2022 4A Regular Season All-State Team: Defense

<!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"15px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:15px">The 2022 high school football season was an exciting one. There have been a lot of players that have stood out and jumped onto our radar this season in the state of Kentucky. Now that the playoffs are underway, I wanted to take a look back at some of the top players from the regular season in each class. With that in mind, I have decided to put together my All-State teams for each individual class. After covering the 4A offense earlier this week, here is my defense for my 2022 4A Regular Season All-State Team. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["287560"],"_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='287560' first='Byron' last='May'] is a player that I had high on my radar throughout this past year. He had an outstanding senior regular season, finishing with 59 total tackles, 24 tackles for loss, 17 sacks, and two interceptions returned for touchdowns. May is an explosive pass rusher off the edge, using his speed to run right by opposing offensive tackles. He also has a nice variety of pass rush moves to fight off blocks. Against the run, May plays with a very high motor, showing that he can run all over the field to make tackles in the open field. Byron currently holds an offer from Morehead State but I believe that more college coaches should consider extending him an offer as he has the talent to be a very productive defensive end/outside linebacker at the next level.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["145017"],"_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":"Another senior defensive end that has been high on our radar for a while now is [player_tooltip player_id='145017' first='Tommy' last='Ziesmer'] from Boyle County. Ziesmer was our second ranked defensive lineman and third overall prospect in the class of 2023 in Kentucky in our preseason rankings, and he has lived up to the hype. He had an outstanding final regular season, finishing with 53 total tackles, 15 tackles for loss, and six sacks. Ziesmer is a dominant pass rusher that has an explosive first step and shows the speed to run right by opposing offensive tackles. Once he gets to the quarterback, he finishes with a ton of physicality to secure the sack. Against the run, Ziesmer shows the strength to stack offensive linemen and drive them into the backfield to cause disruption. He also plays with a very high motor, showing the ability to run down plays from the opposite side of the field. Ziesmer is committed to stay close to home and play at Kentucky where I believe he could develop into one of their next great pass rushers.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["386175"],"_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":"[player_tooltip player_id='386175' first='Peyton' last='Taylor'] is a senior defensive end that jumped onto my radar this year. He finished his final regular season with 56 total tackles, 13 tackles for loss, and eleven sacks. Taylor has shown the ability to explode out of his stance and use his strength to bull rush opposing offensive linemen on his way to the quarterback. He has also shown a nice variety of pass rush moves to defeat blocks. Against the run, Taylor plays with a high motor, showing the ability to run sideline to sideline to make tackles in the open field. Peyton doesn't currently hold any offers but he definitely deserves more attention as he has the talent to play somewhere at the next level.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["287563"],"_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":"Although we had [player_tooltip player_id='287563' first='Josh' last='Thornton'] listed as a tight end in our initial 2023 rankings, he has had a very impressive year on the defensive side of the ball. The senior defensive end finished the regular season with 63 total tackles, 21 tackles for loss, and eleven sacks. Thornton has shown a tremendous amount of speed and bend off the edge as a pass rusher, blowing by offensive tackles on their outside shoulder. Against the run, Thornton does a great job of stacking the offensive lineman and holding his ground to read the play. Once he sees the ball, he takes great angles and is a very reliable tackler in the open field. He continued to show promise on offense, finishing as his team's second leading receiver but I liked what I saw more from him on defense. Josh currently holds offers from Mount Union and Kentucky Christian and I can see him developing into a very productive player on either side of the ball in college.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["386902"],"_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='386902' first='Peyton' last='Ledford'] is a player that I have been high on for a while now that has played many different roles at Franklin County. In his final season, Ledford transitioned from being mainly an off-ball linebacker to playing most of his reps at defensive end. He finished the regular season with 67 total tackles, 15 tackles for loss, and four sacks. Ledford plays with a very high motor, exploding out of his stance and driving opposing offensive linemen into the backfield to create disruption. He has also shown pass rush moves and speed off the edge to get to the quarterback. Against the run, Ledford is a very physical tackler in the open field, making sure his presence is felt with every hit. Peyton is committed to Army where I can see him being used in a variety of different roles.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_player":["490011"],"_player_evaluations_5_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='490011' first='Kangakole' last='Jean Aime'] is a player that jumped onto my radar quickly this season. He had an outstanding final regular season, finishing with 122 total tackles, 22 tackles for loss, six sacks, and two interceptions. Kangakole lines up at the stand-up outside linebacker spot and does a great job off the edge against both the run and pass. He explodes out of his stance and has the speed to run right by opposing offensive tackles. Jean Aime is also a very reliable tackler in the open field. In pass coverage, he does a good job of reading the play and putting himself in a position to make a play on the ball. While he doesn't currently hold any offers, he definitely deserves some attention from college coaches as he has the skill set to play at the next level.