Final KY 2026 Rankings: EDGE

<!-- wp:acf/position-ranking-table {"name":"acf/position-ranking-table","data":{"class":"2026","_class":"field_65cfb7374abb9","position":"5926","_position":"field_65cfbfcb19ad6","national_rankings":"0","_national_rankings":"field_660c1d73c0e49","state":"2494","_state":"field_65cfb88a603fe"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6943865687fc8"} /--> <!-- 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 have turned my attention to the defensive side of the ball. With the defensive line already being taken care of, here are our top edge defenders 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":["1562264"],"_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-694386568a870"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1562264' first='John' last='Luke Minner'] solidified himself as the top edge defender in the state in his class this season. He proved to be a very effective pass rusher, using his speed and bend to blow by opposing offensive tackles with ease on his way to the quarterback. Minner showed the ability to finish at the quarterback once he got there, finishing the year with 8.5 sacks in 11 games. He also accounted for 43 tackles and 12 tackles for loss this season, and made an impact on offense, catching 14 passes for 171 yards and two touchdowns. Minner is committed to Brown where I can see him making an early impact at the next level. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["283954"],"_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-694386568a8fd"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Unfortunately, [player_tooltip player_id='283954' first='Baron' last='Hardesty'] missed his senior year due to injury but he has proven to be one of the best defensive prospects in the state in his class throughout his career. Hardesty is an impressive pass rusher off the edge, showing the strength to fight straight through opposing offensive tackles and speed to run right by them. He has also shown the ability to use his high motor to run sideline to sideline to make tackles in the open field against the run. Baron currently holds multiple Division I offers and I'm interested to see where his football career takes him moving forward. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1175815"],"_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-694386568a984"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1175815' first='Malik' last='Coburn'] has been high on our radar for a while now and continued to impress as a senior. He was very disruptive against the run this season, showing the ability to read the play quickly use his speed to run down the line to get to the ball carrier. Coburn has also shown the strength to fight through blocks on his way to the ball carrier and does a great job of securing the tackle once he gets there, finishing this past season with 83 tackles and 5.5 tackles for loss in 13 games. He also recorded 3.5 sacks as a senior. Coburn currently holds offers from UT-Martin, Southeast Missouri State, Missouri Southern, Thomas More, and Indianapolis, and I can see him finding success 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":["1584363"],"_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-694386568a9f5"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1584363' first='Bo' last='Gay'] is another 2026 edge defender who continued to stand out this season. Gay proved to be very reliable as a pass blocker, using a combination of strength and speed to get to the quarterback with ease. He finished the season with five sacks in nine games. Bo also showed the ability to stop the run, using his speed to get to the ball carrier in a hurry then finishing his tackles with a ton of physicality. He recorded 24 tackles and six tackles for loss as a senior. Bo currently holds offers from Citadel and Indianapolis, and I can see him having a productive collegiate career regardless of where he decides to play. </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-694386568aa62"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">To wrap up our top five edge defenders in the class of 2026 in the state of Kentucky, I have the 2025 Prep Redzone KY Defensive Player of the Year, [player_tooltip player_id='1175825' first='Chris' last='Lauderdale']. Lauderdale had a very productive year as a pass rusher, leading the entire state with 19 sacks in 12 games. He explodes out of his stance and uses his speed to blow by opposing offensive tackles with ease then does a great job of finishing at the quarterback. Lauderdale also proved to be very reliable against the run this season, finishing the year with a team-leading 76 tackles and 23 tackles for loss. Chris is committed to Thomas More where I can see him making an immediate impact once he gets there. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->