Behind the Rankings: 2023 Defensive Linemen

<!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"15px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:15px">With the 2023 high school football season getting closer to kickoff, our initial rankings for the class of 2023 have been officially published for the state of Kentucky. Over the next couple weeks, I will go into detail on how the rankings at each position came to be. Now that I have covered the offensive side of the ball, I will turn my attention to the top senior defensive prospects in the state. The state of Kentucky is filled with a ton of high caliber defensive line prospects in the class of 2023 that will play at the next level but these are the ones that stood out the most.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"17px"}}} --> <h2 style="font-size:17px">1. Micah Carter| 6'5", 235 lbs.| Saint Xavier High School| <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/13349499/5f821a5ca680950ab8f80c4a">Junior Year Film</a></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"15px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:15px">Not only is Micah Carter my top defensive lineman in this class, but he is also my top overall player in the state for the class of 2023. Carter is a big, athletic defensive end that has an impressive combination of quickness and strength as a pass rusher. He shows the ability to use pass rush moves to beat opposing offensive linemen but also has the strength to bull rush and simply overpower blockers on his way to the quarterback. Carter also has shown the awareness and athleticism to defend passes as he has been able to come away with several pass deflections and interceptions in his career. I also love the motor that Carter plays with as he shows determination to get to the ball even when the play is away from him. While Carter received many Division I offers, he decided to commit to play at Purdue, and will be looking to lead Saint Xavier to back-to-back 6A State Championships this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"17px"}}} --> <h2 style="font-size:17px">2. Tommy Ziesmer| 6'3", 240 lbs.| Boyle County High School| <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/11308481/614f71e104289a07d4efac73">Junior Year Film</a></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"15px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:15px">Tommy Ziesmer has been in the recruiting spotlight since his freshman year at Boyle County. I have him right behind Carter as the second overall player in the state for the class of 2023. Ziesmer is a dominant force at defensive end, showing the quick first step and speed off the edge to blow by opposing offensive tackles as a pass rusher. Once he gets to the quarterback, he is a physical finisher, making sure that the quarterback goes down with the sack, makes a poor throw, or fumbles the ball. He also shows the strength to drive his blocker into the backfield to create disruption. Ziesmer also shows a great ability to shed blocks on the way to the ball carrier and uses his speed to run down plays from the opposite side of the field. Tommy is committed to stay close to home and play for Kentucky and will be looking to lead the Rebels to their third straight 4A State Championship this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"17px"}}} --> <h2 style="font-size:17px">3. Jamarrion Harkless| 6'4", 290 lbs.| Frederick Douglass High School| <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/12909732/61b0d9bd4debbc08e8506a7b">Junior Year Film</a></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"15px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:15px">Jamarrion Harkless is one of many players from Frederick Douglass that are in the national recruiting spotlight this season. He is a big, physical defensive tackle that plays with a high motor. Harkless uses his strength to beat double teams very frequently to make tackles in the backfield. While he is dominant on the interior, he also shows the speed the beat offensive tackles off the edge as a pass rusher. He also shows the speed to run down plays from the opposite side of the field and shows great effort at all times even when the play is away from him. Harkless received offers from just about every Power 5 school that you can think of but ultimately decided to take his talents to Illinois at the next level. Jamarrion will be one of the key reasons why the Broncos will once again be one of the top contenders for the 5A State Championship this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"17px"}}} --> <h2 style="font-size:17px">4. Oryend Fisher| 6'6", 210 lbs.| Great Crossing High School| <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/12970444/6186f87b9a9c0e0f9cb53947">Junior Year Film</a></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"15px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:15px">Oryend Fisher is a player that burst onto the recruiting scene this past season, finishing his junior year with 84 total tackles and 11.5 sacks. He is a long, athletic defensive end with an impressive 81" wingspan. Fisher wins off the edge as a pass rusher with an explosive first step and dangerous speed. He gets going so quickly that it is hard for offensive tackles to get their hands on him. Once he gets to the quarterback, he finishes with a ton of force, making sure that his presence is felt at all times. Fisher also does a great job of using his speed to run down plays from the opposite side of the field when the play is away from him. Oryend currently holds Division I offers from Kentucky, Louisville, Eastern Kentucky, Central Michigan, West Virginia, Memphis, Marshall, Akron, Kent State, and Vanderbilt, and I expect more to come as he has the potential to be a star at the next level. