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<p>Now that the high school football season has come to a close, it's time to take a look at some of the Bluegrass State's biggest playmakers from this past year. The city of Bowling Green has consistently produced some of the toughest teams in the past few seasons, and has no shortage of talented playmakers. Now that we've covered the best offensive stars in the area, it's time to take a look at some of the top defensive players for my 2022 Bowling Green All-City Team.</p>
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<p>[player_tooltip player_id='490011' first='Kangakole' last='Jean Aime'], a 6-foot-2, 185-pound ATH out of Warren Central High School, was one of the most explosive defensive talents in the Bluegrass State this past season, leading the Bowling Green area in tackles. Aime recorded 145 tackles, including 110 solo stops and 35 assisted takedowns and 23 tackles for loss. What makes Aime such a valuable defensive weapon for the Dragons is his ability to read an opposing offense like a book, and consistently hit them hard and fast.</p>
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<p>[player_tooltip player_id='499120' first='Lofton' last='Howard'], a 6-foot-5, 210-pound ATH out of Greenwood High School, had an outstanding senior season with the Gators, contributing on both sides of the ball. Howard led Greenwood on the defensive end, picking up 106 total tackles, including 60 solo stops and 46 assisted takedowns. Howard also recorded 16 tackles for loss and seven sacks. In addition to his size, Howard's speed has been a gamechanger as he's overwhelmed offenses' all season long. Howard will be continuing his football career at Western Kentucky next season.</p>
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<p>[player_tooltip player_id='386914' first='Isaiah' last='Ghee'], a 6-foot-0, 150-pound ATH and product of Warren East High School, was one of the top defensive playmakers on the Raiders' roster this past year. In 13 games, Ghee recorded 37 total tackles with 34 solo and three assisted takedowns. Ghee additionally led Warren East in interceptions, picking up five for 86 yards. Ghee also returned two interceptions for touchdowns. Ghee has excellent field awareness, and has the speed to make tough plays on defense. Ghee will be kickstarting his college football career at Eastern Kentucky next season.</p>
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<p>[player_tooltip player_id='381906' first='Wick' last='Dotson'], a 5-foot-10, 185-pound defensive back playing for Bowling Green High School, was a big-time defensive weapon for the Purples this past season. In 15 contests, Dotson picked up 70 total tackles with 39 solo and 31 assisted stops, and two tackles for loss. Dotson additionally led Bowling Green in interceptions, hauling in five for 45 yards. Dotson has excellent awareness on the field and can overwhelm even the best offenses in the Bluegrass State.</p>
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<p>[player_tooltip player_id='387784' first='Simon' last='Ghee'], a 6-foot-3, 240-pound defensive lineman out of Warren East High School, is another defensive talent out of Bowling Green that had an outstanding season. Ghee played a big role on the Raiders' defense, recording 62 total tackles, including 57 solo takedowns and five assisted stops in 13 games. Ghee is such a weapon for the Raiders because of his size and ability to punch through the offense to make tackles. Ghee will be joining his brother in Richmond next season to start his college football career with Eastern Kentucky.</p>
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<p>[player_tooltip player_id='386167' first='KJ' last='Hardesty'], a 6-foot-1, 280-pound defensive lineman out of South Warren High School, had a commanding performance on the defensive side of the ball this past season. In 12 games, Hardesty recorded 70 total tackles, which included 31 solo takedowns and 39 assisted stops. Hardesty additionally collected 25 tackles for loss and seven sacks. Hardesty has excellent game knowledge and consistently positions himself in the right spot to make plays. Hardesty will be continuing his football career with Kentucky Wesleyan next season.</p>
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<p>[player_tooltip player_id='386756' first='Davis' last='Fant'], a 5-foot-11, 215-pound linebacker out of Bowling Green High School, was one of the most efficient defensive playmakers on the Purples' roster this past season. Fant closed out the season with the third-highest number of tackles on Bowling Green's roster. In 15 games, Fant recorded 119 total tackles with 73 solo stops and 46 assisted. Fant additionally picked up 10 tackles for loss and one sack. Because of his awareness, size and speed, Fant has given opposing offenses headaches all season long.</p>
