2023 Statewide Defensive Top Performers: Week 6

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 2023 high school football season is in full swing in the state of Kentucky as we have now had six full weeks of regular season action. Week 6 gave us several exciting games with some impressive individual performances. With the offensive side of the ball already being covered, here are my top defensive performances in the state of Kentucky from Week 6.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["438173"],"_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='438173' first='Brach' last='Rice'] is a player that is off to a strong start to his senior year and continued to impress this past week. He played a key role in his team's shutout win over Boone County, finishing with 11 tackles and six tackles for loss. Rice lined up at linebacker where he showed the ability to read his keys and come downhill in a hurry against the run. He was able to shoot into the backfield before the offensive line could react on many occasions. Rice also showed the ability to rush the passer off the edge, finishing the game with 3.5 sacks. He also caught a touchdown pass on offense. Brach is committed to Miami (OH) where I can see him developing into a key piece of their defense once he gets there.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"Gavin Hurst","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"6'0u0022","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"2411","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"Franklin County","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_1_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Gavin Hurst is another player that stood out to me on the defensive side of the ball this past week. He played a key role in Franklin County's dominant win over Shelby County. Hurst lined up on the outside at corner where he showed the ability to drop into zone coverage and read route combinations to put himself in a good position to make a play. When the ball was thrown his way, he showed tremendous ball skills, coming away with two interceptions. After the interception, he showed the ability to take them the other way for big plays, returning one of them for a touchdown. Gavin currently holds an offer from Alderson Broaddus and I expect more to come his way as he has the talent to play at the next level.","_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='1149623' first='Brandon' last='Gist']","_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":"2411","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"Valley","_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='1149623' first='Brandon' last='Gist'] is a player that jumped onto my radar this past week. He played a key role in Valley's win over Waggener, finishing with 21 tackles and two tackles for loss. Gist lined up at linebacker where he did a great job of reading his keys and flowing to the ball quickly to make tackles against the run. He also showed the ability to rush the passer, finishing the game with one sack. Gist also played a key role on offense, running the ball nine times for 151 yards and three touchdowns. Brandon doesn't currently hold any offers but he should be a player to keep an eye on over the next couple seasons","_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":"Bowen Johnson","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"null","_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":"Kentucky Country Day","_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 jumped onto my radar  this past week was Bowen Johnson. Bowen played a key role in his team's win over LaRue County. He lined up at linebacker where he showed the ability to read his keys and flow to the ball quickly to make tackles in the open field against the run. Johnson finished the game with 16 tackles and a forced fumble. He also showed the ability to rush the passer, finishing the game with two sacks. Bowen doesn't currently hold any offers but will be a player to keep an eye on as he continues to develop over the next few seasons.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["331710"],"_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='331710' first='Mikel' last='Clack'] is a player that is off to a strong start to the 2023 season and continued to impress this past week. He played a key role in Ballard's dominant win over Tates Creek. Clack lined up at defensive end where he was able to use his speed to dominate off the edge as a pass rusher. He finished the game with three sacks. Mikel also showed the ability to read the run and shed blocks quickly to get to the ball carrier to make tackles in the open field, finishing the game with 10 tackles and one tackle for loss. Mikel doesn't currently hold any offers but I expect some to come his way soon as he is having a strong senior year and has the talent to play somewhere 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":"Shaun Phillips","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_5_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_5_player_details_height":"5'8u0022","_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":"Calloway 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":"Shaun Phillips is another player that jumped onto my radar this past week. Despite their loss to Logan County, Phillips put together an impressive performance. Phillips lined up at linebacker where he did a great job of reading his keys and coming downhill in a hurry to stop the run. He finished the game with 15.5 tackles and three tackles for loss. Phillips also showed some ability in pass coverage, coming away with an interception. Shaun doesn't currently hold any offers but he should be a player to keep an eye on over the next few seasons.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_6_player":["725010"],"_player_evaluations_6_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='725010' first='Ryan' last='Rayhill'] is another player that stood out to me in a big way this past week. He played a huge role in the Chargers' win over North Hardin. Rayhill lined up at outside linebacker where he was very impressive in pass coverage, finishing the game with four interceptions. He also showed the ability to flow to the football and make tackles in the open field against the run. Ryan finished the game with 13 tackles. He also caught a touchdown pass on offense. Rayhill doesn't currently hold any offers but I expect some to come his way as he has received some college interest and has the talent to play at the next level.","_player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_7_player":["423659"],"_player_evaluations_7_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_7_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_7_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_7_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_7_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='423659' first='Jack' last='Lonaker'] is a player that has been high on my radar for a while now and continued to impress this past week. Despite his team's close loss to Highlands, Lonaker had a very good game. He lined up at linebacker where he showed the ability to read his keys and come downhill in a hurry to defend the run. Once he gets to the football, Lonaker does a great job of running his feet through contact to secure the tackle. He finished the game with 23 tackles. Lonaker currently holds offers from Massachusetts Maritime, Baldwin Wallace, Thomas More, and Mount Saint Joseph, and I expect more to come his way as he has the talent to be a very productive linebacker at the next level.","_player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_8_player":["313671"],"_player_evaluations_8_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_8_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_8_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_8_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_8_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_8_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='313671' first='Kaden' last='Smith'] is another player that has been high on my radar for a while now that continued to impress this past week. He played a key role in Taylor County's win over Wayne County. Smith lined up at outside linebacker where he was able to use his combination of strength and speed to dominate off the edge as a pass rusher. He finished the game with  three sacks. Smith also showed the ability to get to the ball in a hurry and make tackles in the open field against the run, finishing with nine tackles and 3.5 tackles for loss. He also made a huge play in pass coverage, coming away with an interception and returning it for a touchdowns. Kaden also played a role on offense, catching a touchdown pass. Smith is committed to Eastern Kentucky where I can see him developing into a key piece of their defense once he gets there.","_player_evaluations_8_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_9_player":["490002"],"_player_evaluations_9_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_9_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_9_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_9_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_9_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_9_evaluation":"To wrap up my top defensive performers from Week 6, I have [player_tooltip player_id='490002' first='Bryce' last='Pugh']. Pugh played a key role in Leslie County's win over Paintsville, finishing the game with 15 tackles and three tackles for loss. He is a physical middle linebacker that does a great job of reading his keys and coming downhill to meet the ball carrier in the gap before they can get going. Pugh also showed the ability to rush the passer this past week, coming away with a sack. He also showed reliability in pass coverage, finishing the game with two interceptions. Bryce currently holds an offer from Thomas More and I expect more to come his way as he has the talent to play at the next level.","_player_evaluations_9_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":10,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65135780db4c4"} /-->