​Eagles to feature brand new defensive line in 2024

by Michael Smith


When it comes to the defensive line, the Grain Valley football team will have to hit the reset button in 2024.

The Eagles entire defensive line from 2023 graduated, including Camden Nelson, Collin Burd, Stylz Blackmon, and Jayveon Ervin.

Head coach David Allie said this year’s defensive line will feature all newcomers. He said they have gained some experience in scrimmages and camps during the summer, but it will be a whole new ballgame once the regular season starts.

“We got them a lot of experience this summer, but it’s not the same as playing on a Friday night,” Allie said. “When you go into a season or a game, you just want to be fundamentally sound and focus on your technique and work hard every day. These guys do that. They have been working hard all summer.”

Two of those guys include senior defensive ends Matice Poke and Alex Osborn. Those two are tabbed to begin the season as starters in the season opener on Aug. 30 at Raytown High School.
Osborn played for the varsity team on special teams some last season and will get a chance to show what he can do in the trenches. Allie said his experience with the varsity team last year should help him going into the season.

“He’s got a great attitude and he’s got a great motor,” Allie said of Osborn. “He’s been around some successful defensive lineman and a successful program. He wants to be that next guy up.”

Osborn is confident in his abilities and has some big goals coming in.

“I say I am pretty quick and I have a little bit of strength to my ability,” he said. “I would love to become an all-conference player, as well, but I definitely want to get over that hump and get past that quarterfinal game.”

Like Osborn, Poke has some potential to become a solid defensive end, Allie said.

“Matice is one of those guys who worked and he has a chance to play to play some meaningful reps,” Allie said. “He’s grown and continues to grow and he’s coachable.”

Added Poke: “I have some speed to the ball, and I have quick hands to the man in front of me. I am working on my moves and getting off blocks.

“We have had an all-conference D line the last few years. That is a tradition for us. We want to produce a powerhouse for the D line.”

At defensive tackle, Allie said he expects junior Titus Jennings to get some reps at the position while also starting on the offensive line.

“He’s done a good job playing defensive line for us,” Allie said. “We have been having him work on his conditioning because he’s going to play on both sides of the ball for us on Fridays.”

Sophomore Miles Smith is someone who will likely get some time at tackle, also. Allie said he has a great motor and is one of the strongest players on the team. Allie noted other underclassmen could join the rotation on the defensive line as the season progresses, but Smith, Jennings, Poke and Osborn are currently the frontrunners to get the bulk of the playing time up front.

The defensive line unit as a whole will not have as much size as the 2023 group, and will likely be undersized compared to some other teams, but the newcomers bring a lot of speed to the table, which could work in their favor in terms of getting of blocks and getting to the quarterback on the pass rush.

“We have pretty big shoes to fill compared to last year’s offensive line, but we are ready for the challenge,” Osborn said. We are undersized but we are fast and violent.

“We all have speed of the ball. We are working on it in practice, and we are getting better. I am very confident with our speed that we will get a lot of sacks.” 

Seniors Matice Poke, left, and Alex Osborne are likely to start at the varsity level for the first time on the defensive line. Photo credit: Michael Smith