Kentucky DL/EDGE Prospects Turning Heads in 2026

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>These five defensive line prospects have shown they can play some ball and have proven themselves head-turners over six weeks this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1803304"],"_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"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6abc0a181ec35"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1803304' first='Kobe' last='Reed'] is a versatile player who can line up as an EDGE rusher or outside linebacker. Now a sophomore, he's working with an updated frame of 6'4" and 235 pounds. That extra size has boded well for Reed, who has turned that into production on the defensive end. He's explosive out of his stance and can get upfield in a hurry. Reed utilizes a flurry of pass rush techniques that help him cut around the edge in pursuit of the quarterback. Reed has great reaction timing and, despite his size, is agile and athletic enough to break off his defender and chase defenders down in the second and third levels of the defense. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Chace Williams","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'0u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"260","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2406","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Paris","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6abc0a181ed21"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Chace Williams is a highly productive, dominant presence in the defensive trenches for Paris High School. Williams has 9.0 sacks through six games, as well as 13.0 tackles for loss. He bumped his tackle totals up to 78 for the season after he recorded 14 tackles against Perry County Central last Friday. Williams' powerful frame and lower-body strength are on full display when he's overpowering defenders and bursting through the A and B gaps. Unless he's double-teamed, Williams doesn't let anyone through his gap without a fight and is a high-effort player along the defensive line, and it always seems as though he's disrupting the play even when he doesn't record the tackle. He most recently received an offer from Kentucky State. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["734299"],"_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"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6abc0a181ec7e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='734299' first='Gavyn' last='Combs'] now weighs 290 pounds and is playing his senior season for Betsy Layne. The 'Mountain Monster' has great size to play offensive line at the next level, but is a big-time gamer at defensive lineman as well. Combs provides a ton of effort and can play anywhere on the DL. He doesn't give up on plays and can break off his block and fly toward the football. At EDGE, Combs plays from a two-point stance, giving him a head start to bull-rush the opposing offensive tackle. When he lines up inside, his imposing frame blows up whichever gap he's lining up over and can burst into the backfield and ruin the play before it ever begins.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2066928"],"_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"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6abc14ec85e2f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='2066928' first='Luke' last='McCoy'] has been a pass-rush specialist at EDGE for Ashland Blazer so far this season. McCoy, who now weighs 216 pounds, has 10 tackles for loss and 4 sacks through six games. 27 of his 31 tackles have been solo as well. He has a strong upper body that helps him create separation from his defender during his block. His block-shedding ability is arguably the most impressive part of his game, but he also has a good sense of reading what the offense is giving him. He plays outside contain well and only crashes when necessary. McCoy also plays running back for Ashland. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1624130"],"_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"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6abc0a181ecaa"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1624130' first='Maliq' last='Ford'] is an athletic big man playing EDGE for Logan County. His elite frame, combined with his athleticism and IQ, makes him a dangerous player for Logan County on the outside. Ford does a good job of recognizing the play in front of him. What impressed me the most about his game is his instinct to shed his block and pursue the ball carrier. He can break out in the open field and make plays in the flats, as well as perform tackles from the backside. He currently holds five offers, including one in-state at Midway. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->