ETSN 25 Recruiting Countdown, No. 1: Isaiah Golden, DT, Carthage

1.Isaiah Golden

Defensive tackle
Carthage
6-2, 315
committed to Texas A&M; additional offers from Arkansas, Baylor, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, TCU (per Golden)

A varsity player since his freshman season, Isaiah Golden tops the initial ETSN 25.

Golden had eight sacks apiece during the past two seasons, which he spent at Elysian Fields before moving to Carthage in March. He missed the first four games of his junior season, but still finished with eight sacks in seven games.

Golden will anchor the middle of the Bulldogs’ 4-3 Cover 2 defense and give plenty of protection to middle linebacker Trent Jackson, who led the Bulldogs in tackles in 2011. Golden joins returning starters Mario McCain and K'Aelin Ware to give Carthage a vaunted defensive front.

Golden is already on everyone’s radar in the recruiting game, so he should only continue to add offers, especially if he wavers on his Texas A&M commitment and shows that he’s still on the table. Golden has said an LSU offer could change his recruitment.

Golden's combination of size, quickness, and explosion off the ball are coveted on the defensive line and make him deserving of the No. 1 spot in the preseason ETSN 25.