2023 Mid-Season Top Performers: 3A Defense

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Now that we are a little past the midway point in the 2023 high school regular season in Kentucky, I want to take a look back at what has happened so far. With that being said, I'm going to focus on my top performers on both sides of the ball in each class from so far. After covering class 6A, 5A, and 4A, I have now turned my attention to class 3A. With the offense already being covered, here are my mid-season top performers on the defensive side of the ball in class 3A.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["943483"],"_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='943483' first='Aiden' last='Weatherholt'] is a player that is off to a great start to his senior year. He lines up at linebacker where he is impressive against the run, showing the ability to come downhill in a hurry and make tackles in the open field. Through six games, Aiden has 79 tackles and seven tackles for loss. He has also shown the ability to rush the passer, coming away with three sacks so far. Weatherholt is also his team's leading rusher with 30 carries for 224 yards and four touchdowns. Aiden doesn't currently hold any offers but I expect some to come his way as he has the talent to play at the next level.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["943538"],"_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='943538' first='Jax' last='Niece'] is a player that has been high on my radar for a while now and has continued to impress this season. He lines up at linebacker where he has been great against the run this season. Through six games, Niece leads 3A in tackles with 80 along with nine tackles for loss. He does a great job of reading his keys and flowing to the ball quickly to make tackles. Niece has also shown the ability to rush the passer, coming away with one sack so far. Jax doesn't currently hold any offers but he is definitely a player to keep an eye on over the next two seasons.","_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":"TJ Jackson","_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":"6'0u0022","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"2406","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"Lloyd Memorial","_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":"TJ Jackson is a player that has jumped onto my radar this season. Jackson is a big, physical defensive tackle that is very impressive as a pass rusher. He explodes out of his stance and is able to fight through blocks on his way to the quarterback. Through six games, Jackson is at the top of the 3A leaderboard with eight sacks. He has also shown some reliability against the run, accounting for eight tackles so far. TJ doesn't currently hold any offers but he is a player that college coaches should keep an eye on.","_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":"Tytus Brown","_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":"5'9u0022","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"2496","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"Franklin-Simpson","_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":"Another player that has jumped onto my radar this season is Tytus Brown. Brown is a stand-up outside linebacker that dominates off the edge as a pass rusher. He is able to use his speed and bend to his advantage to blow by opposing offensive tackles. Through six games, Brown has eight sacks. He has also shown the ability to get to the ball in a hurry and make tackles in the open field against the run, accounting for 24 tackles and 10 tackles for loss so far. Tytus holds an offer from Culver Stockton and I expect more to come his way as he has the talent to play at the next level.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["735617"],"_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='735617' first='Koleby' last='Schroeder'] is a player that has been on my radar for a while now that has impressed so far this season. Schroeder lines up on the outside at corner where he is very reliable in man coverage, showing the ability to run with receivers to mirror their routes. When the ball is thrown his way, he has shown great ball skills, coming away with four interceptions so far. He has also shown the ability to provide run support, accounting for 10 tackles so far. Koleby doesn't currently hold any offers but he is a player that college coaches should keep an eye on.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_5_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_5_player_details_player_name":"Jarvis Starks-Scott","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_5_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_5_player_details_height":"5'9u0022","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_5_player_details_position":"2411","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_5_player_details_school":"Webster County","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_5_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_5_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_5_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"Jarvis Starks-Scott is a player that quickly jumped onto my radar this season. He has been very impressive in the Webster County secondary this season. Starks has shown tremendous ball skills, coming away with four interceptions through six games. He has shown the ability to make plays after the interception as well, returning three of them for touchdowns. Starks has also shown reliability against the run, accounting for 24 tackles and 0.5 tackles for loss so far. Jarvis doesn't currently hold any offers but I expect some to come his way as he has the talent to play at the next level.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_6_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_6_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='1516130' first='Blake' last='Burnett']","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_6_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_6_player_details_height":"6'2u0022","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_6_player_details_position":"2495","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_6_player_details_school":"Bell County","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_6_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_6_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_6_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"To wrap up my top mid-season performers in 3A, I have [player_tooltip player_id='1516130' first='Blake' last='Burnett']. Blake has been a key piece of the Bell County secondary this season. Through six games, he leads 3A with five interceptions. He has shown the ability to take the interception the other way, returning one for a touchdown this season. Burnett has also shown the ability to provide run support, accounting for 24 tackles so far. Blake doesn't currently hold any offers but is a player to keep an eye on over the next few years as he continues to develop.","_player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":7,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65186a3ac36f9"} /-->