Final KY 2026 Rankings: DL

<!-- wp:acf/position-ranking-table {"name":"acf/position-ranking-table","data":{"class":"2026","_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-694338530db43"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As we get deeper into the month of December, we have been completing our final round of rankings updates for the year. To wrap up these updates, we have released our final Top 300 rankings in the class of 2026 in the state of Kentucky. With these final rankings being posted, I have been taking the past week to break them down by position. After already covering the offensive side of the ball, I will be turning my attention to the defensive side of the ball, starting with our top defensive linemen in the class of 2026 in the state of Kentucky.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["971538"],"_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-694338531057b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='971538' first='Josiah' last='Hope'] continued to solidify himself as one of the top players in the state this season. He lined up at defensive tackle where he caused a ton of disruption against the run. Hope showed the ability to hold up opposing offensive linemen while finding where the ball is going then shedding blocks with ease to get to the ball carrier. He has shown the speed to get to the ball carrier in a hurry then finish the job once he gets there, finishing his senior year with 76 tackles and 18 tackles for loss in nine games. Hope also scored 3.5 sacks as a senior. Josiah signed with Purdue where I can see him making an early impact when he gets there. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1264301"],"_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-694339abde25b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1264301' first='Sam' last='Dawson'] has been high on our radar for a while now and continued to impress as a senior. He lined up at defensive end where he was very impressive against the run. Dawson is very explosive out of his stance and uses his strength to drive straight through blocks on his way to the ball carrier. Once he gets to the ball carrier, Dawson has proven to be a very reliable tackler in the open field, finishing this past season with 46 tackles and 13 tackles for loss in 11 games. He also finished the year with four sacks. Dawson signed with Louisville where I can see him developing into a key piece of their defensive line unit. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1690338"],"_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-69433ae0cf85c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1690338' first='Jahbarri' last='Frost'] caught our attention as a junior and continued to stand out this season. He lined up at defensive tackle where he proved to be very reliable against the run. Frost does a great job of using his strength to not be moved off the line of scrimmage while trying to find where the ball is going. Once he sees where the ball is going, he sheds blocks quickly then uses his speed to get to the ball carrier in a hurry to make the tackle. Frost finished his senior year with 29 tackles and three tackles for loss in 15 games. He also recorded 2.5 sacks this season. Jahbarri signed with Eastern Michigan where I can see him having a productive career at the next level. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1706091"],"_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-69433b9b39edf"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1706091' first='Brandin' last='Woods'] is another 2026 defensive lineman who continued to impress as a senior. Woods lined up at defensive end where he was very effective off the edge as a pass rusher. He does a great job of converting his quick first step into speed while also using impressive pass rush moves to blow by opposing offensive tackles with ease then finishing at the quarterback. Woods has also shown the ability to read the run quickly then use his high motor to get to the ball carrier to make the tackle before they can get going. Brandin currently holds offers from UT-Martin, Bowling Green State, Eastern Kentucky, and Bethune-Cookman, and I can see him making an impact wherever he decides to play at the next level. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["401709"],"_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-69433d88508de"} --> <!-- 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 2026 in the state of Kentucky, I have [player_tooltip player_id='401709' first='Jackson' last='Whitten']. Whitten had a very impressive year at defensive end where he was dominant against the run. He is very explosive out of his stance then uses his strength and speed to his advantage 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 finish the tackle quickly. Whitten finished his senior year with a team-high 94 tackles and 46 tackles for loss in 12 games. He also showed the ability to rush the passer, recording eight sacks this season. Whitten also scored a rushing touchdown on offense as a senior. Jackson signed with Colgate where I can see him being an early contributor once he gets there. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->