2023 Mid-Season Top Performers: 1A Defense

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Now that we are a little past the midway point in the 2023 high school regular season in Kentucky, I want to take a look back at what has happened so far. With that being said, I'm going to focus on my top performers on both sides of the ball in each class from so far. After covering classes 6A-2A, I have now turned my attention to class 1A. With the offense already being covered, here are my mid-season top performers on the defensive side of the ball in class 1A.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["496965"],"_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_0_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='496965' first='Preston' last='Cowan'] is a player that stood out to me last year and has continued to impress this season. Cowan lines up at defensive end where he is very impressive against the run. He does a great job of shedding blocks quickly and getting to the ball carrier in a hurry to make tackles. Through seven games, he leads his team with 68 tackles and 18 tackles for loss. He has also shown that he can cause disruption as a pass rusher, coming away with six sacks so far. Preston doesn't currently hold any offers but deserves some attention from college coaches as he has the talent to play at the next level.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='1121508' first='Zian' last='Webb']","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"6'0u0022","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"2406","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"Paris","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_1_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Another member of the Paris defensive line that has stood out to me this season is [player_tooltip player_id='1121508' first='Zian' last='Webb']. Webb lines up at defensive tackle where he is able to use his strength and speed to dominate on the interior as a pass rusher. Through seven games, Webb leads 1A with nine sacks. He has also shown the ability to stop the run, accounting for 54 tackles and 15 tackles for loss so far. Zian doesn't currently hold any offers but I expect some to come his way soon as he has received some college interest and has the talent to play at the next level.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["493889"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='493889' first='Keondre' last='Weathers'] is a player that has been on my radar for a while now and has continued to impress this season. Weathers lines up at defensive end where he is very disruptive against the run. He uses his strength and high motor to fight through blocks and get to the ball carrier in a hurry to make tackles. Through seven games, he leads his team with 51 tackles and 14 tackles for loss. He has also shown impressive ability as a pass rusher, coming away with eight sacks so far. While Keondre doesn't currently hold any offers, I expect some to come his way soon as he has the talent to play somewhere at the next level and has received some college interest.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["408037"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='408037' first='Nehemiah' last='Brown-Hamlin'] is another player that has been on my radar for a while now and has continued to impress this season. Brown lines up at safety where he is a true ball hawk in the secondary. He has come away with four interceptions in the first seven games this season. After the interception, he has shown the ability to take the ball the other way for big plays, returning one for a touchdown this season. Nehemiah has also shown the ability to come downhill and provide run support, accounting for 33 tackles so far. He has also played a role on offense at receiver, catching 11 passes for 177 yards and two touchdowns. Nehemiah currently holds an offer from Pikeville and I expect more to come his way as he has the talent to play at the next level.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='1175779' first='Kendell' last='Buck-Barber']","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"null","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"2495","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"Newport","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_4_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='1175779' first='Kendell' last='Buck-Barber'] is another defensive back that has stood out so far this season. Barber lines up at safety where he is very impressive in pass coverage. He has shown the ability to break on the ball with perfect timing to make a play, coming away with four interceptions and returning one for a touchdown through the first seven games this season. Barber has also shown the ability to provide support against the run, accounting for 30 tackles and four tackles for loss so far. Kendell doesn't currently hold any offers but he is a player to keep an eye on over the next few seasons.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_5_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_5_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='1200723' first='Crayson' last='Lafferty']","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_5_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_5_player_details_height":"5'8u0022","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_5_player_details_position":"2496","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_5_player_details_school":"Paintsville","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_5_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_5_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_5_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='1200723' first='Crayson' last='Lafferty'] is another player that has jumped onto my radar this season. He lines up at linebacker where he is very impressive against the run, showing the ability to read his keys and get to the ball carrier in a hurry to make tackles. Through  seven games, he has a team-leading 82 tackles along with six tackles for loss. He has also shown reliability in pass coverage, coming away with two interceptions so far. Crayson doesn't currently hold any offers but he is a player to keep an eye on as he continues to develop over the next few seasons.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_6_player":["653375"],"_player_evaluations_6_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"To wrap up my mid-season defensive top performers in 1A, I have [player_tooltip player_id='653375' first='Cayden' last='Grigsby'] from Middlesboro. While he is mainly known as his team's starting quarterback, Grigsby has made a huge impact as a defensive back this season. In pass coverage, Grigsby has shown tremendous ball skills, coming with a 1A leading six interceptions through his first seven games. He has also shown the ability to come downhill and defend the run, accounting for 27 tackles and one tackle for loss so far. Grigsby has also come away with one sack this season. Cayden doesn't currently hold any offers but I expect some to come his way soon as he has received some college interest and has the talent to play on either side of the ball at the next level.","_player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":7,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-652db64c681a2"} /-->