Stock Up Performers: Week 3 Defense

With another week of high school football action in the books, it's time to look back at some outstanding players in the state of Kentucky that made their presence known on the field in week three of competition. After breaking down the top offensive standouts, it's time to resume my "Stock Up Performers" series as we focus our attention on some impressive defensive standouts. Without any further ado, here's my list of the top defensive standouts from week three to keep an eye on as the season progresses.    At the top of my list of notable performers is [player_tooltip player_id='381930' first='Major' last='Brown'], a 6-foot-0, 200-pound linebacker at Lexington Christian Academy. Brown has made his presence known for the Eagles defensively, picking up a total of 23 tackles, including 11 solo stops, 12 assisted takedowns, 2.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. Brown stands out due to his quick execution off the snap and ability to disrupt the passing game down the stretch with his physical edge. Another aspect of Brown that catches my attention is his ability to target playmakers, apply pressure and read the offense.    I am additionally impressed with [player_tooltip player_id='417459' first='Stephen' last='Whitehead'], a 6-foot-2, 230-pound athlete at Madison Southern High School. Whitehead has been explosive on both sides of the ball for the Eagles, recording 34 total tackles, including 15 solo stops, 19 assisted takedowns, five tackles for loss and one sack. In addition to outstanding size and speed, what makes Whitehead so solid defensively is his overwhelming strength and ability to collapse the offensive line. Whitehead has consistently proven he can quickly apply pressure on the quarterback and make commanding stops.    Claiming the number three spot on my list is [player_tooltip player_id='438173' first='Brach' last='Rice'], a 6-foot-3, 220-pound athlete at Dixie Heights High School. Rice has been a relentless defensive weapon for the Colonels this season, collecting 44 total tackles, including 27 solo stops, 17 assisted takedowns, 11 tackles for loss and four sacks. Rice has also forced one fumble. What stands out about Rice is quick execution, defensive strength and ability to hit the offense hard. I also like Rice's footwork and ability to overwhelm the offensive line, disrupt offensive production on the ground and get to the quarterback.    Another talented player to keep an eye on is [player_tooltip player_id='838946' first='Walden' last='Cole'], a 6-foot-1, 190-pound athlete at Henry Clay High School. Cole has proven himself as a reliable piece of the Blue Devils' defense, recording 25 total tackles, including 21 solo stops, four assisted takedowns, two tackles for loss and one sack. Walden has also forced a fumble and made one fumble recovery. With great size, speed and versatility, Cole stands out with his ability to stun the offense with his strength, find openings in the pocket to apply pressure and absorb heavy contact from the offensive line.    Coming in at number five on my list of standouts is [player_tooltip player_id='373035' first='Jimmy' last='Mooney'], a 5-foot-10, 215-pound linebacker at Paducah Tilghman High School. Mooney has been a highly explosive defensive weapon for the Blue Tornado, picking up 28 total tackles, including 18 solo stops, 10 assisted takedowns and two tackles for loss. In addition to size and speed, what makes Mooney so efficient is his physical edge and ability to overwhelm the offense with his strength. I also like how Mooney uses bursts of speed to break away from the defense, apply pressure and make stops.

With another week of high school football action in the books, it's time to look back at some outstanding players in the state of Kentucky that made their presence known on the field in week three of competition. After breaking down the top offensive standouts, it's time to resume my "Stock Up Performers" series as we focus our attention on some impressive defensive standouts. Without any further ado, here's my list of the top defensive standouts from week three to keep an eye on as the season progresses.