Defensive Players to Watch for: KHSA Class 3A

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Last post, we looked at some of the many talented offensive prospects found in the KHSA 3A state division class. The recent theme for most of this recruiting series is that there is an overabundance of football talent that scales across all the positions in the game. No matter when we look at offensive or defensive prospects, there is always going to be a wide range of football talent. With that being said, we will be listing some talented defensive prospects to watch for from the Kentucky 3A division class.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Jaxon Shoulders","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'2u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2496","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Hart County High School","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Jaxon Shoulders is one of the most aggressive and hard-hitting linebacker prospects in the Kentucky 3A class. The 6'2 215lb 2024 grad from Hart County High School had a great 2022 season as he recorded 156 total tackles and 11 tackles for loss in 12 games (13 tackles per game). Shoulders' blitz attack is difficult to sustain for any opposing offensive line. When on a blitz, Jaxon's reaction time to the snap of the ball is incredible and enables him to accelerate at a much faster rate to get past the offensive line. Along with this, Shoulders possesses superior upper body strength to help him pin down runners with ease. When playing off the pass, Jaxon is great at maintaining patience in his zone and not taking the bait of a QB fake or fake route. Shoulders can read the QB with such precision that he can already anticipate where the ball will go before the play is even made. Another add-on to his fantastic reads is that he can record easy interceptions by reading where the QB is going to throw the ball and put himself at the correct spot every time. As of now, Jaxon has participated in a few D1 camps and received interest from many schools, but no official offers announced. I expect this to change by the end of this upcoming season.rnrnu003ca href=u0022http://www.hudl.com/v/2JFKUZu0022u003eTape:u003c/au003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["313671"],"_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":"I was fortunate to get to see Kaden participate in our Prep Redzone Kentucky's Prospect Tour in April. Not only did he exceed our expectations with his stellar play, but he was one of the camp's top performers across all positions. Smith, a 6'3 205lb  2024 grad OLB prospect from Taylor County High School had a great 2022 campaign as he recorded 43 total tackles and 9 defensive sacks in 10 games played (3rd in state 3A class in sacks). When watching Kaden play for the first time, the first trait that amazes recruiters is his speed. When we recorded his 40-yard dash back in April, he ran a 4.47 which was the fastest time in the entire camp. But it is not only his speed at a full sprint that makes him tough to block, but his lateral quickness and reaction time are spectacular. These traits enabled Smith to catch a lot of opposing blockers off-guard right off the snap and pin the QB quickly down to the ground. These types of situations make it extremely difficult for any opposing offense to try and counter Kaden's blitz attack. Smith is also solid at mirroring the motions of opposing runners and receivers when in zone coverage. This enables him to stay locked onto the open receiver that steps in his zone. Although he currently holds a D1 offer from EKU, I expect him to receive more offers by the end of his senior season.rnrnu003ca href=u0022http://www.hudl.com/v/2JrVSXu0022u003eTape:u003c/au003e","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='1576951' first='Amonti' last='Marshall']","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"5'8u0022","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"2496","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"Bardstown High School ","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_2_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='1576951' first='Amonti' last='Marshall'] is an aggressive OLB that specializes in getting past the offensive line to put consistent pressure on the QB. Marshall, a 5'8 170lb 2025 grad from Bardstown High School had a terrific 2022 season as he placed 5th in the state 3A class with 8 defensive sacks and 3 forced fumbles in 14 games played. What is notable about Marshall's success at putting pressure on the QB is his ability to beat past the blockers on nearly every play. This is partially due to Marshall's insanely quick reflexes and speed to catch the blockers off guard. But what is mainly enabling him to do this is the strategic movements he uses when beating past the blockers. Whether he going to slip by to the weak side of an opposing blocker to get past or fake his movements to get the blocker to make a wrong angle move, Marshall has plenty of techniques he uses in his arsenal. Lastly, Almonte does an excellent job at his target placement when tackling. Marshall's aggressive playstyle propels him to always aim at targeting the side of the ball to force a fumble off the tackle. As of now, Marshall has no offers or has been shown to attend any collegiate camps. With 2 years left of high school ball, he has a lot of talent in him to develop further into an elite collegiate prospect.rnrnu003ca href=u0022http://www.hudl.com/v/2JHRtEu0022u003eTape:u003c/au003e","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"CaMareius Caldwell","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"6'2u0022","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"2406","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"Elizabethtown High School","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_3_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"Camareius is another aggressive edge rusher prospect that excels at getting to the quarterback early in the play and consistently making a defensive stop. Caldwell, a 6'2 200lb 2024 grad from Elizabethtown High School had a solid 2022 season by picking up 7 defensive sacks in 9 games played. Caldwell does a great job at analyzing the alignment of the offensive line before he makes his move. Because he is so good at this, Camareius can target weak gaps that the opposing linemen are not aware of and attack the QB through there. Along with that, Caldwell has tremendous overall body strength to help him push his way past the blockers. Camareius can get to the QB at an insanely fast rate due to these tactics and it helps him pick up easy sacks or even cause the QB to make a bad play to force a turnover for the defense. These overall qualities in his game can help upgrade the defensive line unit for any collegiate team. As of now, Caldwell has one offer from Campbellsville University and has gotten more interest from recruiters. I expect more offers to come his way by the end of his senior season.rnrnu003ca href=u0022http://www.hudl.com/v/2KacMEu0022u003eTape:u003c/au003e","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["512645"],"_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":"[player_tooltip player_id='512645' first='Jerimyah' last='Shearer'] is one of the best DB prospects in the state 3A class at accurately reading the QB before the ball has been thrown. Shearer, a 5'10 175lb 2024 grad from Trigg County High School, had a productive 2022 season on the defensive side as he caught 5 interceptions in 11 games played. As I mentioned before, what makes Shearer a lockdown defender is his ability to predict the outcome of the drawn play. When he is reading the quarterback, Shearer can depict where his intentions are at throwing the ball and if it is coming to him, he can always position himself at the right place to attempt to prevent the completion. With his freakish athleticism and high vertical, Shearer can get up high for deep passes on go routes, which allows him to sag off a little on the receiver and still make an interception. Another trait from his precise predictions on the plays drawn by the offense is his stellar tackling ability. Shearer possesses excellent tackling mechanics and knows where and when to strike an incoming runner to inflict the strongest takedown possible while simultaneously attempting to knock the football out. Shearer possesses a lot of traits many DB prospects do not traditionally inherit. I expect him to further develop his game to the point that he will be receiving numerous offers and interest from schools. As of now, Shearer has not announced any camp invites or offers from any schools.rnrnu003ca href=u0022http://www.hudl.com/v/2KTeP5u0022u003eTape:u003c/au003e","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":5,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64af41a5992b2"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":"","_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_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-649fb171272ff"} /-->