Justin

Dedich

The team will maintain control of three players that surprised in 2025, including “thiccer kicker” Harrison Mevis. The tendering of exclusive rights free agents ties the three to the franchise through the 2026 season considering they are unable to negotiate with other teams. At least for now, it appears as if the Rams will continue forward with Mevis as their place kicker.

“I felt like I fit in with their coaching and style of play,” said Dedich, who specifically cited the way he has meshed with HC Clay Helton and OL coach Neil Callaway during the recruiting process. The 6-foot-2, 280-pounder was one of the top performers at the Rivals100 Five-Star Challenge several weekends ago, with Rivals noting that he “passed with flying colors” when facing off with some of the better defensive line recruits in the Indianapolis camp. Dedich ranks as the outlet’s No. 2 center prospect in the 2018 class.

“Dedich, like the current Tar Heel, is tough and competitive and projects as an interior lineman in college with the ability to develop at center and be an early contributor,” Haubert writes. He notes that the 6-foot-2, 280-pounder “blends football smarts with a tough, physical style and has the potential to be an eventual anchor for USC’s O-line.” Of the Trojans’ seven commitments in the 2018 class thus far, six are members of the ESPN 300. That number would have been bolstered by former pledge Matt Corral, but he reopened his recruitment over the weekend.

“The Five-Star Challenge was a big test for him because there were some outstanding defensive tackles there and he passed with flying colors,” relayed the outlet. They refer to Dedich as having “tremendous feet” and deem him to be “super powerful.” Just one slight demerit which could end up limiting his recruitment by degrees -- that of height. Rivals notes that if the 6-foot-2, 280-pounder was a few inches taller, he would be drawing even more interest than he currently is. Dedich ranks as the outlet’s No. 2 center prospect in the 2018 class.

“In shirts and shorts, in pads, whatever it was,” Huffman writes, “Dedich showed why he’s the premier offensive lineman in the West and the best center prospect since 2004 when Jeff Byers was the top-ranked prospect from the region.” ESPN’s Craig Haubert compares Dedich (6'2/280) to North Carolina C Tommy Hatton due to similar rugged, competitive natures on the field.