2023 Statewide Defensive Top Performers: Week 11
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The 2023 high school football regular season has reached its end in the state of Kentucky as we have now made it through eleven full weeks of play. Week 11 gave us several exciting games with some impressive individual performances.…
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Continue ReadingThe 2023 high school football regular season has reached its end in the state of Kentucky as we have now made it through eleven full weeks of play. Week 11 gave us several exciting games with some impressive individual performances. After already covering the offensive side of the ball, here are my top defensive performers in the state of Kentucky from Week 11.
Vincent Carrico Vincent Carrico 5’11” | 200 lbs | LB Owensboro Catholic | 2025 State KY is a player that has had an outstanding 2023 season and continued to impress this past week. He played a key role in his team’s win over North Hardin. Carrico lined up at inside linebacker where he was very impressive against the run, showing the ability to read his keys and flow to the ball quickly to make tackles. He finished the game with 20 tackles and two tackles for loss. Carrico also proved to be reliable against the pass, both as a rusher and in coverage, finishing the game with 1.5 sacks and an interception. Vincent currently holds an offer from Kentucky Wesleyan and I expect more to come his way as he has the talent to play at the next level.
Joining his brother on this week’s defensive top performers list is William Carrico William Carrico 6’0″ | 190 lbs | ATH Owensboro Catholic | 2024 State KY . William lined up at safety where he was very impressive in pass coverage, showing the ability to break on the ball with perfect timing to make a play. He finished the game with two interceptions. Carrico also showed the ability to fill the lane and make tackles against the run, finishing the game with 16 total tackles. He also played a key role on offense, catching four passes for 75 yards and a touchdown. Carrico currently holds offers from Marian, Ave Maria, Kentucky Wesleyan, and Benedictine College, and I expect more to come his way as he has the talent to play on either side of the ball at the next level.
Khalil Barber
Khalil Barber
Khalil Barber is a player that jumped onto my radar this past week. He played a key role in his team’s win over Covington Holy Cross. Barber lined up at inside linebacker where he did a great job of reading his keys then coming downhill and fighting through blocks to get to the ball carrier in a hurry to make tackles. He finished the game with 11 tackles and three tackles for loss. Barber also showed the ability to rush the passer, finishing the game with one sack. Khalil doesn’t currently hold any offers but deserves some attention from college coaches as he has the talent to play somewhere at the next level.
Mac Darland Mac Darland 6’2″ | 220 lbs | LB Lexington Christian Academy | 2026 State KY is another linebacker that stood out to me this past week. He played a key role in LCA’s impressive win over Raceland. Darland lines up at outside linebacker where he has shown the ability to use his speed to burst off the edge before opposing offensive linemen can react as a pass rusher. He finished last week’s game with two sacks. Darland also showed the ability to make plays in pass coverage, coming away with one interception. He also showed the ability to flow to the ball carrier quickly to make tackles against the run, finishing the game with nine tackles and 0.5 tackles for loss. Mac doesn’t currently hold any offers but he should be a player to keep an eye on as he continues to develop over the next few seasons.
Highlights
Mikel Clack Mikel Clack 6’4″ | 185 lbs | DL Ballard | 2024 State KY is a player that has had a very impressive 2023 season and continued to stand out last week. He played a key role in Ballard’s win over Woodford County. Clack lined up at defensive end where he was impressive against the run, showing the ability to shed blocks and get to the ball carrier in a hurry to make tackles. He finished the game with 11 tackles and four tackles for loss. Clack also showed the ability to make plays in pass coverage, coming away with an interception and returning it for a touchdown. Mikel doesn’t currently hold any offers but deserves some attention from college coaches as he definitely has the talent to play somewhere at the next level.
Daulton Tarter Daulton Tarter 5’9″ | 200 lbs | ATH Bracken County | 2026 State KY is a player that has stood out on both sides of the ball this season. He continued to impress in Bracken County’s win over Lewis County. On defense, Tarter lined up at linebacker where he was very impressive in pass coverage. He finished the game with two interceptions, returning one of them for a touchdown. Tarter also showed the ability to stop the run, finishing the game with five tackles. He also led the team in rushing, carrying the ball seven times for 184 yards and three touchdowns. Tarter doesn’t currently hold any offers but will definitely be a player to keep an eye on over the next few seasons.
Highlights
Jack Roach
Jack Roach
Jack Roach is a player that jumped onto my radar this past week. Roach played a key role in Caldwell County’s dominant win over Trigg County. Jack lined up at defensive end where he was very impressive against the run, showing the ability to shed blocks and get to the ball carrier in a hurry to make tackles. He finished the game with 19 tackles and two tackles for loss. Roach also showed the ability to make plays in pass coverage, coming away with one interception. Jack doesn’t currently hold any offers but he should be a player to keep an eye on over the next few seasons.
Brayden Hall Brayden Hall 5’6″ | 140 lbs | ATH Madison Southern | 2026 State KY is another player that jumped onto my radar this past week. He played a key role in Madison Southern’s win over Whitley County. Brayden lined up on the outside at corner where he was very impressive in man coverage, showing the ability to open up and run with receivers in the deep passing game. When the ball was thrown his way, he showed tremendous ball skills, coming away with two interceptions. He also showed the ability to come downhill to provide support against the run, finishing the game with 11 tackles and one tackle for loss. Hall doesn’t currently hold any offers but he will be a player to keep an eye on as he continues to develop over the next few seasons.
Crayson Lafferty Crayson Lafferty 5'11" | 175 lbs | LB Paintsville | 2027 State KY
Crayson Lafferty Crayson Lafferty 5'11" | 175 lbs | LB Paintsville | 2027 State KY
Crayson Lafferty Crayson Lafferty 5’11” | 175 lbs | LB Paintsville | 2027 State KY is a player that has had a very impressive first season of high school football and continued to stand out this past week. He played a key role in Paintsville’s win over Pike County Central. Lafferty lined up at outside linebacker where he was very impressive against the run, finishing the game with 15 tackles. He does a great job of reading his keys and flowing to the ball in a hurry to make tackles in the open field. Crayson also showed the ability to make plays in pass coverage, coming away with one interception. Lafferty doesn’t currently hold any offers but he is a player to keep an eye on over the next few seasons as he continues to develop.
To wrap up my defensive top performers from Week 11, I have Zian Webb Zian Webb 6’1″ | 255 lbs | DL Paris | 2024 State KY . Webb played a huge role in his team’s win over Ludlow. He lined up at defensive tackle where he was very disruptive against the run, finishing the game with 16 tackles and two tackles for loss. Webb does a great job of fighting through blocks and getting to the ball carrier in a hurry to make tackles. He also showed the ability to rush the passer, finishing the game with two sacks. Zian recently picked up his first offer from Campbellsville and I expect more to come his way as he has the talent to play at the next level.