2027 Rankings Update 6.0: 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-69388d925abad"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As we get deeper into the month of December, we have entered the final round of rankings updates for the year. The latest class to be updated in state of Kentucky is the class of 2027. With the class update being officially posted, I have been taking the past week to break the 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-69388d925c69d"} --> <!-- 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 one of the best players in the state this season. Brown lined up at defensive end where he was able to cause a ton of disruption against the run. He plays with a high motor and uses his strength to fight through blocks along with his speed to get to the ball carrier in a hurry before they can get going. Once he gets to the ball carrier, Brown is a very reliable tackler, finishing the year with 66 tackles and 11 tackles for loss in 14 games. He also showed the ability to rush the passer, recording eight sacks this season. Malachi holds a long list of Power 4 offers and I expect them to keep piling up 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":["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-69388d925c707"} --> <!-- 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 another defensive lineman who continued to stand out this season. Meads lines up at defensive tackle where he lives in the backfield. He is able to use his speed both in the run game and against the pass to shoot the gaps before the opposing offensive line has a chance to block him. Once he gets into the backfield, he does a great job of finishing his tackles/sacks quickly. Meads finished his junior year with a team-high 72 tackles, 17 tackles for loss, and nine sacks in 14 games. Zai'Vion currently holds multiple Power 4/Division I offers and I fully expect more to come his way this offseason. </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-69388d925c758"} --> <!-- 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 last season and continued to impress as a junior. McKee lined up at defensive end where he was very impressive as a pass rusher. He explodes out of his stance then uses his speed and pass rush moves to blow by opposing offensive tackles with ease. Josiah does a great job of finishing at the quarterback, recording five sacks and several quarterback pressures in 13 games this season. He also showed the ability to stop the run, finishing the year with 51 tackles and 21 tackles for loss. McKee currently holds offers from Kentucky and Eastern Kentucky, and I wouldn't be surprised to see more come his way soon. </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-693890e17207d"} --> <!-- 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 defensive lineman who continued to stand out as a junior. Carney has shown the versatility to line up at both defensive tackle and end where he is a very effective pass rusher. He has shown the ability to use his strength to bull rush straight through opposing offensive linemen to get to the quarterback in a hurry. Once he gets to the quarterback, he does a great job of finishing the sack quickly, recording 11 sacks in 15 games this season. He also proved to be reliable against the run, accounting for 38 tackles and 3.5 tackles for loss this season. Juleone currently holds an offer from Southern Mississippi and I expect a lot of eyes to be on him this offseason. </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-693890e1720da"} --> <!-- 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 impressive against the run. He does a great job of using his speed and bend to blow by opposing offensive linemen with ease on his way to the ball carrier. Once he gets to the ball carrier, he does a great job of running his feet through contact to secure the tackle, finishing his junior year with 47 tackles and 11 tackles for loss in 11 games. He also proved to be an effective pass rusher off the edge, finishing the season with 3.5 sacks. Hall currently holds offers from Dartmouth, Miami (OH), and Eastern Kentucky, and I expect more to come his way as he is a true Division I caliber prospect. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->