Who are the area’s top defensive linemen this century?

When we made the decision to embark upon a series of stories picking the area’s top football players from the last quarter century, we knew it wouldn’t be easy.

After looking at the top quarterbacks last month, we’ve now tasked ourselves with choosing the top 10 defensive linemen since 2000. Throughout the season, we’ll roll out more positions.

The area’s top defensive linemen this century are presented below in alphabetical order. Current high school players are not eligible.

Alan Baxter, Buffalo Grove

A three-year starter for the Bison, the 2009 graduate had 78 tackles including 15 for loss and 7 sacks his senior year before heading to Northern Illinois University.

Baxter played extensively for the Huskies through four seasons, earning first-team all-MAC honors as a senior. In 52 college games, he piled up 142 tackles including 30.5 for loss and 15 sacks, eventually landing on the Pittsburgh Steelers’ practice squad.

Cody Cielenski, Downers Grove North

A monster on both sides of the ball, the 2005 graduate powered the Trojans to their lone IHSA title in 2004 with one of the most dominant seasons in state history.

Cielenski notched 22 sacks — including five in one game — as part of his 72 tackles as a senior. He had 43 career sacks for Downers North and played 42 games at Western Michigan University.

Ryan Glasgow, Marmion

Part of the Glasgow dynasty at Marmion, the 2012 graduate made the most of his two varsity seasons. As a senior he had 58 tackles, including 10 for loss, and passed on scholarship offers to walk on at Michigan.

Glasgow started 33 games with the Wolverines, totaling 19 tackles for loss and 5 sacks. Drafted in the fourth round of the 2017 NFL draft by the Bengals, Glasgow retired in 2021 due to injuries after additional time with the Texans, Patriots and Saints.

Garrett Goebel, Montini

One of the top IHSA athletes from the class of 2008, Goebel used his talents as a two-time wrestling state champion to excel on the Broncos’ defensive line.

His senior year he had 63 tackles, including 16 for loss and 4 sacks. He went on to play at Ohio State, where he started two seasons while piling up 75 tackles.

Goebel signed with the Rams as an undrafted free agent.

Jaleel Johnson, Montini

The 2012 graduate played only one season at Montini but was spectacular with 80 tackles, including five for loss, while helping the team win a state title.

A first-team all-Big Ten selection at Iowa, Johnson started 27 games in two seasons. He had 11 sacks, including 7.5 his senior year.

The Vikings drafted Johnson in the fourth round of the 2017 draft. He spent seven seasons in the NFL, playing for five teams.

Mike Panasiuk, Lake Park

The oldest of three brothers to play Division I football, Panasiuk blazed a trail for the family.

In his senior year, the 2015 graduate had 68 tackles, including 19 for loss. Panasiuk went on to Michigan State, where he amassed 100 tackles in four seasons.

Panasiuk spent time on practice squads with the Raiders, Panthers, Colts and Saints. He was selected to the all-XFL team and twice to the all-UFL team.

Matt Roth, Willowbrook

After a brilliant career at Willowbrook, where he won an IHSA wrestling title, the 2000 graduate twice was named first-team all-Big Ten at Iowa and was an all-American as a senior.

Roth was selected in the second round of the NFL draft by the Dolphins. In eight seasons with Miami, Cleveland and Jacksonville, he totaled 295 tackles and 23.5 sacks.

Tommy Schutt, Glenbard West

A two-time all-stater for the Hilltoppers, Schutt as a senior sacked the quarterback 14 times, had 23 tackles for loss and batted down 11 passes.

After decommitting from Penn State, he landed at Ohio State as part of Urban Meyer’s first recruiting class with the Buckeyes. Injuries derailed the early part of his college career but Schutt thrived in his last two seasons, culminating in his final campaign when he had 2.5 sacks.

J.R. Singleton, Warren

The 2020 graduate helped the Blue Devils to the Class 8A title game as a senior when he had 43 tackles, including 23 for loss and 14 sacks.

Singleton soared at Iowa State with 75 tackles and 7.5 sacks in four seasons. An undrafted free agent signing by the Seahawks, he’s a rookie on their practice squad.

Lukas Van Ness, Barrington

As a senior with the Broncos, Van Ness made 67 tackles, including eight for loss and 5 sacks. The 2020 graduate played only two seasons at Iowa after redshirting his freshman year, but he still tallied 19.5 tackles for loss and 13.5 sacks in 27 games.

Van Ness was selected by the Packers with the 13th overall pick in the 2023 draft. In two-plus seasons he has 7.5 sacks.