Central KY Top 10 Defensive Skill Players (1st Month)

Hardin, Bullitt, Meade, LaRue &amp; Spencer counties top 10 Defensive skill players ranked ; &nbsp; <strong><span style="font-size: 24pt;">1)  Kevin McCroskey ILB #12 (John Hardin) So.</span></strong> McCroskey is by far the best defensive standout purely from in game performance, I've covered so far this year. Since last making an article mentioning him, which was in week 1, over the last 3 games he has put together 31 tackles and 5 sacks. Kevin always comes to play and in the first 2 home games of the season, he showed up big time for the Bulldogs, countless times stopping a play dead in its tracks. Kevin McCroskey is a talented player who does what he needs to and some more on a weekly basis. &nbsp; <strong><span style="font-size: 24pt;">2) Nolan Goodman ILB (Central Hardin) Sr.</span></strong> Position switch for Goodman, as last time I checked the Central Hardin rosters he was a DE/OLB, and the best d-linemen for the Bruins when he did play that. Paying ILB opens up opportunity he didn't have. allowing him to use his effective and strong tackling in the open field and against the passing game more often. Goodman is growing more and more as the season goes by and fits in perfectly at ILB. Since the change, he has amassed 13 solo tackles and picked off 2 throws, the season continues to look good for Nolan Goodman. &nbsp; <strong><span style="font-size: 24pt;">3) Matthew Ball LB #34 (LaRue County) Jr.</span></strong> Matthew Ball can play, he is a strong, fast, decent sized LB. LaRue's defense isn't the greatest but on this unit is Matthew Ball, he has tenacity in his hits and aggression of the line. Not backing sown from any challenge at any point in the game, across 2 games (week 2 and 3) this season, he amassed 11 tackles, 2 TFL and a sack. LaRue has allowed 127 points this season, but Matthew Ball is a big reason why that number isn't even higher. &nbsp; <strong><span style="font-size: 24pt;">4) JuJuan Williams LB (North Hardin) Jr. </span></strong> JuJuan is another LB in the top 5, and is shaping up to be a lot better than I first anticipated. JuJuan has shown promise in almost every game. Always trying to give his team a chance, and never accepting a loss, Williams will change mid game from being a nickel back to being an ILB and sometimes playing on the line, usually adjusting to how the opposing offense plays. Williams is a special talent and is being put in the top 5 for a clear advantage in game knowledge and preparation, Williams also has the fitness for the part as well. &nbsp; <strong><span style="font-size: 24pt;">5) Bennett Solomon OLB #53 (John Hardin) Jr.</span></strong> Bennet Solomon is always leading John Hardin's defense, on every drive getting involved.. Bennett had some of the bulldogs most imprtant defensive plays, usually stops scrambling QBs or runners who try to bounce outside, great at reading PAs and fake handoffs from the 2 games I've seen of him. All around talent with great competitiveness &nbsp; <strong><span style="font-size: 24pt;">6) Braxton Joslin DB #11 (Bullitt East) Jr.</span></strong> Bullitt East has been on fire recently, Joslin is one of the best Corner's in the region and as of right now. I'd call him the best. Braxton hasn't had any WR who has soundly beat him in a game, he also has had multiple sacks and for a DB that is pass covering most the time that's impressive, wrapping up for 14 tackles through the season but almost all are open field solo tackles, some of the hardest one's to get. Braxton Joslin is a great player who can handle all the hard work and extra playtime, a top 10 DB in midseason form. &nbsp; <strong><span style="font-size: 24pt;">7) Kaden Ferguson ILB #32 (Central Hardin) Sr.</span></strong> Kaden Ferguson is already an all around beast on defense, getting every tackle he can, defending every pass he can, never letting a play get out of hand. Kaden is ver yaware to the game situation and is a player who can adapt when needed, the complete opposite of a 1-dimensional player. Kaden is the engine for this defense and has an endless gas tank, he is a full 48min player and shows he has the desire and potential to get a lot better. &nbsp; <strong><span style="font-size: 24pt;">8) Nathan Wilkins DB #9 (Spencer County) Sr.</span></strong> In the only game I seen of him, he was targeted by the Bullitt East offense often in the 1st half. The opposing team found success twice against him early on in the game and then shortly after I heard the coaching staff of Bullitt East target him again, but it ended up being an interception. Throughout the game Nathan was a great outside cover DB who is not easy to get separation on. &nbsp; <strong><span style="font-size: 24pt;">9) Trey Durbin OLB #2 (Elizabethtown) So.</span></strong> Elizabethtown's defense started the season very strong, and Trey Durbin was a big part of that. Through the last 2 weeks Elizabethtown's defense has been letting up more points, but Durbin is a solid player who hasn't stopped the early success on that end of the ball. Causing turnovers and giving any QB heat off the edge when called upon, Durbin is a consistent performer with a lot of room to grow, and in week 1 he sustained an arm injury but still did not show any signs of slowing down. A player with a high amount of durability and toughness. &nbsp; <strong><span style="font-size: 24pt;">10) Jacob Lacefield ILB #58 (Meade County) Jr.</span></strong> Jacob Lacefield hasn't played in 2 weeks due to Covid cancellations, but in the games he did play inside of, he showed enormous potential to be a level-headed and consistent middle linebacker. Meade County relies on him to do a lot of tackling and stop plays that others can't. He couldn't be better at that role, no matter the score, a blowout win, a blowout loss, or a close contest, you will get the same Jacob Lacefield.