2027 Rankings Update 5.0: DL

<!-- 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-687fe91dcd929"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With the 2025 high school football season quickly approaching, we are currently in another new round of rankings updates. The most recent class to be updated in the state of Kentucky is the class of 2027. With our new Top 150 posted, I have been breaking these 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-687fea7d683b2"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1272160' first='Malachi' last='Brown'] established himself as the top defensive lineman in the state in his class with a strong sophomore season. Brown lines up at defensive end where he is very impressive against the run. He uses his strength to drive straight through opposing offensive linemen on his way to the ball carrier and he is a very reliable tackler once he gets there. Malachi finished this past season with 46 tackles and 10 tackles for loss in eight games. He has also proven to be effective as a pass rusher, using a very impressive bull rush to get to the quarterback with ease, finishing his sophomore year with eight sacks. Brown currently holds multiple Power 4/Division I offers and I expect that list to continue to grow 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":["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-687febcc335a4"} --> <!-- 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 player who had a breakout year this past season. As a sophomore at Central, Meads lined up at defensive tackle where he was very disruptive against the run. He explodes out of his stance to burst into the backfield and get to the ball carrier to make the tackle before the opposing offensive line has a chance to react. Meads finished last season with 66 tackles and 13 tackles for loss in 13 games. He also showed the ability to rush the passer as a sophomore, finishing the year with five sacks. Zai'Vion currently holds several Power 4/Division I offers and I expect a lot of eyes to be on him after transferring to a very talented Atherton program. </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-6880022b2fb05"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1375202' first='Josiah' last='McKee'] caught our attention with an impressive sophomore season. McKee is a versatile defensive linemen who has shown the ability to play both end and tackle. He is a dangerous pass rusher, using his speed and pass rush moves to blow by opposing offensive linemen with ease on his way to the quarterback. Josiah has also shown the ability to stop the run, showing the ability to fight through blocks then get to the ball carrier in a hurry to make the tackle. McKee currently holds offers from Kentucky and 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":["1665337"],"_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-6880030fd3f54"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1665337' first='Juleone' last='Carney'] is another player who jumped onto our radar this past season. Carney lines up at defensive end where he is a very effective pass rusher. He has shown the strength to bull rush straight through opposing offensive linemen as well as the quick pass rush moves to defeat blocks with ease. Carney is also reliable against the run, using his high motor to run all over the field to make tackles. Juleone currently holds an offer from Southern Mississippi and I expect more to come his way as his role continues to grow this season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1278396"],"_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-68800776108a1"} --> <!-- 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='1278396' first='CJ' last='Hall']. Hall lines up at defensive end where he is very reliable against the run. He does a great job of stacking/shedding blocks quickly the using his speed to get to the ball carrier. Once he gets to the ball carrier, Hall is a very reliable tackler. He has also shown the ability to rush the passer, using an impressive combination of speed and strength to beat opposing offensive linemen on his way to the quarterback. CJ currently holds offers from Miami (OH) and Eastern Kentucky, and I expect more to come his way over the next two seasons.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->