Kentucky Future Stars: Class of 2029 Defensive Standouts
In this article:
An assortment of talented rising middle school football stars from all over the Bluegrass State stopped by Austin Peay University this past weekend to face off against the Volunteer State in the Kentucky vs. Tennessee Future Stars Game. Today, we…
Access all of Prep Redzone Next and Prep Redzone
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingAn assortment of talented rising middle school football stars from all over the Bluegrass State stopped by Austin Peay University this past weekend to face off against the Volunteer State in the Kentucky vs. Tennessee Future Stars Game. Today, we will continue to breakdown some of the most impressive standouts on Team Kentucky’s roster from the 6th grade game. After evaluating the class of 2029 Kentucky Future Stars offensive standouts yesterday, here’s my list of the top defensive standouts in the class of 2029.
One of the biggest defensive contributors on Team Kentucky’s roster was David Lawless David Lawless 5'8" | 110 lbs | DB KY , a highly explosive defensive back that made his presence known on the field early on in the 6th grade contest against Team Tennessee. What impressed me about Lawless was his versatility down the stretch, which quickly overwhelmed Team Tennessee’s receiving core. Another aspect of his game that caught my eye was his electric speed and ability to disrupt receivers down the stretch. With great size and speed, Lawless poses a huge threat in coverage as he made Team Tennessee’s offense work for their receptions and scores.
Highlights
Another defensive talent that stood out on the field was Jaxon Wells Jaxon Wells 6'0" | 220 lbs | DL KY , a physical defensive lineman for Team Kentucky that consistently showcased his toughness in the 6th grade game against Team Tennessee. What stands about Wells is his overall size, speed and toughness. During Saturday’s contest, Wells matched up well with his opponents and did an excellent job of containing the offense and making plays on the defensive side of the ball. Wells also displayed solid aggression and quickness off the snap, showcasing his ability to consistently apply pressure on Team Tennessee’s offense while also disrupting the quarterback. Wells additionally impressed me with multiple significant stops.
Also impressing me on the defensive side of the ball was Xavier Wooldridge Xavier Wooldridge DB KY , a defensive back on Team Kentucky’s roster that made an impact down the stretch last weekend. Wooldridge excelled at keeping the ball out of the hands of Team Tennessee’s receivers in the 6th grade contest. What stood out about Wooldridge’s game was his size, speed and coverage down the stretch, making it difficult for the Volunteer State to complete passes and find the endzone. Wooldridge played with excellent aggression and physicality, disrupting the quarterback’s ability to complete quick passes and deep shots down the field to his receivers.
Highlights
Making an excellent impression on both sides of the ball was Alex Decker Alex Decker 5'11" | 130 lbs | ATH KY , a well-balanced athlete on Team Kentucky that contributed at both defensive back and wide receiver. Decker’s knowledge and experience on both sides of the ball made a huge difference against Team Tennessee in the 6th grade game. Decker impressed me with his ability to haul in deep shots down the field while also applying solid defensive coverage on the other side of the ball. Decker’s size and physicality is what gave him the advantage in coverage, utilizing his arms to confuse receivers and keep Team Tennessee off the board.
One of the most explosive defensive standouts on Team Kentucky’s roster was Joshua Aiken Miller Joshua Aiken Miller 6'2" | 215 lbs | DL KY , an impressive defensive end that quickly and consistently overwhelmed Team Tennessee’s offense in the 6th grade game this past Saturday. Miller was perhaps one of the most noticeable defensive talents on the field, earning defensive MVP for his commanding performance. Miller was incredibly impactful, blasting the Volunteer State on the defensive side of the ball with his size, speed and versatile play style. Miller excelled in the second half when Team Tennessee’s offense threw everything they had. Miller held his ground and kept Team Tennessee’s offense off the board for the duration of the contest.
Highlights
Also catching my attention was Drew Anderson Drew Anderson 5'7" | 130 lbs | DB KY , another highly explosive defensive back on Team Kentucky’s roster that made his presence known and felt this past weekend, playing a significant role on defense in the 6th grade contest. What stands out most about Anderson’s game is his size, speed, versatility and physicality down the stretch and in coverage. Anderson’s build and quickness off the snap also made it difficult for Team Tennessee to complete quick passes and long shots down the field. Anderson additionally impressed me with his quickness off the snap, lightning-fast movement down the field a how he utilized his arms when applying coverage on Team Tennessee’s receivers.