2025 Rankings Release: Defensive Line

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Now that we are headed into the 2023 high school football season, it is time to release some new class rankings. After updating the 2023 and 2024 rankings, we have now released our initial rankings for the class of 2025. Over the next couple weeks, I will be breaking these rankings down by position. After already covering the offensive side of the ball, I will now turn my attention to the top defensive prospects in the class. To kick things off, here are our top defensive linemen in the class of 2025 in Kentucky.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["373821"],"_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='373821' first='Austin' last='Alexander'] is a player that we've had high on our radar for a while now that continued to impress this past season. He had a very impressive sophomore year, finishing with 85 tackles, two tackles for loss, and 11 sacks. Alexander is a very dangerous pass rusher, showing the speed to blow by opposing offensive tackles along with an impressive variety of pass rush moves. He is also very reliable against the run, showing the ability to read the play and come down the line to make tackles when the play is away from him. Alexander also showed some ability in pass coverage this past season, coming away with one interception and returning it for a touchdown. Austin currently holds offers from Miami (OH), Maryland, Akron, Eastern Kentucky, and Liberty, and I expect more to come his way as he is a true Power 5 caliber prospect.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["373034"],"_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='373034' first='Xsavier' last='Cleary'] is a defensive lineman that jumped out to me early this past season and continued to impress. He had a strong sophomore year, finishing with 58 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, and 5.5 sacks. Cleary is a physical defensive tackle, exploding out of his stance and showing the strength to drive straight through opposing offensive linemen to cause disruption in the backfield. As a pass rusher, he does a great job of getting to the quarterback quickly and finishing with a ton of physicality. In the run game, he does a great job of stacking blocks and reading the play then shedding them quickly to get to the ball. Once he gets to the ball, he has proven to be a very reliable tackler in the open field. While he doesn't currently hold any offers, Cleary should be on the radar of more college programs as he has the talent to play somewhere at the next level.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["735671"],"_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='735671' first='Dillon' last='Smith'] is a player that recently jumped onto my radar after a very impressive sophomore year. He finished this past season with 58 tackles, 18.5 tackles for loss, nine sacks, and one fumble recovery. Smith has an extremely quick first step out of his stance  from the defensive end position and is able to use his speed to his advantage to burst into the backfield before opposing offensive lineman have a chance to react. As a pass rusher, he plays with a very high motor and has shown the ability to defeat blocks quickly on his way to the quarterback. He is also very impressive against the run, showing the patience to squeeze the end of the line of scrimmage and read the play. Once he sees where the ball is going, he uses his speed to get there quickly and is a very reliable open field tackler. Dillon doesn't currently hold any offers but I expect some to come his way eventually as he has the talent to play at the next level.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["735672"],"_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":"Another defensive lineman that had an impressive sophomore season is South Oldham's [player_tooltip player_id='735672' first='Griffin' last='Tucker']. Tucker finished this past season with 56 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, and six sacks. He lines up at the defensive end position and is very impressive as a pass rusher. Tucker shows a nice bend off the edge to get around opposing offensive tackles and has also shown the ability to fight through blocks on his way to the quarterback. He is also reliable against the run, showing the ability to stack and shed blocks quickly to get to the ball. Tucker doesn't currently hold any offers but he should be on the radar of college coaches as he has the talent to play somewhere at the next level.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["373076"],"_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":"Wrapping up our top five defensive linemen for the class of 2025 is [player_tooltip player_id='373076' first='Tre' last='Jackson'] from Mayfield. Jackson had a strong sophomore season, finishing with 46 tackles, three tackles for loss, two sacks, and a fumble recovery. He is a physical defensive tackle that has shown the ability to cause a ton of disruption. Jackson is very impressive at stopping the run, using his explosiveness to burst into the backfield before the opposing offensive linemen can react. He also has shown the ability to shed blocks quickly to get to the ball carrier. As a pass rusher, Jackson uses his combination of strength and speed to get to the passer and does a great job of finishing once he gets to the quarterback. Currently, Tre doesn't hold any offers but he definitely has the talent to play somewhere at the next level.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":5,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64271359eea1f"} /--> <!-- wp:heading {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading has-medium-font-size">Best of the Rest (Players Included in Top 150):</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>6. [player_tooltip player_id='735674' first='George' last='Black'] (Louisville Central)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>7. [player_tooltip player_id='735676' first='Thomas' last='Gerke'] (Lexington Catholic)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>8. [player_tooltip player_id='373801' first='Jace' last='Hatfield'] (Corbin)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>9. [player_tooltip player_id='735673' first='Luke' last='Toothaker'] (Franklin County)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>10. [player_tooltip player_id='496965' first='Preston' last='Cowan'] (Paris)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>11. [player_tooltip player_id='735670' first='LeQuon' last='Greer'] (Dunbar)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>12. [player_tooltip player_id='735677' first='LeQues' last='Strother'] (Belfry)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>13. [player_tooltip player_id='735620' first='Taveon' last='Kirby'] (Madison Central)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->