives Duncanville exactly what you'd expect from a true nose guard: size in the middle and the ability to clog interior running lanes.

   Welch's value doesn't always show up through sacks or tackles for loss. His frame commands attention inside and creates cleaner paths to the football for the second level of Duncanville's defense.

   He's also only a member of the Class of 2028, leaving significant room for his game to continue developing.

   In a district loaded with experienced interior defenders, Welch already belongs in the conversation — and his ceiling makes him one of the more intriguing young defensive linemen to follow as the season progresses.