Kentucky Future Stars: Class of 2028 Defense

An assortment of talented middle school football players from all over the Bluegrass State teamed up to take on the Volunteer State in a trio of contests in the Kentucky vs. Tennessee Future Stars Game this past weekend at Austin Peay University. Team Kentucky had the most success on the field at Fortera Stadium, claiming two wins on the day. After breaking down some of the most impressive offensive talents from the 7th grade game, here's my list of the top defensive standouts in the class of 2028.    A rising talent on the defensive side of the ball that immediately caught my attention was [player_tooltip player_id='871299' first='Brayden' last='Payne'], a highly explosive defensive back on Team Kentucky's roster that impressed down the stretch during the 7th grade contest against Team Tennessee. In addition to excellent size and speed, Payne's versatility and toughness in coverage made a huge difference. Payne showcased excellent defensive strength and physicality in coverage, disrupting the Volunteer State's offensive movement in the air. Payne additionally impressed with his quickness off the snap and ability to immediately find his man in the backfield. Payne's effort made it difficult for Team Tennessee to make quick passes and deep throws.    Another defensive talent that made a good impression on the defensive side of the ball was [player_tooltip player_id='871298' first='Isaac' last='James'], an incredibly impactful linebacker talent on Team Kentucky's roster that helped keep Team Tennessee behind the line of scrimmage during the 7th grade game last weekend. James matched up well with the Volunteer State's offensive line, impressing me with his size, speed and physicality. James stole the spotlight at several moments during the contest, showcasing his ability to muscle past the offensive linemen and immediately apply pressure on the quarterback. Payne also impressed me with his ability to make significant stops and sacks.    I was additionally impressed by [player_tooltip player_id='871295' first='Malachi' last='Smith'], an explosive linebacker talent on the roster of Team Kentucky that showcased his consistency on the defensive side of the ball against Team Tennessee during the 7th grade game this past weekend. What stands out about Smith is his size, speed and toughness. Despite considerable strength from the Volunteer State's offense, Smith still managed to make significant stops and consistently apply heavy defensive pressure. Smith's strength is another aspect of his game that contributed to his defensive success, showcasing his durability and ability to withstand pushback from the offense.    Also catching my attention on the defensive side of the ball was [player_tooltip player_id='871297' first='Jaxon' last='Castle'], another impressive defensive back on Team Kentucky's roster that showcased excellent consistency and athleticism down the stretch and in the endzone during the 7th grade game against Team Tennessee. What stood out about Castle is highly versatile playstyle and physicality, showcasing his ability to overwhelm receivers in coverage and get in perfect position to intercept the quarterback. I also liked Castle's quickness off the snap and hustle to get in position down the field. Castle provided a challenge for Team Tennessee's quarterback, eliminating several easy scoring opportunities with his defensive effort.    Also making a difference on the defensive side of the ball was [player_tooltip player_id='871294' first='Hudsen' last='Close'], an impressive defensive tackle on Team Kentucky's roster that contributed electric strength and physicality against Team Tennessee's offense in the 7th grade contest last weekend. With excellent size and speed, Close matched up well with Team Tennessee's offensive line, showcasing his ability to overwhelm the offense and get to the quarterback. Another aspect of Close's game that contributed to his defensive success was his ability to play quick off the snap, his overall durability and his ability to consistently overpower the opposition and apply heavy defensive pressure.    I was additionally impressed with [player_tooltip player_id='871289' first='Ahmad' last='Simon'], a highly versatile and explosive athlete talent on Team Kentucky's roster that made a huge impact on both sides of the ball, contributing as both a defensive back and a wide receiver. With excellent size, speed and an extremely physical playstyle on defense, Simon created a mountain of problems for Team Tennessee's offense. Simon matched up well with the Volunteer State's receiver core, rejecting several notable passes down the field with his disruptive coverage down the stretch. Another aspect of Simon's game that certainly helped him find defensive success is his game knowledge and playing experience on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball.

An assortment of talented middle school football players from all over the Bluegrass State teamed up to take on the Volunteer State in a trio of contests in the Kentucky vs. Tennessee Future Stars Game this past weekend at Austin Peay University. Team Kentucky had the most success on the field at Fortera Stadium, claiming two wins on the day. After breaking down some of the most impressive offensive talents from the 7th grade game, here's my list of the top defensive standouts in the class of 2028.