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<p>[player_tooltip player_id='313667' first='Yzir' last='Gray'], a 5-foot-10, 190-pound linebacker out of Warren Central High School, was one of the key contributors on the Dragons' defense this past season as a junior. In 11 contests, Gray recorded 76 total tackles with 59 solo stops and 17 assisted takedowns. Gray also picked up 12 tackles for loss and three sacks. What makes Gray such a reliable weapon on the defensive side of the ball is his ability to both read and quickly disrupt opposing offenses.</p>
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<p>[player_tooltip player_id='381911' first='Gray' last='Price'], a 6-foot-0, 200-pound linebacker out of Greenwood High School, was a huge defensive playmaker for the Gators as he finished the 2022 season as one of the most efficient tacklers on the roster. In 11 games, Price recorded 65 total tackles, including 36 solo stops and 29 assisted takedowns. Price additionally picked up four tackles for loss. With great size and speed, Price has created problems for some of the best offenses in the state.</p>
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<p>[player_tooltip player_id='386928' first='Augustin' last='Nyembo'], a 5-foot-11, 175-pound defensive back out of Bowling Green High School, was one of the strongest defensive playmakers for the Purples this past season. Nyembo finished the season as one of the top tacklers on Bowling Green's roster, recording 82 total tackles with 61 solo takedowns and 21 assisted stops. Nyembo additionally collected one tackle for loss. What stands out about Nyembo is his ability to break free of the line and utilize his speed to make tackles.</p>
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<p> </p>
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Now that the high school football season has come to a close, it's time to take a look at some of the Bluegrass State's biggest playmakers from this past year. The city of Bowling Green has consistently produced some of the toughest teams in the past few seasons, and has no shortage of talented playmakers. Now that we've covered the best offensive stars in the area, it's time to take a look at some of the top defensive players for my 2022 Bowling Green All-City Team.
Kangakole Jean AimeKangakoleJean Aime
6'1" | LB
Warren Central | 2023 StateKY
, a 6-foot-2, 185-pound ATH out of Warren Central High School, was one of the most explosive defensive talents in the Bluegrass State this past season, leading the Bowling Green area in tackles. Aime recorded 145 tackles, including 110 solo stops and 35 assisted takedowns and 23 tackles for loss. What makes Aime such a valuable defensive weapon for the Dragons is his ability to read an opposing offense like a book, and consistently hit them hard and fast.
Lofton HowardLoftonHoward
6'5" | 210 lbs | ATH
Greenwood | 2023 StateKY
, a 6-foot-5, 210-pound ATH out of Greenwood High School, had an outstanding senior season with the Gators, contributing on both sides of the ball. Howard led Greenwood on the defensive end, picking up 106 total tackles, including 60 solo stops and 46 assisted takedowns. Howard also recorded 16 tackles for loss and seven sacks. In addition to his size, Howard's speed has been a gamechanger as he's overwhelmed offenses' all season long. Howard will be continuing his football career at Western Kentucky next season.
Isaiah GheeIsaiahGhee
6'0" | 160 lbs | ATH
Warren East | 2023 StateKY
, a 6-foot-0, 150-pound ATH and product of Warren East High School, was one of the top defensive playmakers on the Raiders' roster this past year. In 13 games, Ghee recorded 37 total tackles with 34 solo and three assisted takedowns. Ghee additionally led Warren East in interceptions, picking up five for 86 yards. Ghee also returned two interceptions for touchdowns. Ghee has excellent field awareness, and has the speed to make tough plays on defense. Ghee will be kickstarting his college football career at Eastern Kentucky next season.
Wick DotsonWickDotson
5'10" | 190 lbs | DB
Bowling Green | 2024 StateKY
, a 5-foot-10, 185-pound defensive back playing for Bowling Green High School, was a big-time defensive weapon for the Purples this past season. In 15 contests, Dotson picked up 70 total tackles with 39 solo and 31 assisted stops, and two tackles for loss. Dotson additionally led Bowling Green in interceptions, hauling in five for 45 yards. Dotson has excellent awareness on the field and can overwhelm even the best offenses in the Bluegrass State.
