2025 Rankings Update 3.0: Defensive Linemen

<!-- wp:acf/position-ranking-table {"name":"acf/position-ranking-table","data":{"class":"2025","_class":"field_65cfb7374abb9","position":"2406","_position":"field_65cfbfcb19ad6","national_rankings":"0","_national_rankings":"field_660c1d73c0e49","state":"2494","_state":"field_65cfb88a603fe"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-662eea1fe4c57"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As we get deeper into the 2024 off-season, another season of high school football is quickly approaching. With that being said, it is time for another round of rankings updates. The third update of our rankings for the class of 2025 in the state of Kentucky has been officially posted! Over the next week or so, I will be doing positional breakdowns at each 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'] is a player that has continued to establish himself as one of the top overall players in the state. He lines up at defensive end where he is a very dangerous pass rusher. Alexander has shown the strength and explosiveness to bull rush straight through opposing offensive tackles along with the speed to run right by them. Austin finished this past season with 19 sacks in 15 games. He also finished the season with 81 tackles, eight tackles for loss, and one interception. Alexander also played a key role in Cooper's offense at tight end this past season, catching 67 passes for 1,138 yards and 19 touchdowns. Austin is committed to North Carolina where I can see him making an immediate impact once he gets there.","_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'] is a player that truly made a name for himself with a strong junior year. Campbell lines up at defensive end where he is a force off the edge as a pass rusher. He has shown the ability to explode out of his stance and drive straight through opposing offensive linemen to get to the quarterback. Campbell has also shown impressive speed and pass rush moves off the edge. He has also shown the ability to stop the run, reading the play quickly and shedding blocks with ease then using his high motor to get to the ball carrier to make the tackle. Javeon holds a long list of Power 4 offers and recently listed his u0022Top Nineu0022 as Kentucky, Alabama, Miami (FL), Notre Dame, Florida, Auburn, Ohio State, LSU , and Georgia.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["735671"],"_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='735671' first='Dillon' last='Smith'] is a player that has been on our radar for a while now and continued to impress 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 then shedding his blocks quickly to get to the ball carrier. After seeing where the ball is going, Smith has shown the ability to use his speed to get to the ball carrier and make the tackle before they can get going. Dillon finished his junior year with 56 tackles and eight tackles for loss in 13 games. Smith has also shown the ability to make plays against the pass, both as a rusher and in coverage. He finished this past season with six sacks and three interceptions (one returned for a touchdown). Dillon is committed to Louisville where I can see him developing into a key piece of their defense.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["1252782"],"_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='1252782' first='Mason' last='Mudd'] is a player that caught my attention with some impressive junior year film. Mudd lines up at defensive end where he is very impressive against the run. He explodes out of his stance and uses his speed to burst into the backfield before opposing offensive linemen have a chance to block him. Once he gets to the ball carrier, he is a very reliable tackler. Mason finished this past season with 22 tackles and two tackles for loss in 11 games. Mudd is committed to Central Michigan where I can see him becoming a key piece of their defensive line.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["735673"],"_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='735673' first='Luke' last='Toothaker']. Luke lines up at defensive end where he is dominant against the run. Toothaker does a great job of reading the play quickly and using his speed to get to the ball carrier in a hurry. He takes great angles to the ball carrier, getting to them before they can get going to make the tackle. Luke finished his junior year with 72 tackles and 17.5 tackles for loss in 14 games. He also showed the ability to rush the passer, finishing the season with 6.5 sacks. Toothaker also made an impact on offense this past season, catching two touchdown passes. Luke currently holds offers from Cornell, Eastern Kentucky, and Yale, and I expect more to come his way as he is a Division I caliber prospect.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":5,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-662eea1fe5a4e"} /--> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Other Players Included in Top 200:</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>6. [player_tooltip player_id='727243' first='Mattox' last='Kelly'] (Beechwood)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>7. [player_tooltip player_id='1149579' first='Travis' last='Moten'] (Fern Creek)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>8. [player_tooltip player_id='373034' first='Xsavier' last='Cleary'] (Paducah Tilghman)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>9. [player_tooltip player_id='494109' first='Hunter' last='Clem'] (Harlan)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>10. [player_tooltip player_id='1149604' first='Amare' last='Black'] (Union County)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>11. [player_tooltip player_id='373084' first='Javeon' last='Dorsey'] (Male)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>12. [player_tooltip player_id='735734' first='Blake' last='Caudill'] (Pikeville)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>13. [player_tooltip player_id='496965' first='Preston' last='Cowan'] (Paris)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>14. [player_tooltip player_id='373076' first='Tre' last='Jackson'] (Mayfield)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>15. [player_tooltip player_id='373801' first='Jace' last='Hatfield'] (Corbin)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>16. [player_tooltip player_id='1252802' first='Quordair' last='Atkinson'] (Ballard)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>17. [player_tooltip player_id='735674' first='George' last='Black'] (Central)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>18. [player_tooltip player_id='615221' first='Michael' last='Mulvihill'] (Cooper)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>19. [player_tooltip player_id='1149602' first='Kamden' last='Davis'] (Union County)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>20. [player_tooltip player_id='735601' first='Aiden' last='Dowds'] (Campbell County)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>21. [player_tooltip player_id='1252788' first='Seandre' last='Maxberry'] (Frederick Douglass)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->