Top Defensive Performers to Watch For in Playoffs: 10/20

<!-- 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-6541c0f8670b4"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As the 2023 regular season is ending, there has not been any shortage of football talent in Kentucky. Throughout many positions in Football, players have had extraordinary performances on the gridiron. Although I expect this trend to continue into the postseason, there are typically a few players who continue to produce these extraordinary performances throughout the whole season. Especially in the postseason, these players will play a key role in determining the fate of their team. We last looked at the top offensive performers from October 20th, so now we will list the key defensive performances from that night's slate of games.</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":"[player_tooltip player_id='1121524' first='Isaac' last='Frye']","_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":"6'3u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2406","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Fleming 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":"Isaac had an incredible defensive performance for his Fleming County High School team. Playing against Bath County High School, Frye put up 10 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, a forced fumble u0026amp; fumble recovery for a touchdown. Isaac is a dangerous defensive asset lining up as an edge rusher because of his reaction time to the snap and his strength to push past the opposing blockers. Frye is also great at anticipating offensive plays and is always at the right place to make a tackle. Isaac's defensive precision and reliability will greatly impact his team going into the postseason.rnrnu003ca href=u0022http://www.hudl.com/v/2M3c0Qu0022u003eTape:u003c/au003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["943483"],"_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='943483' first='Aiden' last='Weatherholt'] had a fantastic defensive outing as he and his Hancock County High School team defeated Hopkins County Central High School. In that game, Aiden recorded 16 total tackles, 1 tackle for loss, and 1 sack. Aiden specializes in speed and field vision to find blocking gaps for him to get to the QB instantly. Along with that, Weatherholt is great at putting lots of pressure no matter what area of the field he is in. Whether he is pressuring the quarterback through a blitz, or when in zone coverage, Aiden always makes a play difficult for the offense to convert. This will help Aiden and his defense outplay their opponents going into the postseason.rnrnu003ca href=u0022http://www.hudl.com/v/2MMZXxu0022u003eTape: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":"Octavius McKeage","_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":"null","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"2495","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"Russellville 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":"Although Octavius sticks to primarily the secondary, he seems to be making plays all over the field! He especially proved this during their October 20th game against Fulton County High School. In that game, McKeage recorded 6 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, 1 sack, an interception, and 2 fumble recoveries which included 1 defensive touchdown. Besides Octavius being agile and quick to get across all sides of the field, what stands out about his play is his defensive awareness. Even when he is lined up deeper in the secondary, McKeage does a terrific job at anticipating what the routes are going to be and where he will need to go to make the defensive stop. McKeage does this with such consistency on nearly every defensive drive. A player that has that level of defensive awareness and the athletic ability to cover across the gridiron is something to look out for. The future is bright for McKeage.rnrnu003ca href=u0022http://www.hudl.com/v/2LvucGu0022u003eTape: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":"Jaxon Zink","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_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":"2496","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"Harrison County 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":"Jaxon Zink recently had an impressive defensive outing for his Harrison County High School. Playing against Holmes High School, Jaxon recorded 18 total tackles with 2 tackles for a loss. Jaxon is quick to accelerate off his zone when blitzing and does an excellent job at pinning down opposing ball carriers quickly before they accrue extra yards after contact. Another aspect of Zink's game that should be noticed is his lower body strength. This has enabled him to maintain a tight hold on players when attempting to take them down. Be on the lookout for Jaxon and his Harrison County High School defense this upcoming postseason!rnrnu003ca href=u0022http://www.hudl.com/v/2LCeZdu0022u003eTape:u003c/au003e","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"Kentayvion Sherley","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"6'2u0022","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"2406","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"Jeffersontown High School ","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_4_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"Kentayvion Sherley was a problem for their Valley High School opponent. Making a huge impact for his Jeffersontown High School defensive squad, Sherley recorded 6 tackles, 3 tackles for a loss, and 2.5 sacks in their 42-8 win. Kentayvion is fantastic at finding weak gaps in the offensive line and using his brute strength to push past to create pressure on the quarterback. Sherley is also great at anticipating certain formations in the opposing offense, which enables him to time up his rush attack and hit their ball carrier swiftly. Due to his strength and field IQ, Sherley makes it difficult for most opposing offenses to maintain blocking throughout the game. I believe he will continue to wreak havoc on opposing offensive lines once the postseason starts.rnrnu003ca href=u0022http://www.hudl.com/v/2M8fBUu0022u003eTape:u003c/au003e","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":5,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6541c0f8672e1"} /-->