2024 Rankings Update: Defensive Line

<!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"15px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:15px">As we head into the 2023 high school football season, we have updated our rankings for the incoming senior class. Now that these rankings are published, I will be taking an in-depth look at each position for the class of 2024. After already covering the offensive side of the ball, I will now turn my attention to the best defensive prospects in the incoming senior class. With that being said, I will kick things off by breaking down our top defensive linemen in the state of Kentucky in the class of 2024. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"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'] came into this past season as our top defensive lineman in his class and he has continued to show that he deserves that ranking. Wiley was unfortunately only able to play in three games this past season but produced when on the field, finishing with 17 tackles, one tackle for loss, and one sack. Darius is a long, athletic defensive end that has an explosive first step off the line of scrimmage. He is able to use his speed after that first step to blow by opposing offensive tackles off the edge. Wiley also has the strength to fight through blocks and finishes at the quarterback with a ton of physicality. He also does a great job of reading the run and using his speed to come down the line and make plays from the opposite side of the field when the play is away from him. Wiley currently holds offers from Kentucky, Western Kentucky, Eastern Kentucky, Indiana, Miami (OH), West Virginia, and Purdue, and I expect that list to continue to grow as he has received a ton of interest from college programs and is a true Power 5 caliber prospect.","_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 another defensive lineman that has continued to stay high on our radar for a while now. Frazier played a key role in a very successful season for the Defenders, finishing with 54 tackles, nine tackles for loss, five sacks, and one fumble recovery. He is a dangerous threat as a pass rusher, using his dynamic speed to beat opposing offensive tackles off the edge. Frazier also plays with a nice amount of physicality, showing the ability to bull rush straight through offensive linemen to create disruption in the backfield. He also plays with a very high motor, showing the ability to run all over the field to make tackles. Jahvon currently holds offers from Eastern Kentucky and Southeast Missouri State but I expect more to come his way going into his senior year as he has the talent to play at the Division I level.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["423622"],"_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='423622' first='Chase' last='Couch'] is a player that quickly climbed up our rankings this past season. He had a solid junior year, finishing the season with 21 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, and one sack. Couch is very reliable when it comes to stopping the run. He has a strong initial punch and has the strength to stack opposing offensive linemen and shed them quickly once he sees where the ball is going. Couch also does a great job of reading the play and has the patience to squeeze down the end of the line of scrimmage when the play is going away from him. As a pass rusher, he explodes out of his stance and uses his strength to bull rush straight through blocks on his way to the quarterback. Chase currently holds offers from Kentucky, Eastern Kentucky, and Austin Peay, and I expect more offers to come for him as he is a Division I caliber talent.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["305210"],"_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":"While we had [player_tooltip player_id='305210' first='Isaiah' last='Hare'] high on our radar coming into this season, he exceeded our expectations with a very impressive junior year. Hare played a huge role in Bullitt East's 6A State Championship run, finishing with 74 tackles, 15.5 tackles for loss, four sacks, three forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries. He is a very skilled pass rusher, using his speed to blow by opposing offensive tackles off the edge. Once he gets to the quarterback, Hare does a great job of exploding through contact, making sure his presence is felt on each hit. Against the run, Hare shows the ability to read the play and react then run sideline to sideline to make tackles in the open field. Hare recently picked up his first offer from Eastern Illinois and I expect more to come his way going into his senior season as he has received a lot of interest from college programs and has the talent to play at the Division I level.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["423621"],"_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":"Rounding out our top five defensive linemen in the class of 2024 is [player_tooltip player_id='423621' first='Xavier' last='Campbell'] from Beechwood. Campbell played a key role in Beechwood's 2A State Championship run, finishing this past season with eleven sacks and two forced fumbles. The first thing that comes to mind when watching Campbell is the very high motor that he plays with. As a pass rusher, Campbell explodes out of his stance, uses his speed to blow by opposing offensive tackles, and keeps fighting to get to the quarterback. Against the run, Campbell does a great job of reading the play and shows the ability to run all over the field to get to the ball carrier, fighting through blocks on his way there. While Xavier doesn't currently hold any offers, I expect some to come his way going into his senior year as he definitely has the talent to play somewhere at the next level and has already received some interest from college programs.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":5,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6418fb61374fb"} /--> <!-- wp:heading {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <h2 class="has-medium-font-size">Best of the Rest (Players Included in Top 175):</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>6. [player_tooltip player_id='423620' first='Christopher' last='Jones Jr'] (DuPont Manual)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>7. [player_tooltip player_id='490012' first='Austin' last='Johnson'] (North Laurel)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>8. [player_tooltip player_id='381923' first='Tay'Shaun' last='Linton'] (Trigg County)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>9. [player_tooltip player_id='653475' first='Colton' last='Smith'] (Greenwood)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>10. [player_tooltip player_id='653476' first='Bryce' last='Strickland'] (Male)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>11. [player_tooltip player_id='287576' first='Izack' last='Messer'] (East Carter)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>12. [player_tooltip player_id='408047' first='Jasante' last='Harmon'] (Scott County)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>13. [player_tooltip player_id='331707' first='Kaden' last='Lewis'] (Ballard)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>14. [player_tooltip player_id='381877' first='Tyler' last='Neal'] (Saint Xavier)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>15. [player_tooltip player_id='381879' first='Ashton' last='Jones'] (Saint Xavier)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>16. [player_tooltip player_id='653385' first='Davion' last='Strode'] (Hazard)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->