2023 Mid-Season Top Performers: 6A 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. To kick things off, here are my mid-season top performers in class 6A on the offensive side of the ball.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["316808"],"_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":"Through the first six games, [player_tooltip player_id='316808' first='Davon' last='Rudolph'] currently leads 6A in tackles. Rudolph has been outstanding this season, accounting for 71 tackles, seven tackles for loss, two sacks, three forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery. Davon is an off-ball outside linebacker that does a great job of reading the run and fighting through blocks to get to the ball carrier. Once he gets to the ball, Rudolph explodes through contact and finishes his tackles quickly, not allowing for any extra yards to be gained. Davon doesn't currently hold any offers but I expect some to come his way soon as he has received some college interest and has the talent to play at the next level.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["331710"],"_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":"Another member of the Ballard defense that has stood out this season is [player_tooltip player_id='331710' first='Mikel' last='Clack']. Clack lines up at defensive end where he is able to use his speed to dominate off the edge as a pass rusher. He has 8.5 sacks through the first six games this season. Mikel has also proven to be reliable against the run, showing the ability to read the play and get to the ball in a hurry to make tackles in the open field. He has accounted for 53 tackles and eight tackles for loss so far. While Mikel doesn't currently hold any offers, he deserves some attention from college coaches as he has the talent to play somewhere at the next level.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["401710"],"_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":"While he makes an impact on both sides of the ball fro Ryle, [player_tooltip player_id='401710' first='Jacob' last='Savage'] has stood out in a big way on the defensive side of the ball so far. Through five games, Savage leads the team with 55 tackles along with 0.5 tackles for loss and one fumble recovery. Savage lines up at linebacker where he does a great job of reading his keys and flowing to the ball in a hurry against the run. Once he gets to the ball, he has proven to be a very reliable tackler in the open field. Jacob currently holds an offer from Eastern Kentucky and I expect more to come his way as he is a Division I caliber prospect with three years to continue to develop.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["373040"],"_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='373040' first='Tucker' last='Roth'] is another linebacker that has been very impressive this season. Through five games, Roth has accounted for 60 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, and two forced fumbles. He is very impressive against the run as he is able to read his keys and get downhill in a hurry to meet the running back before they can get going. Roth finishes his tackles with a ton of physicality, not allowing for any forward movement or extra yards. He has also proven to be reliable as a pass rusher, coming away with two sacks so far this season. Tucker currently holds an offer from Eastern Kentucky and I expect more to come his way as he is a Division I caliber linebacker prospect that has received a lot of college interest.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["523030"],"_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":"Coming into this season, Crayton looked his best at receiver. However, he has truly stood out of the defensive side of the ball this season. Crayton is a true ball hawk as a defensive back as he has shown the ability to break on the ball with perfect timing to make a play. He has come away with three interceptions so far this season, returning two of them for touchdowns. Crayton has also shown the ability to make tackles in the open field and he has 15 tackles so far. Santana currently holds offers from Eastern Kentucky and Tennessee State, and I expect more to come his way as he is an impressive athlete that could play multiple positions at the next level.","_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":"[player_tooltip player_id='1149579' first='Travis' last='Moten']","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_5_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_5_player_details_height":"6'5u0022","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_5_player_details_position":"2406","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_5_player_details_school":"Fern Creek","_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":"[player_tooltip player_id='1149579' first='Travis' last='Moten'] is a player that has truly jumped onto my radar this season. Moten lines up at defensive end where he is very disruptive against the run, using his speed to and strength to fight through blocks to get to the ball carrier in a hurry. Through five games, he leads the team with 37 tackles and 12 tackles for loss. Moten is also a very dangerous pass rusher. He currently sits near the top of the 6A sacks leaderboard with seven sacks. Moten currently holds an offer from Otterbein and I expect more 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='1121543' first='Landon' last='Edwards']","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_6_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_6_player_details_height":"5'8u0022","_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":"Fern Creek","_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 mid-season 6A defensive top performers, I have [player_tooltip player_id='1121543' first='Landon' last='Edwards'] from Fern Creek. He has had a tremendous season so far at corner. Edwards does a great job of reading routes and breaking on the ball with perfect timing to come away with an interception. Through five games, Edwards leads 6A in interceptions with four, returning one of them for a touchdown. He has also shown the ability to provide run support and make tackles in the open field, accounting for 13 tackles and one tackle for loss so far. Landon currently holds offers from Kentucky State and Otterbein, and I expect more to come his way as he has the talent to play at the next level.","_player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":7,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-651204fe18079"} /-->