2027 Rankings Update 7.0: EDGE

<!-- wp:acf/position-ranking-table {"name":"acf/position-ranking-table","data":{"class":"2027","_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-69b9c13212396"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As we get deeper into the month of March, the 2026 high school football offseason is in full swing. With that being said, we have begun a new round of rankings updates in the state of Kentucky. The class of 2027 is our latest update to be released with an updated Top 225. Now that those have been released, I have been taking the past couple weeks to break them down by position. After already covering the offensive side of the ball, I have now turned my attention to the defensive side of the ball. With the defensive linemen already taken care of, here are our top edge defenders 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":["1610711"],"_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-69b9c21360a83"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1610711' first='Sebastian' last='Blue'] has continued to separate himself as the top edge defender in the state in his class over the past couple seasons. Blue is a dominant pass rusher, using his speed to blow by opposing offensive tackles off the edge with ease. He has also showed the ability to bend under blocks to avoid getting touched on his wya to the quarterback. Once he gets to the quarterback, he explodes through contact to finish the play, recording nine sacks in 15 games as a junior. Blue also finished this past season with 39 tackles and seven tackles for loss. Sebastian is committed to Louisville where I can see him developing into a productive player at the next level. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1200563"],"_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-69b9c505a98d6"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1200563' first='Griffin' last='Benke'] is a player who truly started to make a name for himself this past season. As a junior, he proved to be a very effective pass rusher off the edge. Benke does a great job of fighting with his hands to get extended on opposing offensive linemen then using his strength to fight straight through them on his way to the quarterback. He has shown the ability to finish at the quarterback, recording seven sacks in 12 games this past season. Griffin also accounted for 39 tackles and 17 tackles for loss as a junior. Benke currently holds several Division I offers, including a Power 4 offer from Michigan State, and I 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":["1200562"],"_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-69b9c505a993c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1200562' first='Cooper' last='Benke'] is another edge defender who stood out as a junior. He causes a ton of disruption against the run, showing the ability to diagnose the play quickly then use his strength to shed blocks with ease. Once he sheds the block, he has shown the ability to use his speed to get to the ball carrier with a sense of urgency to make the tackle. He finished this past season with 50 tackles and 13 tackles for loss in 11 games. Benke also recorded five sacks as a junior. Cooper currently holds multiple Division I offers and I expect that list to continued to grow heading into his senior year. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2074542"],"_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-69b9c6a933602"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='2074542' first='Kobe' last='Pullom'] was only able to play in three games as a junior but he was very impressive when on the field. As a pass rusher, Pullom is very explosive out of his stance and uses his speed to his advantage whether he is coming off the edge or shooting the inside gap. He has also shown the ability to use quick pass rush moves to defeat blocks with ease. Kobe finished this past season with one sack and 25+ quarterback pressures. Pullom also recorded 29 tackles and four tackles for loss as a junior. Kobe recently picked up his first offer from Troy 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":["1375201"],"_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-69b9c8d459ed7"} --> <!-- 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 2027 in the state of Kentucky, I have [player_tooltip player_id='1375201' first='Korey' last='Tutt Jr.'] Korey is a very reliable pass rusher off the edge, showing the speed to blow by opposing offensive tackles with ease on his way to the quarterback. He has also shown the ability to fight with his hands and use his bend to avoid blocks. Tutt does a great job of finishing at the quarterback, finishing his junior year with six sacks and 40+ quarterback pressures in 13 games. He also finished this past season with 26 tackles and seven tackles for loss. Korey currently holds offers from Eastern Kentucky and Miami (OH), and I expect offers to keep piling up for him moving forward. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->