Defensive Top Performers From Round 1 of the 2025 Playoffs

As we get deeper into the month of November, postseason play is in full swing the state of Kentucky. Round 1 of the playoffs provided many intriguing matchups filled with very impressive individual performances. However, some players stood out above the rest last week. After already covering the offensive side of the ball, here are my defensive top performers from Round 1 of the playoffs in the state of Kentucky.    [player_tooltip player_id='1697792' first='Jude' last='Cecil'] played a key role in Owensboro Catholic's Round 1 victory over Fort Campbell. Cecil lined up at corner where he was very impressive in zone coverage, showing the ability to read route combinations then flow through his zone to put himself in position to make a play. When the ball was thrown his way, he showed impressive ball skills, coming away with two interceptions. He also finished the game with three tackles. Cecil should be a player for college coaches to keep an eye on over the next couple years. Jude and the Aces will look to continue their dominant season in a Round 2 matchup against Crittenden County this week.     [player_tooltip player_id='401709' first='Jackson' last='Whitten'] has been high on my radar for a while now and continued to stand out in Bracken County's opening round win over West Carter last week. Whitten lined up at defensive end where he was dominant against the run, finishing the game with a team-high 10 tackles and seven tackles for loss. Jackson sheds blocks quickly then uses his speed to get to the ball carrier in a hurry to make the tackle before they can get going. He also finished the game with one sack. Whitten currently holds multiple Division I offers and I expect him to be a true impact player wherever he ends up playing at the next level. Jackson will look to have another big game in Bracken County's intriguing second round matchup against Breathitt County this week.     [player_tooltip player_id='2048894' first='Jason' last='Hilliard Jr'] grabbed my attention with a strong performance in CAL's win over Mercer County last week. Hilliard lined up at defensive end where he was very impressive against the run. He did a great job of reading the play then fighting through blocks to get to the ball carrier in a hurry. Once he got to the ball carrier, he proved to be a very reliable tackler, finishing the game with a team-high nine tackles and five tackles for loss. He also showed the ability to get to the quarterback, recording two sacks in the win. Hilliard currently holds offers from Kentucky Wesleyan and Pikeville, and I wouldn't be surprised to see more come his way. Jason and the Centurions will look to continue their quest for their fourth straight state title in a matchup against DeSales this week.     [player_tooltip player_id='1638814' first='Kellan' last='Hall'] is another CAL defensive lineman who stood out in last week's win. He lined up at defensive end where he was very impressive as a pass rusher. Hall explodes out of his stance and uses his strength to drive straight through opposing offensive linemen on his way to the quarterback. He does a great job of finishing at the quarterback once he gets there, recording three sacks in the win. Hall also showed the ability to stop the run, finishing the game with seven tackles and five tackles for loss. Kellan currently holds a long list of Power 4 offers and I expect that list to continue to grow over the next few years.     [player_tooltip player_id='1200703' first='Donavon' last='Smith'] has had a strong junior year and continued to impress in Knox Central's Round 1 win over Letcher County Central. Smith lined up at inside linebacker where he proved to be very reliable against the run, finishing the game with a team-leading 19 tackles and three tackles for loss. He reads the play quickly the shoots out of his stance in a hurry, meeting the ball carrier to make the tackle before they can gain any momentum. Smith also finished the game with one sack. Donavon doesn't currently hold any offers but he is a player who college coaches should have on their radar. Smith and the Panthers have a tough task ahead of them this week in a matchup against a talented Bell County team.     [player_tooltip player_id='1638819' first='Darian' last='Bryant'] is another inside linebacker who has had an impressive season and continued to stand out in Round 1. He played a key role in Elizabethtown's victory over Calloway County, record a team-high 17 tackles and three tackles for loss. Bryant does a great job of reading his keys quickly then flowing to the ball with a sense of urgency to get to the ball carrier to make the tackle in the open field. He also finished the game with 1.5 sacks and led his team in rushing with eight carries for 56 yards and two touchdowns. Bryant should be a player to keep a close eye on over the next three years as he continues to develop. Darian and the Panthers will look to keep their impressive season going in a Round 2 matchup against Logan County this week.     [player_tooltip player_id='378839' first='Garyon' last='Hobbs'] continued to prove that he is one of the best players in the state in Atherton's Round 1 victory over North Bullitt. Hobbs lined up at strong safety where he was very impressive in coverage. He showed the ability to read the quarterback and route combinations then flowing through the secondary to put himself in a good position to make a play. When the ball was thrown in his direction, he showed tremendous ball skills, coming away with two interceptions and returning both of them for touchdowns. He also showed the ability to come downhill to provide run support, leading his team with four tackles. Garyon currently holds several Power 4 offers and I expect them to continue to pile up for him. Hobbs and the dominant Atherton defense will look to continue their strong season against Jeffersontown this week.     My final defensive top performer from Round 1 of the playoffs in the state of Kentucky is [player_tooltip player_id='2047511' first='Chaz' last='Tutt']. Tutt played a huge role in Fairdale's win over Iroquois last week. He lined up at defensive end where he was dominant off the edge as a pass rusher. Tutt showed the ability to explode out of his stance then use his combination of speed and strength to blow by opposing offensive tackles with ease on his way to the quarterback. He finished last week's win with three sacks. Chaz also proved to be reliable against the run, finishing the game with a team-high 13 tackles and four tackles for loss. While he doesn't currently hold any offers, Tutt should be a player for college coaches to keep an eye on throughout the rest of this season and heading into his senior year. Chaz and the Bulldogs will look to keep their impressive winning streak alive in a Round 2 matchup against Butler this week.

As we get deeper into the month of November, postseason play is in full swing the state of Kentucky. Round 1 of the playoffs provided many intriguing matchups filled with very impressive individual performances. However, some players stood out above the rest last week. After already covering the offensive side of the ball, here are my defensive top performers from Round 1 of the playoffs in the state of Kentucky.