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_6_player":["386197"],"_player_evaluations_6_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"After transferring to Lexington Catholic this off-season, [player_tooltip player_id='386197' first='Hayden' last='Dawahare'] made a huge transition from quarterback to linebacker. He thrived in this role, finishing the regular season with 68 total tackles, twelve tackles for loss, three sacks, and an interception. Dawahare is an off-ball outside linebacker that does a great job of reading his keys and reacting quickly. He plays with a very high motor, showing the ability to make tackles all over the field. Dawahare also has shown the ability to use his speed to win off the edge as a pass rusher. In pass coverage, Dawahare shows great route recognition and times his breaks perfectly to make plays on the ball. Hayden currently holds offers from Lake Erier, Valparaiso, Morehead State, and Presbyterian, and I see him developing into a solid player at the next level.","_player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_7_player":["386751"],"_player_evaluations_7_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_7_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_7_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_7_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_7_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='386751' first='Brody' last='Wells'] is a player that I've had high on my radar for a while as he was our top ranked linebacker in our class of 2023 rankings for Kentucky this off-season. He continued to impress in his final regular season, finishing with 47 total tackles, one tackle for loss, and three interceptions. The biggest thing that stood out to me in his game is his ability in pass coverage. He is able to use his speed and athleticism to open up and run with receivers in man coverage. When the ball is thrown his way, he shows tremendous ball skills, catching interceptions at their highest point. Against the run, he does a great job of reading his keys from outside linebacker and comes downhill in a hurry. Once he gets to the ball carrier, he explodes through contact to secure the tackle in the open field. Brody is committed to Eastern Kentucky where I can see him developing into a key player for them.","_player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_8_player":["490003"],"_player_evaluations_8_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_8_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_8_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_8_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_8_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_8_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='490003' first='Liam' last='Hutson'] is a senior defensive back that had a breakout year this season. Hutson finished his final regular season as the 4A leader in interceptions with eight, along with 43 tackles and a sack. He lined up at safety and showed the ability to sit back in coverage and read the quarterback then break on the ball with perfect timing to catch interceptions in stride. After the catch, he showed the speed to take interceptions the other way for big plays, returning two for touchdowns this year. He also played a key role on offense as a receiver and as a returner on special teams but I liked him the most at defensive back. Liam is also a talented baseball player so it remains to be seen what he will do after high school but he definitely has the talent to play football in college if he decides to go that route.","_player_evaluations_8_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_9_player":["418719"],"_player_evaluations_9_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_9_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_9_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_9_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_9_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_9_evaluation":"Although we had him listed as a receiver in our initial 2024 rankings, [player_tooltip player_id='418719' first='Zander' last='Curry'] had a very impressive year on defense. He finished his junior regular season with 40 total tackles and five interceptions. Curry lined up at free safety and did a great job of reading the play and putting himself in a position to make a play. When the ball is in the air, he has shown the ability to cover a lot of ground quickly to make a play on the ball. Against the run, Curry does a great job of filling the lane and making tackles in the open field. He continued to make a big impact on offense and on special teams as a returner but I really liked what he showed on defense the most. Zander doesn't currently hold any offers but I can see him picking some up going into his senior year as he has been receiving college interest and has the talent to play on either side of the ball at the next level.","_player_evaluations_9_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_10_player":["520351"],"_player_evaluations_10_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_10_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_10_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_10_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_10_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_10_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='520351' first='Hunter' last='Holloway'] is a sophomore defensive back that stood out to me this season. He finished the regular season with 50 tackles, one tackle for loss, and four interceptions. Holloway lined up at safety and did a great job of reading the play from the back end. He was able to read the quarterback and route combinations and put himself in a position to make plays on the ball. Holloway is also very physical, showing the ability to come downhill and lay hits to jar the ball loose when the ball was thrown short. Against the run, Holloway takes great angles to the ball and is a very reliable tackler in the open field. Hunter doesn't currently hold any offers but will be a player to watch over the next couple seasons.","_player_evaluations_10_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_11_player":["386914"],"_player_evaluations_11_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_11_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_11_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_11_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_11_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_11_evaluation":"To wrap up my 2022 4A Regular Season All-State Team, I have senior defensive back [player_tooltip player_id='386914' first='Isaiah' last='Ghee'] from Warren East. Ghee had a productive final regular season, finishing with 28 tackles and three interceptions. He mainly played on the outside at corner and showed the ability to play both man and zone coverage. Ghee has shown the ability to read route combinations and break on the ball with perfect timing. He has been able to break on the ball and catch interceptions in stride then using his speed to take them the other way, returning two for touchdowns this year. Ghee also played a key role on offense and served as the team's kicker but I liked what I saw from him the most on defense. Isaiah is committed to Murray State where I can see him developing into a key contributor on either side of the ball.","_player_evaluations_11_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":12,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","anchor":"acf-block-637ae9318a986"} /--> <!-- wp:heading {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"17px"}}} --> <h2 style="font-size:17px">Honorable Mention:</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"15px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:15px">Defensive Lineman: [player_tooltip player_id='386176' first='Jesse' last='McCoy'] (Johnson Central, 2023); Tyler Vance (North Oldham, 2023)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"15px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:15px">Linebacker: [player_tooltip player_id='387784' first='Simon' last='Ghee'] (Warren East, 2023); [player_tooltip player_id='386767' first='Spencer' last='Bennington'] (Lexington Catholic, 2023)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"15px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:15px">Defensive Back: [player_tooltip player_id='423718' first='Malik' last='Summers'] (Warren East, 2024); [player_tooltip player_id='373044' first='Avaion' last='Johnson'] (Louisville Central, 2025)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->