Kentucky Future Stars: Class of 2027 Defensive Standouts

An assortment of talented middle school football players from all around the Bluegrass State teamed up to face off against the Volunteer State in the Kentucky vs. Tennessee Future Stars Game this past weekend at Austin Peay University. Team Kentucky made a statement, defeating Team Tennessee in two out of the three games at Fortera Stadium. After breaking down some of the top offensive standouts on the field in the 8th grade contest, here's my list of the top defensive standouts in the class of 2027.    An impactful standout on the defensive side of the ball was [player_tooltip player_id='378834' first='Jayden' last='Justice'], an explosive linebacker talent for Team Kentucky that consistently made plays against Team Tennessee last weekend. What stands out about Justice is his size, speed and physical playstyle. Justice showcased his defensive knowledge and ability to both apply pressure and make important stops. Justice made numerous key stops on defense last Saturday, limiting the Volunteer State's offensive production through four quarters. Justice was especially efficient in the second half of the game, limiting Tennessee's time of possession.    The Bluegrass State also greatly benefitted on the defensive side of the ball from playing Lamonte Brown, a highly physical and impactful defensive lineman talent for Team Kentucky that helped to limit Team Tennessee's offensive production last weekend in the 8th grade game. What stands out about Brown is his overall size, speed and consistent playmaking ability. Brown executed quick off the snap, showcased his ability to apply heavy defensive pressure and get to the quarterback, and make important tackles. Brown was crucial at the start of the second half in containing Tennessee's offense while Team Kentucky extended their lead in the final two quarters of play.    I was additionally impressed on the defensive side of the ball by [player_tooltip player_id='871921' first='Carson' last='Herbst'], a quick, physical and extremely versatile defensive back on Team Kentucky's roster that caused a wide array of issues for Team Tennessee in the 8th grade contest last weekend. What stands out about Herbst is his size, speed and explosiveness down the stretch and in close coverage. Herbst made a huge difference in the second half of the game, rejecting multiple deep passes into the endzone using his physical playstye. Herbst's performance helped keep the ball out of the hands of Tennessee's receiving core and allowed for Kentucky to further their lead in the second half.    One of the most impressive standouts on the defensive side of the ball was [player_tooltip player_id='415771' first='Jeremiah' last='Anderson'], a highly explosive linebacker talent on Team Kentucky's roster that showcased his strength and playmaking ability against Team Tennessee in the 8th grade contest last weekend. In addition to solid size, speed and consistent performance every snap, Anderson contributes excellent strength, physicality and the ability to be defensively disruptive. Anderson was crucial in containing the Volunteer State's offense in the second half of the contest, making several key stops while also applying heavy defensive pressure to distract the quarterback.    Another significant performer on the defensive side of the ball was [player_tooltip player_id='871924' first='Jeremiah' last='Moore'], a strong and efficient defensive lineman talent for Team Kentucky that showcased his skillset on the field against Team Tennessee's offense last weekend. What stands out about Moore is his size, speed and ability to overwhelm the offensive line. Moore made several significant stops throughout four quarters and additionally overwhelmed Tennessee's offense with his ability to quickly apply heavy defensive pressure off the snap. Moore was especially crucial to Team Kentucky's defense, contributing to a successful defensive effort that kept the Volunteer State off the board in the second half of play.    One of the more signficant standouts on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball was [player_tooltip player_id='378835' first='Jordan' last='Haskins'], a highly versatile athlete for Team Kentucky that contributed as a defensive back and a wide receiver against Team Tennessee last weekend. Haskins made a huge difference on defense, limiting the offense's time of possession as well as their offensive production. What stands out about Haskins is his size, speed and consistent physicality in coverage. Haskins kept the Volunteer State on their toes down the stretch, consistently muscling his way into great position for interceptions. With great speed and quickness off the snap, Haskins also made a number of significant stops.

An assortment of talented middle school football players from all around the Bluegrass State teamed up to face off against the Volunteer State in the Kentucky vs. Tennessee Future Stars Game this past weekend at Austin Peay University. Team Kentucky made a statement, defeating Team Tennessee in two out of the three games at Fortera Stadium. After breaking down some of the top offensive standouts on the field in the 8th grade contest, here's my list of the top defensive standouts in the class of 2027.