2025 Rankings Update 4.0: Defensive Linemen

<!-- wp:acf/position-ranking-table {"name":"acf/position-ranking-table","data":{"class":"2025","_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-668dd2723046f"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As we enter the month of July, the 2024 high school football season is just over a month away! With that being said, it is time for another round of rankings updates. Our fourth rankings update for the class of 2025 in the state of Kentucky has been officially posted with tons of movement and several new additions. I will be taking the next week or so to break these rankings down by position. After already covering the offensive side of the ball, I will now turn my attention to the defensive side of the ball, starting with our top defensive linemen in the class of 2025 in the state of Kentucky!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1149630"],"_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-668dd272322c2"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1149630' first='Javeon' last='Campbell'] burst onto the national recruiting scene quickly in his first ever season of football as a junior. Campbell lines up at defensive end where he wreaks havoc off the edge as a pass rusher. He has the strength to bull rush straight through offensive tackles and the speed to run by them. Javeon finished his junior year with 12.5 sacks in nine games. He also showed the ability to run sideline to sideline to make tackles against the run. Campbell recently committed to Kentucky where I see him becoming a key piece of their front seven once he gets there. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["373821"],"_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-668dd27232316"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='373821' first='Austin' last='Alexander'] has continued to prove over the past few seasons that he is one of the top overall players in the entire state, regardless of class. Alexander lines up at defensive end where he is very impressive as a pass rusher. He has the speed to blow by opposing offensive tackles off the edge and also has a nice variety of pass rush moves to defeat blocks. Alexander finished this past season with 19 sacks in 15 games. He also has shown the ability to stop the run, finishing his junior year with 81 tackles and eight tackles for loss. Austin also came away with one interception as a junior and made an impact on offense at tight end, finishing with 67 receptions for 1,138 yards and 19 touchdowns. Alexander is committed to North Carolina where I see him developing into a key piece of their defense once he gets there. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["735671"],"_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-668dd27232358"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='735671' first='Dillon' last='Smith'] is a defensive lineman who has been high on our radar for a while now and continued to stand out as a junior. He lines up at defensive end where he is very reliable against the run. Smith plays with a high motor, showing the ability to shed blocks and get to the ball carrier in a hurry to make tackles in the open field. He finished this past season with 56 tackles and eight tackles for loss in 13 games. Smith has also shown the ability to make plays against the pass, both as a rusher and in coverage, finishing his junior year with six sacks and three interceptions (one returned for a touchdown). Dillon is committed to Louisville where I can see him developing into a reliable playmaker for them on the defensive side of the ball. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1149579"],"_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-668dd27232394"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1149579' first='Travis' last='Moten'] is a player who has quickly climbed up our rankings following a very impressive junior year. Moten lines up at defensive end where he is dominant against the run. He does a great job of reading his keys and fighting through blocks to get to the ball carrier to make the tackler before they can get going. Travis finished his junior season with a team-leading 83 tackles and 17.5 tackles for loss in 12 games. He is also a very reliable pass rusher off the edge, finishing this past season with 10.5 sacks. Moten is committed to Western Michigan where I can see him finding himself a big role on their defensive line. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1252782"],"_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-668dd272323cd"} --> <!-- 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 2025 in the state of Kentucky, I have [player_tooltip player_id='1252782' first='Mason' last='Mudd']. Mudd lines up at defensive end where he truly lives in the backfield. He has explosive speed out of his stance which he uses to blow by opposing offensive linemen before they have a chance to block him. Once he gets to the ball carrier, he has proven to be a very reliable tackler in the open field. Mason is committed to Central Michigan where I can see him developing into a key member of their defensive line once he gets there.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Other Players Included in Top 200:</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>6. [player_tooltip player_id='735673' first='Luke' last='Toothaker'] (Franklin County)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>7. [player_tooltip player_id='727243' first='Mattox' last='Kelly'] (Beechwood)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>8. [player_tooltip player_id='1311428' first='Erik' last='Ekens'] (St. Xavier)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>9. [player_tooltip player_id='373034' first='Xsavier' last='Cleary'] (Paducah Tilghman)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>10. [player_tooltip player_id='951826' first='Connor' last='Archer'] (Lexington Christian Academy)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>11. [player_tooltip player_id='494109' first='Hunter' last='Clem'] (Harlan)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>12. [player_tooltip player_id='1149604' first='Amare' last='Black'] (Union County)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>13. [player_tooltip player_id='1281046' first='Javeon' last='Dorsey'] (Male)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>14. [player_tooltip player_id='373801' first='Jace' last='Hatfield'] (Corbin)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>15. [player_tooltip player_id='735734' first='Blake' last='Caudill'] (Pikeville)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>16. [player_tooltip player_id='496965' first='Preston' last='Cowan'] (Paris)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>17. [player_tooltip player_id='373076' first='Tre' last='Jackson'] (Mayfield)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>18. [player_tooltip player_id='1252802' first='Quordair' last='Atkinson'] (Ballard)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>19. [player_tooltip player_id='735674' first='George' last='Black'] (Louisville Central)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>20. [player_tooltip player_id='615221' first='Michael' last='Mulvihill'] (Cooper)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>21. [player_tooltip player_id='1149602' first='Kamden' last='Davis'] (Union County)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->