Behind the Rankings: 2024 Defensive Linemen

<!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"15px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:15px">The 2022 high school football season is in full swing and we have released our initial player rankings for the state of Kentucky. Now that I have covered the class of 2023, I will now turn my attention to the top incoming junior prospects in Kentucky. Over the next few weeks, I will do positional breakdowns and discuss how our rankings came to be. After covering the offensive side of the ball, I will now move on to the top defensive players in the class. With that being said, here are our top defensive linemen in the class of 2024. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_632bcf1059be9","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["423619"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='423619' first='Darius' last='Wiley'] is a player that has burst onto the recruiting scene over the past couple seasons. He is a long, athletic defensive end that uses an impressive combination of strength and speed to get to the quarterback. Even when he isn't able to finish with the sack, Wiley makes his presence felt, altering the quarterback's throwing motion with physical hits. Against the run, Wiley does a great job of being patient and reading the play. Once he sees where the play is going, he takes very good angles to get to the ball and is a reliable open field tackler. Wiley currently holds offers from Kentucky, Western Kentucky, and Eastern Kentucky, and I expect more to come as he has been receiving a ton of college interest and has the frame and skill set to thrive at the next level.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["408042"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='408042' first='Jahvon' last='Frazier'] is a player that I have had high on my radar for a while now. Frazier is a very athletic defensive end that shows a great amount of burst off the edge as a pass rusher. He explodes out of his stance and uses his speed to run by opposing offensive tackles before they have a chance to get their hands on him. Frazier is very disruptive in the backfield, driving his feet on contact and finishing the tackle with a ton of physicality once he gets to the ball carrier. As a pass rusher, he plays with a very high motor and does a great job of working through blocks to get to the quarterback. Jahvon currently holds offers from Southeast Missouri State and Eastern Kentucky, and I expect more to come over the next two years as he is a true Division I talent at defensive end.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["423620"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"Moving our attention to the interior of the defensive line, Manual has themselves a stud in [player_tooltip player_id='423620' first='Christopher' last='jones jr']. Jones is a big body defensive tackle, measuring in at 6'3u0022, 350 pounds. He lines up mainly as a true nose tackle and does a great job of stuffing the run. Jones is very disruptive in the backfield, exploding out of his stance and getting to the ball carrier. Once he gets to the ball carrier, he is a very good tackler. Jones is also reliable as a pass rusher, playing with a very high motor and continuing to work to get to the quarterback. While he doesn't currently hold any official offers, I expect them to come soon as he has been receiving a ton of college interest and has the skill set to be a very good player at the next level.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["423621"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"A more under-the-radar defensive line prospect that I have been very high on for a while now is [player_tooltip player_id='423621' first='Xavier' last='Campbell']. Campbell lines up at defensive end and plays with a very high motor. He has a very explosive first step and uses his speed to run right by opposing offensive tackles as a pass rusher. Campbell has also shown the ability to work through blocks on his way to the quarterback. Against the run, Campbell reads the play well and does a great job of taking the right angles to get to the ball. Xavier doesn't currently hold any offers but they will come over the next two seasons as he has received quite a bit of college interest and has the skill set to be a successful defensive end at the next level.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["423622"],"_player_evaluations_4_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='423622' first='Chase' last='Couch'] is a player that has jumped on to my radar recently. He is an athletic defensive end that has some impressive pass rush moves off the edge and is able to use his speed and quickness to beat opposing offensive tackles. Couch also has an explosive first step off the ball. He uses this to gain an early advantage and shoot into the backfield before his blocker can stop him. Once he gets to the ball carrier, he does a great job of running his feet on contact to finish the tackle. Chase currently holds an offer from Eastern Kentucky and I believe more will come as he has received a nice amount of college interest and has the potential to grow into an even better defensive end.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":5,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"edit"} /--> <!-- wp:heading {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"17px"}}} --> <h2 style="font-size:17px">Best of the Rest (Players included in Top 125):</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"15px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:15px">6. [player_tooltip player_id='381877' first='Tyler' last='Neal']| 6'2", 220 lbs.| St. Xavier High School</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"15px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:15px">7. [player_tooltip player_id='381923' first='Tay'Shaun' last='Linton']| 6'2", 235 lbs.| Trigg County High School</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"15px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:15px">8. [player_tooltip player_id='287576' first='Izack' last='Messer']| 6'0", 235 lbs.| East Carter High School</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"15px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:15px">9. [player_tooltip player_id='381933' first='Kenyatta' last='Hardge']| 6'1", 250 lbs.| Madison Central High School</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"15px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:15px">10. [player_tooltip player_id='305210' first='Isaiah' last='Hare']| 6'3", 240 lbs.| Bullitt East High School</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"15px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:15px">11. [player_tooltip player_id='381939' first='Chase' last='Correll']| 6'0", 255 lbs.| Raceland High School</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"15px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:15px">12. [player_tooltip player_id='381879' first='Ashton' last='Jones']| 6'2", 250 lbs.| St. Xavier High School</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"15px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:15px">13. [player_tooltip player_id='408047' first='Jasante' last='Harmon']| 6'1", 245 lbs.| Scott County High School<br><br><br> </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->