Kentucky Sleepers to Watch for: Defensive Lineman

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I am excited to start another positional series highlighting the top sleeper players from Kentucky. Unfortunately, many talented football players do not get the recognition or initial interest of recruiters that they should be getting. Many factors contribute to this, including the region players play in, what level of competition they play against, and the school for which they play. In the past few years, the state of Kentucky has shown that there is top-tier talent found across the state. No matter what team you play for or the competition you face, these players should get equal representation amongst some players that possess similar talent. Today, I will be listing off some talented defensive linemen who have received little or no collegiate interest. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Colton Smith","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'0u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2406","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Greenwood High School","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Colton had a great season for the Greenwood High School defense as he placed in the top ten in the state with total sacks sitting at 11 in 12 games. What is noticeable right away when watching Colton on the line is how efficiently he tackles players for loss. Colton has good mechanics that help him exploit the weak spot of the offensive line for him to get by and make the tackle. One move he does that is pretty unique is that he builds leverage off the offensive tackle and pushes them toward the ball carrier to block a running lane for them. With that, Colton can easily bring down opposing ball carriers without them reaching a single yard on every carry. However, he also does this when quarterbacks are in the pocket, leading him to record those 11 sacks. Colton also has tremendous footwork that keeps him light on his feet, balanced on the attack, and can shift quickly to accelerate toward his intended target. Although Colton being a strong defensive tackle makes a difference in how he performs, his mechanics are top-notch as well which will lead him to lots of success as he continues to develop. As of the new year, Colton has not received offers from any collegiate schools, but I believe this should change shortly.rnrnu003ca href=u0022https://share.qwikcut.com/637344aa62c4f08af7bbf086u0022u003eTape:u003c/au003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["331707"],"_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='331707' first='Kaden' last='Lewis'] is another talented defensive tackle that has been a little under the radar. The junior plays on both sides of the football for the Ballard Bruins, playing offensive tackle and defensive tackle. When on the defense, Kaden is excellent at maintaining his presence on the line of scrimmage and enforcing a wall to prevent a running gap to be made. Lewis has strong upper body strength that enables him to throw back any incoming ball carriers that try to run in his path. Along with that, Kaden has great hand skills that help him brush off opposing guards to put pressure on the quarterback. The most exciting aspect of Kaden's game is his speed as he is one of the faster defensive tackles I have seen in Kentucky 6A ball. The 2024 grad can quickly catch up to any ball carrier that gets past his other teammates to make the defensive stop. Currently, Kaden has been participating in numerous prospect camps but has not received official offers from any schools. I expect that to change soon as opposed to later.rnrnu003ca href=u0022http://www.hudl.com/v/2JxrS4u0022u003eTape:u003c/au003e","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"Tyler Vance","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"2023","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"6'1u0022","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"2406","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"North Oldham High School","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_2_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"Tyler Vance was another defensive lineman who tied within the top 10 in the state for total sacks as he finished the 2022 season with 14.5 total sacks in 12 games played. Most of the time for Tyler, his strength cannot be matched when battling with an opposing offensive tackle. The senior can knock down the offensive line and accelerate quickly to reach the quarterback. What is likable about the way Tyler plays the game is his relentless aggression to make a stop. If Tyler targets you for a defensive stop, chances are you are going to be chased until that whistle is dropped. Because of that effort, Vance has recorded many tackles for loss, sacks, and has forced a few fumbles. Lastly, Tyler has great lateral quickness for somebody in his position, as he can make brilliant moves to blow by the offensive guard to get to the quarterback. Although he has built some interest in camps from a few schools, Tyler has still not announced any official offers from those schools at this time.rnrnu003ca href=u0022http://www.hudl.com/v/2K1BRku0022u003eTape:u003c/au003e","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"Bryce Strickland","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"5'11u0022","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"2406","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"Louisville Male High School","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_3_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"Bryce helped promote consistent defensive pressure on their opponents for the Louisville Male defense all year. The junior did a fantastic job constantly putting pressure on the opposing offense all season. What makes it easy for Bryce to cause defensive pressure is his great ability at noticing where the intended play will occur. In other words, Bryce can see where the offense will look to run the ball and immediately close that gap and make a great defensive stop. Along with this, Strickland maintains a strong dominant frame within the line of scrimmage that allows him to block off any offensive players from running the ball in his direction. Finally, Bryce has quick reflexes that help him get off the line of scrimmage faster than any player on that field and make it easier for him to drive past to put pressure. As of right now, Bryce has had a few unofficial visits to some schools, but no official offers have been announced.rnrnu003ca href=u0022http://www.hudl.com/v/2K7Y9su0022u003eTape:u003c/au003e","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"Julyan McPeak","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"2023","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"5'11u0022","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"2406","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"Allen County-Scottsville High School","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_4_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"Julyan is one of the more hard-hitting defensive tackles on this list. The senior finished his last season at ACSH with 9 total sacks in 11 games played. Julyan's speedy acceleration off the line mixed with his bulky strength makes for a hard-hitting tackle. For most of McPeak's opponents, none of them can truly compete with his pure strength as it overpowers the opposing ball carrier every time they make contact. Julyan throws down his opponents with ease and can make difficult tackles with little leverage to help him. McPeak also has great instincts on when the ball will be snapped and can get off the line before anyone else reacts and make it to the quarterback. Because he can get off the line of scrimmage so quickly, it causes the offense to panic, causing possible interceptions to be thrown and other offensive mishaps to happen which results in turnovers. Julyan makes it easy for his defense to put themselves in a position to win football games and I believe that is something that recruiters should find very valuable in his game. However, Julyan has not announced any official offers to any schools as of the New Year and I believe he is more than worthy of playing at the next level.rnrnu003ca href=u0022http://www.hudl.com/v/2JnAUhu0022u003eTape:u003c/au003e","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":5,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-63b759a2a3761"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-63b759838f9c1"} /-->