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"17px"}}} --> <h2 style="font-size:17px">5. Saadiq Clements| 6'5", 260 lbs.| Henderson County High School| <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/13134817/6192a3d8f31ce60af885c7a6">Junior Year Film</a></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"15px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:15px">To round out my top five, I have another Division I caliber defensive linemen, Saadiq Clements. Clements is a big, physical defensive end that uses his strength to overpower his blocker with a bull rush off the edge and does a great job of finishing at the quarterback. He also shows the speed to run down the line from the backside to make plays when the ball is run away from him. Once he gets to the ball, Clements does a great job of exploding through contact to make sure that the ball carrier feels him when making a tackle. Clements turned down multiple Division I offers to join Micah Carter at Purdue next season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"15px"}}} --> <h2 style="font-size:15px">Best of the Rest (Players included in Top 150):</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"15px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:15px"><strong>6. Beni Tshita</strong>| 6'3", 245 lbs.| DuPont Manual High School| <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/13106013/617e2048f31dc909dc446842">Junior Year Film</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"15px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:15px"><strong>7. Sahvon Hines</strong>| 6'2", 260 lbs.| Owensboro High School| <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/9789935/61abcdd5345274056ce6c021">Junior Year Film</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"15px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:15px"><strong>8. Kyan Miller</strong>| 6'3", 230 lbs.| Henry Clay High School| <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/16275995/614a54858cd3ee0a283d7e0b">Junior Year Film</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"15px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:15px"><strong>9. Jalen Hand</strong>| 6'3", 280 lbs.| Frederick Douglass High School| <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/12952342/61ae529e02bb480578788411">Junior Year Film</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"15px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:15px"><strong>10. Adam Hobbs</strong>| 6'3", 235 lbs.| Central Hardin High School| <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/7796963/6133eca14deb890fd06cb957">Junior Year Film</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"15px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:15px"><strong>11. Byron May</strong>| 6'3", 235 lbs.| Rowan County High School| <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/11266106/619407fddfe298092c812fde">Junior Year Film</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"15px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:15px"><strong>12. Teddy Meiers</strong>| 6'2", 250 lbs.| Saint Xavier High School| <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/12800081/5fdfd7a4c119e916dc80a963">Junior Year Film</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"15px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:15px"><strong>13. Dominic Shoulders</strong>| 6'3", 235 lbs.| DuPont Manual High School| <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/13072142/61f1905eda50ee0b90b5346c">Junior Year Film</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"15px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:15px"><strong>14. CJ Gavin</strong>| 6'2", 215 lbs.| Newport Central Catholic High School| <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/14995703/61a1c2bb5ca8dd08f015b1d2">Junior Year Film</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"15px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:15px"><strong>15. Kaden Briggs</strong>| 6'3", 250 lbs.| Pleasure Ridge Park High School| <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/12468541/5f823bfa5cb37c07288239f2">Junior Year Film</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"15px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:15px"><strong>16. Cameron Norfleet</strong>| 5'10", 210 lbs.| Ballard High School| <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/12852022/61d7a4408cddd904e8c4499d">Junior Year Film</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"15px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:15px"><strong>17. KJ Hardesty</strong>| 6'1", 280 lbs.| South Warren High School| <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/11433959/61b2d0c8d4688802c4d88b12">Junior Year Film</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"15px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:15px"><strong>18. John Sualla</strong>| 6'2", 280 lbs.| Frederick Douglass High School| <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/13094488/61b0d9aa4797030bac3203f6">Junior Year Film</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"15px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:15px"><strong>19. Kannon Wyche</strong>| 5'11", 275 lbs.| Ballard High School| <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/12883096/61fae31796760e06102f4c9b">Junior Year Film</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->