2025 KHSAA State Championships Defensive Top Performers

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In what seemed like such a quick season, the 2025 high school football season came to an end in the state of Kentucky this past weekend. This year's KHSAA State Championship games provided some very exciting matchups filled with impressive individual performances. However, some players stood out above the rest and I wanted to take some time to focus on the top performers from championship weekend. After already covering the offensive side of the ball, here are my defensive top performers from this year's KHSAA State Championship games.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2079596"],"_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-693a18fce8ddb"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='2079596' first='Darryl' last='Yancey'] played a key role in Boyle County's dominant 4A State Championship win over Franklin County. Yancey lined up at defensive end where he was very effective as a pass rusher. He was explosive out of his stance and showed the strength to fight through opposing offensive linemen with ease on his way to the quarterback. Yancey did a great job of finishing at the quarterback once he got to them, finishing the game with three sacks. He also recorded four tackles and 3.5 tackles for loss in the win. Darryl doesn't currently hold any offers but he 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":["1655632"],"_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-693a1a313ec0f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1655632' first='Rocco' last='Huffman'] has been on my radar for a while now and continued to stand out in KCD's 1A State Championship victory over Raceland. Huffman lined up at outside linebacker where he was very impressive against the run. He does a great job of reading the play then using his speed 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 18 tackles (tied for team lead) and two tackles for loss. He also recording a sack in the win. Huffman is a player who deserves some attention from college coaches as he has the potential to be an impact player at the next level if given an opportunity. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["283969"],"_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-693a1bb309011"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='283969' first='Jackson' last='Settle'] is another 2026 linebacker who stood out this past weekend, playing a key role in CAL's fourth-consecutive 3A state title victory in a win over Murray. He lined up at inside linebacker where he was dominant against the run. Jackson did a great job of reading his keys then coming downhill in a hurry to get to the ball carrier to make the tackle before they could get going. Settle finished the game with a team-high 14 tackles and two tackles for loss. He also showed the ability to drop into coverage and make plays against the pass, coming away with one interception while also breaking up another pass. Jackson currently holds multiple Division I offers and I expect him to have a productive career wherever he ends up playing at the next level. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1200577"],"_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-693a1ecd44622"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1200577' first='Ty' last='Ashley'] capped off his impressive junior year with a strong performance in Owensboro's 5A State Championship win over Pulaski County. Ashley lined up at inside linebacker where he proved to be very reliable against the run. He did a great job of diagnosing the play quickly then using his speed to get to the ball carrier in a hurry. Once he got to the ball carrier, he did a great job of running his feet through contact to secure the tackle, finishing the game with a team-leading 18 tackles. Ty currently holds several Power 4/Division I offers and I expect that list to continue to grow going into his senior year. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2074525"],"_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-693a1ecd44677"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='2074525' first='Amar'e' last='Roney'] is another member of the Owensboro defense who stood out in their win this past weekend. Roney lined up at safety where he did a great job in coverage. He showed the ability to read route combinations and flow through the secondary to put himself in position to make a play. When the ball was thrown in his direction, he showed impressive reaction ability and ball skills, coming away with one interception while also breaking up two passes. He also showed the ability to fill the lane to provide support against the run, finishing the game with nine tackles and two tackles for loss. Roney also recovered a fumble in the win. Amar'e should be a player who college coaches have on their radar this offseason. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2079607"],"_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-693a1ecd446bc"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">My final defensive top performer from this past weekend's state championship action in Kentucky is [player_tooltip player_id='2079607' first='Brennen' last='Lowe']. Lowe played a key role in Trinity's third-straight 6A state title victory in a win over South Warren. He lined up at outside linebacker where he was very impressive as a pass rusher. Lowe did a great job of timing the snap count then using his speed to burst into the backfield before the opposing offensive line could react. He showed the ability to finish at the quarterback once he got there, recording two sacks in the win. Lowe also finished the game with nine tackles (tied for team lead) and came away with an interception. Brennen doesn't currently hold any offers but he has the talent to play somewhere at the next level if given the chance. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->