Despite Loss, Kentucky Future Stars 2029 Defense Had Standouts

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The annual border war between the Kentucky Future Stars and Tennessee Future Stars went down this past weekend on the beautiful, scenic campus of UT-Martin. While both states featured plenty of future college prospects–some with verbal offers already–Kentucky took it on the chin, in all three grade levels. Despite the <strong><em>Tenne-sweep</em></strong>, below are the Kentucky prospects that shined on the defensive side of the ball, in the eighth-grade (2029) Tennessee vs. Kentucky Future Stars Game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1303884"],"_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-6862a67aa8bfc"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The unquestioned leader of the 8th Grade Kentucky Future Stars defense was starting Middle Linebacker, [player_tooltip player_id='1303884' first='Harley' last='Gough']. Gough was extremely aggressive and played with speed and tenacity for all four quarters. By my count, which are unofficial stats, Gough was the leading tackler in the game--regardless of team. The Doss High School prospect finished with 10 tackles, including two for loss, on the afternoon.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1306563"],"_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-6862b95395050"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Last year as a seventh-grader, Ridener earned MVP honors in the Tennessee vs. Kentucky Future Stars Game. While he didn't repeat as the MVP in this year's border war, Ridener still had an excellent showing at Outside Linebacker. He didn't start the game for Kentucky, which was a bit surprising, but he made the most of his playing time. Ridener (unofficially) finished with six tackles on the day and recorded a 12-yard sack, which was Tennessee's biggest loss on the day.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1668627"],"_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-6862b953950ae"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">In my first opportunity to see [player_tooltip player_id='1668627' first='Sam' last='Raider'] play in a live setting, the big Outside Linebacker did not disappoint. Named a starter in the game, Raider wasted little time making an impact in the game, as he recorded three tackles on Tennessee's second possession of the game. The future St. X Tiger finished the game (unofficially) tied for second in tackles on the Kentucky Future Stars with six. Along side fellow Linebackers [player_tooltip player_id='1660082' first='Darius' last='Ridener'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1303884' first='Harley' last='Gough'] (listed above), the trio was in on 22 tackles.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1648866"],"_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-6862b953950f5"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Despite the gaudy tackle numbers by the Linebackers listed above, including his future St. Xavier teammate [player_tooltip player_id='1668627' first='Sam' last='Raider'], the 8th Grade Kentucky Future Stars Defensive MVP went to Cornerback [player_tooltip player_id='1663960' first='Zaid' last='Charasika']. Charasika had a very strong game in the secondary, finishing with a pair of tackles and huge interception near the halfway mark of the fourth quarter. The INT led to a Kentucky touchdown a few plays later, and was crucial in the Big Blue comeback attempt.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1279955"],"_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-6862b95395136"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Staying in the Defensive Secondary, [player_tooltip player_id='1279955' first='Jake' last='Brown'] had some nice plays as a Safety. Despite a stellar day from 8th Grade Tennessee Future Stars Quarterback Cullen Hayden and the Volunteer State offense as a whole, Brown had his moments. He (unofficially) finished with a pair of tackles in the game, and made an excellent pass breakup on a deep ball that very easily could have gone for a TN touchdown.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1665490"],"_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-6862b95395176"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">One of the biggest questions I have in this Kentucky 2029 class is: What position will [player_tooltip player_id='1665490' first='Nathaniel' last='Rogers'] ultimately play as he moves on to high school? After watching him (unofficially) record three tackles, one of which was a five-yard TFL, as an Edge rusher for the 8th Grade Kentucky Future Stars--I'm still not sure. He has long arms, but the speed and quickness he showed in the game, lends itself more to a Linebacker. Rogers is a prospect that truly fits the "ATH" designation.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["868415"],"_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-6862b953951b5"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Rounding out the 8th Grade Kentucky Future Stars who shined brightest on defense, [player_tooltip player_id='868415' first='Joshua' last='Miller'] looked good during his third and final Kentucky Future Stars event. A starter on the Edge, Miller (unofficially) finished with three tackles on the afternoon. Interestingly enough, he was in on a stop on each of Tennessee's first two drives of the day, before tacking on his third tackle in the second half.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->