Kentucky Future Stars Breakdown: 8th Grade (2027) Linemen – Pt. 2

<!-- 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. After looking at <strong><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2023/06/kentucky-future-stars-breakdown-8th-grade-2027-linemen-pt-1/">Part 1</a></strong> of the linemen yesterday, below is a look at part 2 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":["500073"],"_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":"The future Woodford County Yellowjacket has developed into one of, if not u003cemu003ethee u003c/emu003epremier offensive tackle in the state at this point for the class of 2027. While there is a long way to go to NSD 2027, Perez comes with the foot work and coordination to become a highly recruited player. Strikes rushing defensive linemen accurately with hand placement and re-anchors very well.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["857248"],"_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":"Having recently reclassed to the 2028 class, Montgomery will be suiting up for the eighth-grade Kentucky Future Stars team this June. At 5-foot-11 and 230 pounds, he's solidifying himself as one of the better interior offensive linemen at this point in Kentucky. He's already bench pressing his body weight and has starting cultivating quite the football resume during his now-prolonged time at Lexington Christian Academy.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["857404"],"_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":"Plummer is another kid who is reclassed but from the 2026 class to the 2027. The extra year of development has seen him transform his body from u0022a kid with pretty good size on the lineu0022 to one that will cause havoc coming off the edge as a defensive end. The future Ashland High School prospect has already started on the college visit trail, having been to Kentucky, Old Dominion, Eastern Kentucky and Bowling Green already.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":3,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64833af54a736"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1200693' first='Harrison' last='McGraw'] | 6'0, 220 lbs. | North Oldham</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another one of those interior offensive linemen that can play either guard or center depending on what is asked of him. Unlike some of the other guys on the roster in this mold, I think he can play defensive line at a pretty high level too. He's a strong kid with decent athleticism and can push/pull his way to winning reps.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Brian Pantaleon | 6'0, 215 lbs. | Dixie Heights</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Pantaleton brings a lot of potential to the offensive and defensive line for this eighth-grade Kentucky Future Stars team. The future Dixie Heights High School prospect has a solid build and is pretty strong for his age. He's played tackle on both sides of the ball during middle school ball, but he looks like more of a center/guard to me at this point. Also, looks heavier than the 215 he's listed at, in my opinion.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Eli Phelps | 5'7, 180 lbs. | Rockcastle County</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The smallest lineman listed on the roster. don't overlook Phelps. He's a shorter, squatty two-way lineman that does a good job of getting after it. A relentless pass rusher with quickness off the snap as a defensive tackle, and a hat-on-hat guy as an interior offensive linemen. Has a ways to go physically and I'm not convinced he stays on the line, based off what I've seen. However, he shows off decent weight numbers, relative to his size.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Willie Sequeira | 6'1, 220 lbs. | North Oldham</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Joining [player_tooltip player_id='1200693' first='Harrison' last='McGraw'] (listed above) out of the North Oldham Mustangs program will be Willie Sequeira. Originally selected as an alternate for the Ketnucky Future Stars team, if there was ever a time for him to be motivated and to have a chip on his shoulder, it would be right now. Looking forward to seeing/hearing how he does.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Max Vanderkooi | 5'9, 210 lbs. | North Laurel</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Vandekooi is one of those "country strong" kids out of the Bluegrass State that you can't help but root for. A hard worker on the field and in the weight room, already achieving a 200-pound bench press and 345-pound squat with great depth. With a low center of gravity and strength in the trenches, he'll be a nice piece at guard on offense and defensive tackle on defense. It would not shock me to see him make a key play defensively for Kentucky, if Tennessee is a facing a must-convert, third and short.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Braxton Saylor | 6'2, 265 lbs. | Knox Central</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's one thing to be able to play any of the interior positions, or the ability to play either tackle, but Saylor is a kid that can literally play any position along the offensive front. In the limited bit I've seen of him, I like what he brings to the table in terms of ability. A returner from last year's Kentucky Future Stars seventh-grade team, he's a tough kid that plays through the whistle. He's had an active summer, having already camped camping at Tennessee, Eastern Kentucky and Union College.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1715699' first='Austin' last='Sloan'] | 6'2, 250 | Campbellsville</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Love the size on Sloan right away, as he stands 6-foot-2 and weighs 250 pounds already. I'm not too familiar with Sloan, but have heard his names in conversations before and he comes with positive words. Looking forward to seeing/hearing about him during the Future Stars experience.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Zay Jones | 6'1, 320 | Somerset</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jones is a returner from the victorious seventh-grade Kentucky Future Stars team from a year ago. He's the heaviest kid on the team this year, listed at 320 pounds and takes up a lot of space. Suffered a broken writs early in his eighth-grade season but he's past that now. I expect him to be used primarily as a run-stuffing defensive tackle, who should make it a tough day for Tennessee offensive linemen trying to push him back.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jeremiah Moore | 6'0, 275 lbs. | </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Moore is another prospect I'm really high on as a defensive linemen. Played defensive end in a 3-4 scheme during middle school ball, and I think that's the best fit for him. If scheme calls for him to play in a 4-man front, I think he could be a crazy headache as a defensive tackle. He has the weight and width to withstand the rumbling between the tackles, but where he separates himself is with length and foot quickness. If he gets his arms extended, he'll win the rep almost every time.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Matthew Stephens | 6'0, 315 lbs. | Bethlehem</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Yet another defensive tackle that should have a great showing in the trenches. Stephens is listed at 6-foot and 315 pounds on the roster, but that size is unverified. What <em>is</em> verified, is that he is already bench pressing 300 pounds ahead of his freshman year of high school. Not just a space-eater, he has a violent rip move that would make me comfortable enough to keep him on the field in obvious passing situations too. If Stephens gets his hands on the opposition first, he's too strong to fight against most times. Good looking player.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->