2025 Stock Risers: Defense

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As we enter a new off-season, another round of rankings updates have started to come out for the state of Kentucky. In the rankings update for the class of 2025, there was a lot of movement in a very talent-rich class. With that being said, I wanted to take a look at some of the risers in the class that caught my attention after looking back at the rankings update. After already covering the offense, here are some of the notable risers in the class of 2025 in the state of Kentucky on the defensive side of the ball.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1149630"],"_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='1149630' first='Javeon' last='Campbell'] is a new name in our 2025 rankings that jumped onto our radar with an impressive junior season. Campbell lines up at defensive end where he is a very dangerous pass rusher. He has shown the ability to use his combination of strength, speed, and athleticism to blow by opposing offensive tackles with ease off the edge. Campbell finished this past season with 12.5 sacks in nine games. He also showed the ability to shed blocks quickly and get to the ball carrier in a hurry to make tackles in the open field. Campbell has been a popular name on the recruiting circuit this off-season, picking up multiple Division I/Power 4 offers and I expect more to come his way as he is a very talented prospect","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["1149579"],"_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":"Another new defensive lineman in our 2025 rankings is [player_tooltip player_id='1149579' first='Travis' last='Moten'] from Fern Creek. Moten lines up at defensive end where he is very impressive against the run. He does a great job of reading his keys and shedding blocks quickly then getting to the ball carrier in a hurry to make tackles in the open field. Moten finished this past season as his team's leader in tackles with 83 along with 17.5 tackles for loss in 12 games. He also proved to be dangerous off the edge as a pass rusher, finishing the season with 10.5 sacks. Moten currently holds an offer from Eastern Kentucky and I expect more to come his way as he definitely has the talent to play at the next level.","_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 player that has been on our radar for a while now but took the next step this past season. Toothaker lines up at defensive end where he is able to use his speed and athleticism to dominate off the edge as a pass rusher. He finished this past season with 6.5 sacks in 14 games. Toothaker was also very disruptive against the run, finishing the season with 72 tackles and 17.5 tackles for loss. He also caught two touchdown passes as a junior. Luke currently holds an offer from Yale and I expect more to come his way going into his senior year as he is a Division I caliber prospect.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["1149637"],"_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='1149637' first='Amarein' last='Atkinson'] is a new addition to our 2025 rankings that jumped onto my radar in impressive fashion as a junior. Atkinson lines up at inside linebacker where he is very impressive against the run. He does a great job of reading his keys and coming downhill in a hurry to meet the ball carrier and make the tackle before they can get going. Amarein finished his junior year with 151 tackles and 12 tackles for loss in 14 games. He also showed the ability to pose as a threat as a blitzer in passing situations, finishing the season with three sacks. Atkinson doesn't currently hold any offers but I expect some to come his way soon as he has the talent to play linebacker at the next level.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["985134"],"_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='985134' first='Jaylen' last='Hayes'] is another linebacker that is new to our 2025 rankings. Hayes lines up at middle linebacker where he is very impressive against the run. He does a great job of reading his keys and flowing downhill in a hurry and fighting through blocks on his way to the ball carrier. Once he gets to the ball carrier, Hayes is a very reliable open field tackler. Jaylen finished his junior year with a team-high 84 tackles along with two tackles for loss in 12 games. Hayes also proved to be reliable against the pass, both in coverage and as a rusher, finishing the year with two interceptions and three sacks.  Jaylen 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_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_player":["735618"],"_player_evaluations_5_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"My final u0022stock riseru0022 that stood out to me for the class of 2025 in the state of Kentucky is [player_tooltip player_id='735618' first='Jackson' last='Dillow']. Dillow climbed up our rankings after a very strong junior year for the Eagles. He lines up at safety where he is a true ball hawk in pass coverage. Dillow does a great job of reading the quarterback and route combinations then breaking on the ball with perfect timing to make a play. He finished his junior season with three interceptions in 12 games, returning two of them for touchdowns. Jackson has also shown the ability to fill the lane and make tackles against the run, finishing the year with 31 tackles. Dillow doesn't currently hold any offers but I expect some to come his way soon as he has the talent to play at the next level.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":6,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65c17b5c2a64f"} /-->