Alabama’s top high school football defensive linemen: Meet the best DL in 5A

With the 2026 season underway, AL.com is highlighting some of the top high school football players in Alabama. Our latest statewide list focuses on the best defensive linemen in 5A Public. Earlier: Quarterbacks | Running backs | Wide receivers | Tight ends | Offensive linemen We contacted coaches across the state and asked them to fill out a survey requesting information about their team. These lists were compiled primarily based on the information provided by the coaches who chose to respond. Think you belong on this list? Encourage your coach to fill out the survey! We will add to these lists as appropriate. Check back soon for the poll in which we’ll ask fans to cast their vote to help us determine which of these defensive linemen is the best of the best! BEST DEFENSIVE LINEMEN, ALABAMA 5A PUBLIC Courtney Acoff, Bessemer City, senior A 6-foot-2, 305-pound defensive lineman, Acoff dominated last season with 89 tackles, 25 solo stops, 14 tackles for loss, five sacks, two forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and one defensive touchdown. The Georgia State commit earned 2025 Birmingham News all-region honorable mention and is No. 63 in 247Sports’ composite rankings of the state’s class of 2027 . He has 14 Division I offers.

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