2025 Rankings Update 2.0: Defensive Line

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Now that another season of high school football is behind us in the state of Kentucky, it is time for some rankings updates. The updated top 175 for the class of 2025 in the state of Kentucky has been officially published. With that being said, I wanted to take the next week or so to break down these rankings by position. After already covering the offensive side of the ball, I will now turn my attention to the defensive side of the ball, starting with our top defensive linemen in the class of 2025 in the state of Kentucky.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["373821"],"_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='373821' first='Austin' last='Alexander'] rose to the top overall spot in his class following another dominant season. Alexander lined up at defensive end where he was very dangerous off the edge as a pass rusher. He showed the ability to use a very impressive combination of speed and strength to blow by opposing offensive tackles to get to the quarterback. Alexander finished this past season with 19 sacks in 15 games. He also showed the ability to run sideline to sideline to stop the run, finishing the year with 81 tackles and eight tackles for loss. Austin also came away with one interception this past season. Alexander also played a huge role on offense at tight end, catching 67 passes for 1,138 yards and 19 touchdowns. Austin currently holds multiple Division I/Power 4 offers and I expect more to come his way as he is truly a special talent.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["1149630"],"_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='1149630' first='Javeon' last='Campbell'] has quickly become a rising star in the state of Kentucky following an impressive junior year. He is a big, athletic defensive end that creates havoc off the edge as a pass rusher. Campbell has an impressive combination of strength, speed, and quickness, which makes him a match up nightmare for opposing offensive tackles. He finished his junior year with 12.5 sacks in nine games. Campbell has been a big name of the recruiting circuit lately as he currently holds offers from Notre Dame, Vanderbilt, West Virginia, Western Kentucky, Purdue, Cincinnati, Minnesota, and Eastern Kentucky. I expect that list to continue to grow as he is a true Power 4 caliber defensive end prospect.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["735673"],"_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":"[player_tooltip player_id='735673' first='Luke' last='Toothaker'] is a talented defensive end that has continued to climb up our rankings following a strong junior year. He uses his speed and quick rush moves to blow by opposing offensive tackles and create disruption in the pocket/backfield. Toothaker finished his junior year with 72 tackles, 17.5 tackles for loss, and 6.5 sacks in 14 games. He also played a role on offense, catching two touchdown passes. Luke currently holds an offer from Yale and I expect more to come his way going into his senior year as he has the talent to play at the Division I level.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["735671"],"_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='735671' first='Dillon' last='Smith'] is a player that has been high on our radar for a while now and continued to stand out this past season. Smith lines up at defensive end where he is very impressive against the run. He does a great job of reading the play and uses his speed to get to the ball carrier in a hurry to make tackles in the open field. Smith finished this past season with 56 tackles and eight tackles for loss in 13 games. He also showed the ability to make plays against the pass, both as a rusher and in coverage, finishing his junior year with six sacks and three interceptions, returning one for a touchdown. Smith doesn't currently hold any offers but I expect some to come his way going into his senior year as he definitely has the talent to play somewhere at the next level.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["494109"],"_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":"To wrap up our top five defensive linemen in the class of 2025 in the state of Kentucky, I have [player_tooltip player_id='494109' first='Hunter' last='Clem']. After starting his career as mainly an offensive tackle, Clem has started focusing on the defensive side of the ball where he has impressed at defensive end. He plays with a ton of physicality, showing the ability to stack and shed blocks quickly, then using his speed to get to the ball carrier in a hurry to make tackles against the run. Clem finished this past season with 34 tackles and 2.5 tackles for loss in 10 games. He also showed the ability to explode out of his stance and bull rush his way to the quarterback, finishing this past season with one sack and several quarterback hurries. Clem also played a role on offense as a tight end, catching one touchdown pass. Hunter currently holds an offer from Union College and I expect more to come his way as he has the talent to play at the next level.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":5,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65b82b4a3a85c"} /--> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Best of the Rest (Players Included in Top 175):</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>6. [player_tooltip player_id='373034' first='Xsavier' last='Cleary'] (Paducah Tilghman)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>7. [player_tooltip player_id='373084' first='Javeon' last='Dorsey'] (Male)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>8. [player_tooltip player_id='1149579' first='Travis' last='Moten'] (Fern Creek)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>9. [player_tooltip player_id='1149604' first='Amare' last='Black'] (Union County)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>10. [player_tooltip player_id='735734' first='Blake' last='Caudill'] (Pikeville)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>11. [player_tooltip player_id='496965' first='Preston' last='Cowan'] (Paris)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>12. [player_tooltip player_id='373076' first='Tre' last='Jackson'] (Mayfield)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>13. [player_tooltip player_id='373801' first='Jace' last='Hatfield'] (Corbin)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>14. [player_tooltip player_id='615221' first='Michael' last='Mulvihill'] (Cooper)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>15. [player_tooltip player_id='1149602' first='Kamden' last='Davis'] (Union County)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>16. [player_tooltip player_id='735601' first='Aiden' last='Dowds'] (Campbell County)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->