2023 Defensive Statewide Top Performers: Week 1

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The wait is finally over, the 2023 high school football season is officially underway! This past weekend, we saw several great games with some impressive individual performances. With the offensive side of the ball out of the way, here are my ten best defensive performances from Week 1 in the 2023 high school football season in the state of Kentucky.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["373048"],"_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='373048' first='Brock' last='Coffman'] is a player that stood out to me last season and continued to impress in Sayre's Week 1 victory over Covington Holy Cross. Coffman is best known as a receiver and caught nine passes for 114 yards and two touchdowns on Friday but he made a huge impact on the defensive side of the ball. Brock lined up at safety where he showed that he is a true ballhawk, showing the ability to read the quarterback and break on the ball with perfect timing to make a play. Coffman finished Friday's game with an impressive three interceptions. Brock currently holds an offer from Eastern Kentucky and I expect more to come his way as he has received a lot of college interest and has the talent to play on either side of the ball at the next level.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["438173"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='438173' first='Brach' last='Rice'] is another highly regarded player that got off to a hot start to the 2023 season. Although Dixie Heights fell short against Simon Kenton, Rice was very impressive at linebacker. He showed the ability to run all over the field to make tackles, finishing with 28 tackles and five tackles for loss. Once he got to the ball carrier, he showed the ability to finish with a ton of physicality, forcing and recovering one fumble. He also showed the ability to rush the passer, finishing the game with a sack and two quarterback hurries. Rice is committed to Miami (OH) where I see him developing into a key piece of their defense once he gets there.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"Aven Bohms","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"null","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"2496","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"Simon Kenton","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_2_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"Another linebacker that impressed this past week was Aven Bohms from Simon Kenton. The junior played a key role in their win over Dixie Heights, finishing with 18 tackles and one tackle for loss. Bohms did a great job of reading his keys from the inside linebacker spot and getting downhill in a hurry to get to the ball carrier. Once he got there, Aven proved to be a very reliable tackler in the open field. Aven doesn't currently hold any offers but he is a player for college coaches to keep an eye on over the next two seasons.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"Jayson Chapman","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"null","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"2406","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"Pike County Central","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_3_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"Another player that stood out to me this past Friday is Jayson Chapman from Pike County Central. Chapman played a key role in the Hawks' Week 1 win over West Carter. Against the run, Chapman showed the ability to make tackles all over the field, finishing with 10 tackles and five tackles for loss. While this is impressive, he was at his best as a pass rusher, finishing the game with four sacks. Chapman doesn't currently hold any offers but he is a player to keep an eye on during his senior year.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["423659"],"_player_evaluations_4_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='423659' first='Jack' last='Lonaker'] is a linebacker that came into this season with high expectations and continued to impress to start his senior year, helping lead his team to a Week 1 win over Bardstown. Lonaker was very impressive against the run, showing the ability to read his keys and flow to the ball quickly to make tackles. He finished the game with 17 tackles and three tackles for loss. Lonaker also showed some ability as a pass rusher, finishing Friday's game with two sacks. Jack currently holds offers from Thomas More, Mount Saint Joseph, and Baldwin Wallace, and I expect more to come his way as he has the talent to play at the next level.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_player":["371230"],"_player_evaluations_5_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='371230' first='Daulton' last='Tarter'] is another talented linebacker that is off to a great start to his season. Tarter played a key role in Bracken County‘s shutout win over Pendleton County, finishing with 21 tackles. He does a great job of reading his keys and getting to the ball in a hurry against the run. Once he gets to the ball carrier, he showed the ability to finish his tackles with a ton of physicality, forcing and recovering one fumble on Friday. Tarter also finished the game as his team's leading rusher, running the ball for 138 yards and two touchdowns. Daulton doesn't currently hold any offers but is definitely a player to keep an eye on over the next few seasons.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_6_player":["313671"],"_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":"[player_tooltip player_id='313671' first='Kaden' last='Smith'] is another highly-touted player that continued to impress to start their season. Although Taylor County fell short against Mercer County, Smith still had a strong game at linebacker. He showed the ability to read the play from the outside linebacker spot and come downhill in a hurry to cause disruption against the run, finishing with 10 tackles and six tackles for loss. Smith also showed the ability to come off the edge as a pass rusher, finishing Friday's game with four sacks. Kaden is committed to Eastern Kentucky where I see him developing into a key player for them once he gets there.","_player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_7_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_7_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_7_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_7_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_7_player_details_player_name":"Quinton Williams","_player_evaluations_7_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_7_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_7_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_7_player_details_height":"5'11u0022","_player_evaluations_7_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_7_player_details_position":"2495","_player_evaluations_7_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_7_player_details_school":"Letcher County Central","_player_evaluations_7_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_7_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_7_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_7_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_7_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"Quinton Williams is a player that jumped onto my radar this past week. He played a key role in the Cougars' Week 1 win over Shelby Valley. Williams lined up at safety and proved to be very reliable against the run, showing the ability to come downhill and make tackles in the open field. He finished the game with 16 tackles, one tackle for loss, and a forced fumble. Williams also showed the ability to blitz and put pressure on the quarterback, finishing with one sack on Friday. Quinton doesn't currently hold any offers but is a player to keep an eye on over the next two seasons.","_player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_8_player":["408037"],"_player_evaluations_8_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_8_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_8_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_8_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_8_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_8_evaluation":"Another defensive back that impressed this past week is [player_tooltip player_id='408037' first='Nehemiah' last='Brown-Hamlin']. Nehemiah played a key role in the Bearcats' win over Atherton. He was a ballhawk at safety on Friday, coming away with two interceptions and returning one for a touchdown. Nehemiah also led the team in tackles with six. While he doesn't currently hold any offers, I believe Nehemiah deserves some attention from college coaches as he has the talent to play somewhere at the next level.","_player_evaluations_8_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_9_player":["373781"],"_player_evaluations_9_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_9_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_9_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_9_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_9_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_9_evaluation":"To wrap up my top defensive performances from Week 1, I have [player_tooltip player_id='373781' first='Vincent' last='Carrico']. Carrico played a key role in his team's Week 1 win over Apollo, finishing with 14 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, and a forced fumble. He lined up at inside linebacker and showed an impressive ability to read his keys quickly and flow to the ball to make tackles in the open field. Carrico was also used as a QB spy, showing the ability to read the quarterback and rush the passer with perfect timing when necessary. Vincent holds an offer from Kentucky Wesleyan and I expect more to come his way as he has the talent to be a very productive linebacker at the next level.","_player_evaluations_9_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":10,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64e52a9f43709"} /-->