2025 Midseason All-State Team: 5A Defense

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As we approach the final days of the month of September, we have already made it through the first half of the 2025 high school football regular season in the state of Kentucky. With that being said, I will be releasing my Midseason All-State teams for each class. After already covering 6A, I have turned my attention to 5A. With the offense already taken care of, here is my 5A Midseason All-State Defense. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1590575"],"_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-68d6f0b7b1dd4"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1590575' first='Marveen' last='Moise'] is off to a very strong start to his senior year. Moise lines up at defensive tackle where he causes a ton of disruption against the run. He explodes out of his stance and uses his strength to fight through blocks along with his speed to get to the ball carrier in a hurry to make the tackle. Through five games, Moise has recorded 36 tackles and 20 tackles for loss. He has also been very impressive as a pass rusher, accounting for seven sacks so far this season. Moise doesn't currently hold any offers but he is a player who college coaches should have on their radar this season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1688458"],"_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-68d6f302df7c4"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1688458' first='Jadis' last='Duncan'] has jumped onto my radar with a strong start to his junior season. Duncan lines up at defensive tackle where he is a very effective pass rusher. He uses his speed to get to the edge on outside stunts with a sense of urgency then run by opposing offensive tackles on his way to the quarterback. Duncan has also showed the strength to fight straight through blocks with ease. He has recorded six sacks in five games this season. Jadis has also accounted for seven tackles and one tackle for loss so far this season. Duncan doesn't currently hold any offers but he should be a player to continue to watch over the next two years. </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-68d6f3e8c8273"} --> <!-- 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'] has continued to show that he is one of the best defensive linemen in the entire state this season. Meads lines up at defensive tackle where he is dominant against the run. He uses his speed to shoot through gaps and get to the ball carrier to make the tackle before they can get going. Zai'Vion has accounted for 24 tackles and four tackles for loss through the first five weeks of the season. He has also shown the strength to bull rush straight through opposing offensive linemen as a pass rusher. Meads has recorded three sacks as a junior. Zai'Vion currently holds several Power 4/Division I offers and I expect that list to continue to grow over the next two seasons. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1175825"],"_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-68d6f68be300b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1175825' first='Chris' last='Lauderdale'] is off to a very impressive start to his senior year. Lauderdale lines up at outside linebacker where he is a dangerous pass rusher off the edge. He explodes out of his stance and uses his speed to blow by opposing offensive tackles with ease on his way to the quarterback. Chris currently leads the entire state with 12 sacks through the first five games of the season. He has also shown the ability to stop the run as he currently leads his team with 31 tackles and eight tackles for loss. Lauderdale currently holds an offer from Midway and I expect more to come his way throughout his senior year. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["971508"],"_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-68d6f68be3084"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='971508' first='Isaac' last='Estrada'] has been on my radar for a while now and has continued to stand out this season. Estrada lines up at inside linebacker where he is very impressive against the run. He does a great job of reading his keys then flowing to the ball carrier with a sense of urgency. Once he gets to the ball carrier, he has proven to be a reliable tackler in the open field, recording a team-high 68 tackles along with four tackles for loss in five games this season. Isaac doesn't currently hold any offers but he is a player who college coaches should be paying close attention to this season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1908439"],"_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-68d6f9389c1ba"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1908439' first='Javier' last='Diaz'] is a player who has caught my attention with an impressive start to his junior year. Diaz lines up at inside linebacker where he is used very effectively as a QB spy in passing situations. He reads the quarterback and times his rush perfectly when he decides to do so, using his speed to get to the passer untouched on a frequent basis. Diaz has recorded five sacks in five games this season. He also causes a ton of disruption against the run as he currently leads his team with 53 tackles and 21 tackles for loss. Javier should be a player for college coaches to keep an eye on 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":["1908432"],"_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-68d6f9389c215"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1908432' first='Kirk' last='LaGrange'] is another linebacker who has jumped onto my radar this season. He lines up at outside linebacker where he is very reliable against the run. Kirk does a great job of reading the play quickly then using his speed to get to the ball carrier in a hurry. Once he gets to the ball carrier, he explodes through contact and finishes his tackles with a ton of physicality. Through five games, LaGrange has recorded a team-leading 61 tackles and nine tackles for loss. He has also shown the ability to make plays against the pass, both as a pass rusher and in coverage. Kirk has accounted for three sacks and two interceptions (both returned for touchdowns) so far this season. LaGrange currently holds multiple offers and I expect more to come his way this season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1908446"],"_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-68d6f99509539"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1908446' first='Bryson' last='Shoulders'] is another member of the North Hopkins secondary who has stood out to me this season. Shoulders lines up at safety where he is very impressive in coverage. He does a great job of reading the quarterback and route combinations the breaking on the ball with perfect timing to make a play. Through five games, Bryson has come away with three interceptions (tied for 5A lead), returning all of them for touchdowns. He has also shown the ability to provide support against the run, recording 32 tackles so far this season. Shoulders should be a player to continue to watch over the next two seasons.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1908448"],"_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-68d6fc5549de3"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1908448' first='Hudson' last='DeGarmo'] has caught my attention with a strong start to his junior season. He lines up at safety where he is very impressive against the run. Hudson does a great job of coming downhill and filling the lane with a sense of urgency to get to the ball carrier. He is a very reliable tackler in the open field, accounting for 43 tackles and two tackles for loss in five games this season. DeGarmo is also tied as his team's leader in interceptions with two, returning both of them for touchdowns. He has also made a huge impact on offense, leading his team in rushing with 54 carries for 525 yards and nine touchdowns. DeGarmo should be a player for college coaches to pay close attention to over the next couple years. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1909841"],"_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-68d6ff029e75c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">To wrap up my 5A Midseason All-State Defense, I have [player_tooltip player_id='1909841' first='Asher' last='Brewer']. Brewer lines up at safety where he is very reliable in coverage. He does a great job of reading the quarterback then flowing through the secondary to put himself in a position to make a play. When the ball is thrown his way, he has shown impressive ball skills, coming away with a team-high two interceptions in five games. He has also shown the ability to provide support against the run, recording 23 tackles so far this season. Brewer doesn't currently hold any offers but he is a player who college coaches should keep their eyes on over the next two years. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Honorable Mention</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Defensive Line: </strong>DeJean Harvey (Madisonville-North Hopkins, 2026)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Linebacker: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1175823' first='Donee' last='Sutton'] (Atherton, 2026); Liam Newton (South Laurel, 2026); [player_tooltip player_id='871295' first='Malachi' last='Smith'] (South Laurel, 2028)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Defensive Back: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1175817' first='Ryker' last='Campbell'] (Cooper, 2026); [player_tooltip player_id='971494' first='Quilshaun' last='Baines'] (Atherton, 2026); Zachary Pinkston (West Jessamine, 2027); Braxton Mackey (Anderson County, 2026)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->