SAN ANGELO, TX -- Football practice starts in exactly four weeks for teams across the state and we are continuing our in-depth position previews with the top five defensive linemen in the Concho Valley.
Here are the top five defensive linemen you need to keep an eye on in 2019:
Slone Stultz, 5-10, 220, Sr., Mason
Stultz capped off a dominant 2018 season with 6.5 tackles, 2.5 tackles for a loss, 1.5 sacks and Most Outstanding Defensive Player of the Game in Mason's 44-6 win over New Deal for the Class 2A Division I title game. That brought his totals to 97 total tackles and six sacks for the year.
He earned All-Concho Valley honors to go along with his first team All-State selection from the Texas Sports Writer's Association last year.
Heading into 2019, Stultz is the focal point of Mason's defense, which returns four starters. He was named the preseason defensive player of the year for Class 2A by Dave Campbell's Texas Football. He and RB/LB Klay Klaerner will be expected to impose the same physical style of play they imposed on opponents last year.
Joe Walker, Sr., Wall
Walker will take over as the leader on the defensive line for the Hawks with the graduation of Gage Weishuhn this year. He stepped up to prove he was a threat from his defensive end spot.
He racked up 65 tackles and a team-high 12 sacks last season. That earned him first team All-District 3-3A DI honors.
Walker is regarded as one of the fastest players for the Hawks, so expect him to have another dominant year.
Brady Allen, 5-11, 270, Sr., Central
Allen is one of four returning linemen for the Bobcats' defense and will likely make new defensive coordinator Josh Willis' job a lot easier.
The senior defensive tackle was a monster in 2018 with 83 tackles and a pair of sacks. His total tackles leads the returning group on the line and his two sacks matched Xy'Kerion Paulk's total last year.
Expect Allen to camp out in opponent's backfields this season if Central wants to claim the district title.
Josh Fava, 5-9, 160, So., Christoval
Fava was a standout on the line for the Cougars in his freshman year.
He racked up 66 total tackles and three sacks last year to help the Cougars to a share of the District 8-2A DII title and their first 11-man playoff win in school history.
Fava is a part of Christoval's defense that will return nine starters from 2018.
Quinton McMullan, 6-0, 175, Sr., Sterling City
The Sterling City Eagles look poised to make a deep run with nine returning starters from their 9-2 run in 2018. Leading the way up front is senior defensive lineman Quinton McMullan.
McMullan racked up 87 tackles and 10 sacks for the Eagles last year. His 10 sacks led the team a year ago and earned the incoming senior first team All-District honors.
He proved his versatility as well, catching 17 passes for 413 yards and 10 touchdowns to earn All-District honors as a tight end.
This story was updated at 11:31 a.m. after learning that Jansen Morris has transferred to Llano.
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