2025 Rankings Update: Defensive Linemen

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With the 2023 high school football season quickly approaching, it is time for some rankings updates! For the state of Kentucky, the updated Top 150 rankings for the talented 2025 class have been posted. With that being said, I will be taking the next couple weeks to breakdown these updated rankings by position. After already covering the offensive side of the ball, I will now turn my attention to the defensive side of the ball, starting with our top defensive linemen in the state of Kentucky in the class of 2025.</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 has quickly solidified himself as one of the best players in the entire state. He is coming off a strong sophomore season in which he finished with 85 tackles, two tackles for loss, and 11 sacks. Alexander is a very impressive pass rusher, showing the ability to use a combination of speed and strength to beat opposing offensive tackles off the edge. He also has some very impressive pass rush moves that he uses to his advantage. Against the run, he does a great job of reading the play and using his speed to get to the ball in a hurry to make tackles in the open field. He has also shown some ability in pass coverage, coming away with one interception and returning it for a touchdown last season.  Austin currently holds offers from North Carolina, Kentucky, Illinois, Louisville, Duke, Gardner Webb, Akron, Miami (OH), 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":["494109"],"_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='494109' first='Hunter' last='Clem'] is a player that has been high on our radar for a while now. After playing on both sides of the line last season, Clem will be playing on the defensive line and tight end, with his main focus likely being on defense. Clem lines up at defensive end where he is a very impressive run stopper. He does a great job of exploding out of his stance and shedding blocks quickly to get to the ball carrier. Once he gets to the football, Clem is a very reliable open field tackler. Hunter is also an impressive pass rusher, showing the ability to use his speed to blow by opposing offensive tackles off the edge while also showing the strength to fight through blocks on his way to the quarterback. Clem currently holds an offer from Union and I expect more to come his way as he definitely has the talent to play at the next level.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["373034"],"_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='373034' first='Xsavier' last='Cleary'] is another defensive lineman that has been high on our radar for a while now. He had a strong sophomore year, finishing with 58 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, and 5.5 sacks. Cleary is a physical defensive tackle that is very impressive against the run. He explodes out of his stance and has shown the ability to drive his blocker straight into the backfield to create disruption. Once he gets into the backfield, he does a great job of shedding the block quickly to get to the ball carrier to make the tackle. Cleary is also a reliable pass rusher, using his speed to shoot his gap quickly before the opposing offensive lineman can react. Once he gets to the quarterback, he finishes with a ton of physicality, making sure his presence is felt with every hit. While Xsavier doesn't currently hold any offers, I expect some to come his way soon as he has the talent to play somewhere at the next level.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["735671"],"_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":"[player_tooltip player_id='735671' first='Dillon' last='Smith'] is an incoming junior defensive lineman that caught my attention last season. He finished his sophomore year with 58 tackles, 18.5 tackles for loss, and nine sacks. Smith lines up at defensive end where he is a very impressive pass rusher. He has a quick first step and plays with a very high motor , showing the ability to blow by opposing offensive tackles off the edge. Smith has also shown the ability to fight through blocks on his way to the quarterback. Against the run, Smith does a great job of squeezing the edge and reading the play when the run is away from him. Once he sees where the ball is going, he gets to the ball carrier in a hurry and is a very reliable tackler in the open field. Dillon doesn't currently hold any offers but he is a player to keep an eye on over the next two seasons as he has the talent to play 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":"To wrap up our top five defensive line in the class of 2025 in the state of Kentucky, I have [player_tooltip player_id='373076' first='Tre' last='Jackson'] from Mayfield. Jackson is coming off a solid sophomore year in which he finished with 46 tackles, three tackles for loss, and two sacks. Tre lines up at defensive tackle where he is a dominant run defender. He explodes out of his stance, using his speed to shoot into the backfield to create disruption. Once he gets to the ball carrier, he does a great job of running his feet through contact to finish the tackle. As a pass rusher, Jackson is able to use his speed and strength to beat opposing offensive linemen to get to the quarterback and he does a great job of finishing once he gets there. Tre doesn't currently hold any offers but I expect some to come his way soon as he has the talent to play at the next level.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":5,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64c821cc1bc4a"} /--> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">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='373084' first='Javeon' last='Dorsey'] (Male)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->