2024 KY Week 3 Top Performers: Defense

As we head deeper into September, the 2024 high school football season is in full swing in the state of Kentucky! Week 3 provided several key matchups and very impressive performances. However, some players were able to stand out from the rest. After already covering the offensive side of the ball, here are our top performers from Week 3 in the state of Kentucky on the defensive side of the ball.    [player_tooltip player_id='1175815' first='Malik' last='Coburn'] is a player who jumped onto my radar with a very impressive performance this past week. Coburn played a key role in Bowling Green's win over Bryan Station on Friday. Malik lines up at defensive end where he is dominant off the edge as a pass rusher. He is able to use his strength and pass rush moves to blow by opposing offensive tackles with ease on his way to the quarterback. Coburn finished Friday's game with 2.5 sacks. He also showed the ability to stop the run, finishing with seven tackles and four tackles for loss. Malik doesn't currently hold any offers but he has received some college interest and is definitely a player to keep an eye on this season.     [player_tooltip player_id='401709' first='Jackson' last='Whitten'] is another defensive end who stood out to me this past week. Whitten was very disruptive against the run in Bracken County's win over Nicholas County, finishing the game with 17 tackles and five tackles for loss. He does a great job of reading the play quickly then using his speed to get to the ball carrier in a hurry to make the tackle before they can get going. Whitten also finished the game with one sacks and a forced fumble, and had a solid game as Bracken County's starting quarterback, completing 9/13 passes for 101 yards and two touchdowns. Jackson doesn't currently hold any offers but he has received a strong amount of college interest and definitely has the talent to play at the next level.     While he is known more for his dominance on the offensive line, [player_tooltip player_id='373082' first='Isaac' last='Sowells Jr.'] made a huge impact on defense in Male's Week 3 win over St. Xavier. Sowells was very impressive as a pass rusher from the defensive tackle spot, showing the ability to shed blocks quickly and get to the quarterback in a hurry. He finished the game with two sacks. Isaac also showed the ability to stop the run, finishing with eight tackles and two tackles for loss. Sowells is committed to North Carolina State where I see him making an immediate impact on the offensive line.     [player_tooltip player_id='1492213' first='Jaylin' last='Craine'] is a player who caught my attention with a very impressive performance this past week. He played a key role in Caverna's Week 3 win over Eminence. Craine showed tremendous ball skills as a defensive back, coming away with three interceptions. He also finished the game with three tackles and made an impact on offense at receiver, catching two passes for 97 yards and a touchdown. Craine is highly regarded as a basketball prospect as he already holds a couple Division I offers but he should be a player to watch on the gridiron as well.     Kentayvion Sherley is another player who jumped onto my radar this past week. Sherley was very impressive in Jeffersontown's Week 3 win over Breckenridge County. He lined up at defensive end where he was dominant against the run, finishing the game with nine tackles and five tackles for loss. Sherley does a great job of using his strength to fight through blocks then getting to the ball carrier in a hurry to make the tackle in the open field. Kentayvion recently picked up his first offer from Pikeville and I expect more to come his way as he has the talent to play at the next level.     [player_tooltip player_id='1175817' first='Ryker' last='Campbell'] is a player who has been on my radar for a while now and continued to stand out this past week. He was a key contributor in Cooper's tough win over Ryle. Ryker showed impressive ball skills in pass coverage, attacking the ball at its highest point to make a play. He finished the game with two interceptions. Campbell also showed the ability to provide support against the run, finishing with eight tackles. Ryker doesn't currently hold any offers but he should be a player to continued to keep an eye on.     [player_tooltip player_id='1073204' first='Miller' last='Brown'] is another defensive back who stood out this past week. He played a key role in Oldham County's win over Fern Creek, coming away with two interceptions. Brown lines up at safety where he does a great job of reading the quarterback and flowing through the secondary to put himself in a good position to make a play. He also does a great job of filling the lane to provide run support, finishing this past week with a team-high 11 tackles. Miller currently holds an offer from Mount Saint Joseph and I expect more to come his way as he has the talent to play at the next level.     My final defensive top performer from Week 3 in the state of Kentucky is [player_tooltip player_id='1516135' first='Creed' last='Gabbard']. Gabbard played a key role in Rockcastle County's victory over Frankfort on Friday. Creed lined up at defensive end where he was dominant off the edge as a pass rusher, showing the ability to use his speed and strength to blow by opposing offensive tackles on his way to the quarterback. He finished the game with three sacks. Gabbard also showed the ability to stop the run, finishing with a tackle for loss. Creed doesn't currently hold any offers but he should be a player to watch during his senior season.

As we head deeper into September, the 2024 high school football season is in full swing in the state of Kentucky! Week 3 provided several key matchups and very impressive performances. However, some players were able to stand out from the rest. After already covering the offensive side of the ball, here are our top performers from Week 3 in the state of Kentucky on the defensive side of the ball.