2026 Rankings Update 4.0: Defensive Line

<!-- wp:acf/position-ranking-table {"name":"acf/position-ranking-table","data":{"class":"2026","_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-67731dc56b121"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With another high school football season behind us in the state of Kentucky, it is time for another round of rankings updates! After wrapping up the class of 2025, we have now moved to the class of 2026. With the newest rankings update for 2026 class being officially posted, I've been taking the past couple weeks to break them down 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 2026 in the state of Kentucky!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["971538"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67731dc56d1f0"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='971538' first='Josiah' last='Hope'] continued to establish himself as one of the top players in the state this season. Hope lined up at defensive tackle where he was very impressive against the run. He does a great job of stacking blocks and reading the play then shedding them quickly once he sees where the ball is going. Hope then gets to the ball carrier in a hurry to make the tackle before they can get going. He finished this season with 61 tackles and 19 tackles for loss in 11 games. Josiah also showed the ability to put pressure on the quarterback, finishing his junior year with seven sacks. Hope currently holds multiple Power 4 offers and I expect more to come his way as he is a high-caliber prospect. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1264301"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67731dc56d267"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1264301' first='Sam' last='Dawson'] is a player who has been high on our radar for a while now and continued to impress this season. Dawson lined up at defensive end where he was dominant against the run. Sam plays with a high motor, using his speed to run sideline to sideline to make tackles in the open field. On his way to the ball carrier, he does a great job of using his strength to fight through blocks with ease. Dawson finished the year with 60 tackles and eight tackles for loss in 11 games. He also showed the ability to make plays against the pass, finishing the season with one sack and an interception. Sam currently holds an offer from Eastern Kentucky and I expect more to come his way as he has the talent to play at the Division I level. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["401709"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67731dc56d2cc"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='401709' first='Jackson' last='Whitten'] is another defensive end who has been on our radar for a while now and continued to stand out this season. He was very impressive as a pass rusher as a junior, showing the speed to blow by opposing offensive tackles and strength to bull rush straight through them. Jackson finished the season with 9.5 sacks in 12 games. He also showed the ability to stop the run, using his speed to get to the ball carrier in a hurry to make the tackle in the open field, finishing the year with 82 tackles and 30 tackles for loss. Whitten also served as his team's quarterback, throwing for 683 yards and nine touchdowns while also scoring one rushing touchdown. Jackson doesn't currently hold any offers but he has received some college interest and definitely has the talent to play somewhere at the next level. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["283960"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67731dc56d32d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='283960' first='Cole' last='Rose'] continued to show that he is one of the top defensive linemen in the state in his class after transferring to GRC for his junior year. He lined up at defensive end where he was very impressive against the run. Cole explodes out of his stance and uses his speed to burst into the backfield and make the tackle before opposing offensive linemen have a chance to block him. He finished his junior year with 82 tackles and 17 tackles for loss in 12 games. Cole also finished the season with two sacks. Rose doesn't currently hold any offers but I expect some to come his way heading into his senior year as he has already received some college interest. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1284466"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67731dc56d38e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">To wrap up our top five defensive linemen from the class of 2026 in the state of Kentucky, I have [player_tooltip player_id='1284466' first='JJ' last='Goodman']. Goodman had a strong junior year at defensive end where he was very disruptive against the run. He does a great job of reading the play quickly then using his speed to get to the ball carrier and make the tackle before they can get going. JJ finished his junior year with 60 tackles and three tackles for loss in 10 games. He also showed the ability to put pressure on the quarterback, exploding out of his stance and using his strength to bull rush straight through opposing offensive linemen. Goodman doesn't currently hold any offers but he is a player who college coaches should have their eyes on heading into his senior year. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->