2027 Rankings Update 3.0: Defensive Line

<!-- wp:acf/position-ranking-table {"name":"acf/position-ranking-table","data":{"class":"2027","_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-679ad695d25c7"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As we enter a new high school football off-season in the state of Kentucky, we are in a new round of rankings updates. The most recent class to be updated is the class of 2027. With this update being officially posted, I will be taking the next couple weeks or so to break our rankings 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 2027 in the state of Kentucky!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1272160"],"_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-679ad695d42ae"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1272160' first='Malachi' last='Brown'] continued to establish himself as the top defensive lineman in the state in his class with a strong sophomore year. Brown lines up at defensive end where he is dominant against the run. Malachi uses his strength and speed to get into the backfield in a hurry to cause disruption and is a very reliable tackler once he gets to the ball carrier. Brown finished this past season with 46 tackles and 10 tackles for loss in eight games. He also showed the ability to rush the passer, finishing the year with eight sacks. Malachi currently holds offers from North Carolina State, Marshall, and Eastern Kentucky, and I expect more to come his way as he is a Division I caliber prospect. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1375202"],"_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-679ad695d430b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1375202' first='Josiah' last='McKee'] is a player who jumped onto our radar with some very impressive sophomore year film. McKee lines up at defensive end where he is a very dangerous pass rusher. He has the strength to bull rush straight through opposing offensive linemen and also has an impressive arsenal of pass rush moves. Josiah has also shown the ability to use his speed to get to the ball carrier in a hurry to make tackles in the open field against the run. McKee currently holds an offer from Eastern Kentucky and I expect more to come his way as he continues to develop. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1610654"],"_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-679ad695d4351"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1610654' first='Zai'Vion' last='Meads'] is a defensive lineman who jumped onto our radar with a very impressive sophomore season. Meads lines up at defensive tackle where he is a dominant run stopper. He does a great job of reading the play then fighting through blocks and using his speed to get to the ball carrier before they can get going. Once he gets to the ball carrier, he is a very reliable tackler. Zai'Vion finished this past season with 56 tackles in 13 games. He also showed the ability to put pressure on the quarterback, finishing the year with two sacks. Meads doesn't currently hold any offers but he is a player who should be a on the radar of college coaches heading into his junior year. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1200573"],"_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-679ad695d4394"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1200573' first='Elijah' last='Luna'] is a player who has been on our radar for a while now and continued to stand out as a sophomore. He lines up at defensive tackle where he is very impressive against the run. Luna uses his strength to stack and shed blocks quickly then uses his speed to get to the ball carrier. Elijah is a very reliable open field tackler once he gets to the ball carrier, finishing this past season with 56 tackles and five tackles for loss in 12 games. He also finished the season with two sacks. Elijah doesn't currently hold any offers but he should be a player to continue to watch over the next couple seasons. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["514005"],"_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-679ad7fe7c770"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">To wrap up our top five defensive linemen in the class of 2027 in the state of Kentucky, I have [player_tooltip player_id='514005' first='Jaquise' last='Smith']. Smith lines up at defensive tackle where he is a force against the run. He explodes out of his stance and uses his strength and high motor to fight through blocks with ease on his way to the ball carrier. Once he gets to the ball carrier, he drives his feet through contact to secure the tackle and not allow for any extra yards to be gained. Jaquise finished his sophomore year with 32 tackles and 14 tackles for loss in 14 games. Smith also showed the ability to rush the passer, finishing this past season with three sacks. Jaquise doesn't currently hold any offers but he has received some college interest and has the talent to play somewhere at the next level. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->