Kentucky Future Stars Breakdown: 8th Grade (2027) Linemen – Pt. 1

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Since 2010 the Kentucky/Tennessee Future Stars Game has been an institution in the middle school football space, where many of the best kids from the bordering states have put an exclamation point on their pre-high school careers. Countless numbers of Tennessee and Kentucky Future Stars have gone on to big time college careers at major programs and some have gone even further. This event is certainly a special one and is a staple in my summer travels. The evaluators and coaching staff that put together the Kentucky Future Stars do a great job of balancing skill sets and showcasing what the future of football will look like. Here's a look at Part 1 of the linemen on this year's eighth grade (class of 2027) Kentucky Future Stars.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["611306"],"_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":"On paper, Brinegar is the biggest prospect on this eighth-grade Kentucky Future Stars team in 2023. Standing a verified 6-foot-4 and 280 pounds, Brinegar has come a tremendous way since the early fall when I first saw him play. He's certainly a project but the kid has a tremendous work ethic and is doing everything in his power to maximize the gift of size that he has. Look for him to ultimately play offensive tackle, but could be bumped inside if Tennessee comes with speed rushers around the end, since his steadily-improving feet catch up to his immense size. The story isn't even half way written for this prospect with a big upside.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["378828"],"_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":"In my opinion, the heart and soul of this Kentucky Future Stars offensive line group has to be Hull. He's a 2027 prospect that has been on our radar since the sixth grade and for good reason. At 6-foot-2 and 280 pounds, he is a strong interior offensive lineman that plays with an attitude. In conversations with him, he's a great young man but he flips a switch when that ball is snapped and that mean streak comes out. He's already hitting the college camp circuit hard and should end up being one of the top linemen in the class from Kentucky.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["855755"],"_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":"While [player_tooltip player_id='378828' first='Brady' last='Hull'] and [player_tooltip player_id='611306' first='Fisher' last='Brinegar'] appear to be offensive lineman through and through, Brown Jr. looks to be a true defensive lineman. He's on the roster at 6-foot and 240 pounds but looks an inch or two taller than that, to me. Brown Jr. could be a nice chess piece on the defensive line because he's thick enough to rumble on the interior line, but also possesses the length to play on the end. Certainly a valuable commodity to play against the run.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["334820"],"_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":"Big [player_tooltip player_id='334820' first='Leelen' last='Vanover'] is another returner to this year's Kentucky Future Stars Team. The 6-foot-2, 260-pounder is a kid that brings a lot of sheer size and ability. He's currently a two-way tackle/defensive end with a body type that I can see going many different ways. Has some good muscle mass on him already and puts in the work to get better. He's already on the college camp trail, too.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":4,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-648206923f2de"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>William Childs III | 5'10, 236 lbs. | duPont Manual</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A new name to me that I don't know much about at this point. His size checks out and he's off to duPont Manual for high school ball. The Louisville powerhouse finished 9-3 a year ago, bowing out in the playoffs to eventual State Champions (Bullitt East) by a single point.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Maddox Coffman | 6'1, 260 lbs. | LaRue County</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I expect to see some good things out of Coffman on the offensive line for this team. At 6-foot-1 and 260 pounds, he has an ideal build for an interior lineman at this point, and has several years of experience playing center at LaRue County Middle School. Coffman is a prospect that could be ready to take some big next steps.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1200638' first='Kamden' last='Cornwell'] | 5'9, 165 lbs. | Grayson County</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On a Kentucky Future Stars team with phenomenal size up front on both sides of the ball, Cornwell is one of the smallest linemen on the roster at 5-foot-9 and 165 pounds. Though he gives up size, he is one of the quicker linemen on both sides of the ball. Look for him to play defensive end and center in the game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Ijah Ferguson | 6'1, 220 lbs. | Pikeville</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ferguson is one of a handful of returners from last year's victorious seventh-grade Kentucky Future Stars squad. He has grown considerably over the last calendar year and brings some athleticism up front. Flashed at tight end this past season at Pikeville Junior High, but can bump inside and play the on the offensive line too. Also can get after it as a defensive end. Finished fifth in the discuss at the KTCCA Middle School Championships this past May.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Dawson Hensley | 6'3, 204 lbs. | Breathitt County</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Listed on the roster at 6-foot-3 and 204 pounds, but that looks like a little bit of a stretch to me. He's certainly a taller 2027 prospect that has a frame and length to work with, but he's thin for his height. I haven't seen much of him at all but looks like he could develop into an offensive tackle.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jake Horn | 6'1, 305 lbs. | Johnson Central</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Horn is a prospect on the interior offensive line that should go on to do great things in his high school career. While I don't think he's 6-foot-1 like he's listed at, he's a barrel-chested kid who wins the majority of 1-on-1 battles. The future Johnson Central High School Golden Eagle is a throwback road grader as an offensive guard. With two older brothers who played at NAIA University of Pikesville, it's hard for me to not see him following the trend as a next-level player.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Austyn Lawless | 5'11, 190 lbs. | Somerset </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>If the defensive line of Tennessee is even a fraction of a second late off the snap, Lawless may have himself a pancake block on every play of the game. Flip it, and if the Tennessee offensive tackles can't get back quick enough, Lawless may find himself in the backfield pretty often. Not the biggest but certainly in the conversation for quickest linemen on the team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->