Simon GheeSimonGhee
6'3" | LB
Warren East | 2023 StateKY
, a 6-foot-3, 240-pound defensive lineman out of Warren East High School, is another defensive talent out of Bowling Green that had an outstanding season. Ghee played a big role on the Raiders' defense, recording 62 total tackles, including 57 solo takedowns and five assisted stops in 13 games. Ghee is such a weapon for the Raiders because of his size and ability to punch through the offense to make tackles. Ghee will be joining his brother in Richmond next season to start his college football career with Eastern Kentucky.
KJ HardestyKJHardesty
6'1" | 280 lbs | DL
South Warren | 2023 StateKY
, a 6-foot-1, 280-pound defensive lineman out of South Warren High School, had a commanding performance on the defensive side of the ball this past season. In 12 games, Hardesty recorded 70 total tackles, which included 31 solo takedowns and 39 assisted stops. Hardesty additionally collected 25 tackles for loss and seven sacks. Hardesty has excellent game knowledge and consistently positions himself in the right spot to make plays. Hardesty will be continuing his football career with Kentucky Wesleyan next season.
Davis FantDavisFant
5'11" | 215 lbs | LB
Bowling Green | 2023 StateKY
, a 5-foot-11, 215-pound linebacker out of Bowling Green High School, was one of the most efficient defensive playmakers on the Purples' roster this past season. Fant closed out the season with the third-highest number of tackles on Bowling Green's roster. In 15 games, Fant recorded 119 total tackles with 73 solo stops and 46 assisted. Fant additionally picked up 10 tackles for loss and one sack. Because of his awareness, size and speed, Fant has given opposing offenses headaches all season long.
Yzir GrayYzirGray
5'10" | 190 lbs | LB
Warren Central | 2024 KY
, a 5-foot-10, 190-pound linebacker out of Warren Central High School, was one of the key contributors on the Dragons' defense this past season as a junior. In 11 contests, Gray recorded 76 total tackles with 59 solo stops and 17 assisted takedowns. Gray also picked up 12 tackles for loss and three sacks. What makes Gray such a reliable weapon on the defensive side of the ball is his ability to both read and quickly disrupt opposing offenses.
Gray PriceGrayPrice
6'0" | 200 lbs | LB
Greenwood | 2024 StateKY
, a 6-foot-0, 200-pound linebacker out of Greenwood High School, was a huge defensive playmaker for the Gators as he finished the 2022 season as one of the most efficient tacklers on the roster. In 11 games, Price recorded 65 total tackles, including 36 solo stops and 29 assisted takedowns. Price additionally picked up four tackles for loss. With great size and speed, Price has created problems for some of the best offenses in the state.
Augustin NyemboAugustinNyembo
5'11" | 175 lbs | DB
Bowling Green | 2023 StateKY
, a 5-foot-11, 175-pound defensive back out of Bowling Green High School, was one of the strongest defensive playmakers for the Purples this past season. Nyembo finished the season as one of the top tacklers on Bowling Green's roster, recording 82 total tackles with 61 solo takedowns and 21 assisted stops. Nyembo additionally collected one tackle for loss. What stands out about Nyembo is his ability to break free of the line and utilize his speed to make tackles.
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Wick
Dotson
5'10" | 190 lbs | DB
Bowling Green | 2024
State
KY
, a 5-foot-10, 185-pound defensive back playing for Bowling Green High School, was a big-time defensive weapon for the Purples this past season. In 15 contests, Dotson picked up 70 total tackles with 39 solo and 31 assisted stops, and two tackles for loss. Dotson additionally led Bowling Green in interceptions, hauling in five for 45 yards. Dotson has excellent awareness on the field and can overwhelm even the best offenses in the Bluegrass State.
Gray
Price
6'0" | 200 lbs | LB
Greenwood | 2024
State
KY
, a 6-foot-0, 200-pound linebacker out of Greenwood High School, was a huge defensive playmaker for the Gators as he finished the 2022 season as one of the most efficient tacklers on the roster. In 11 games, Price recorded 65 total tackles, including 36 solo stops and 29 assisted takedowns. Price additionally picked up four tackles for loss. With great size and speed, Price has created problems for some of the best offenses in the state.
