DJ Hightower DJ Hightower 6'2" | 215 lbs | EDGE/TE John Hardin | 2027 State KY has been on our radar for a while now and continued to stand out this past season. He is very reliable against the run, showing the ability to diagnose the play quickly then use his impressive lateral movement and speed to get to the ball carrier with a sense of urgency. Once he gets to the ball carrier, he is a good open field tackler, finishing this past season with 25 tackles and three tackles for loss in 12 games. He also came away with one interception as a sophomore and made an impact on offense at tight end, leading his team in receiving with 10 receptions for 244 yards and three touchdowns. DJ should be an intriguing prospect to watch heading into his junior season.

DJ Hightower DJ Hightower 6'2" | 215 lbs | EDGE/TE John Hardin | 2027 State KY is a player who has been on my radar for a while now and continued to stand out on Saturday. Hightower stood out to me the most during the 1v1 open field session against the running backs. He showed quick closing speed, not allowing for the running back to gain much ground. Hightower also took good angles in the open field, not giving up much room for the opposing ball carrier to make a move. DJ doesn’t currently hold any offers but he has received some college interest and will be a player to watch heading into his junior year.

DJ Hightower DJ Hightower 6'2" | 215 lbs | EDGE/TE John Hardin | 2027 State KY is a player who has been on my radar for a while now and I’m excited to watch in person this weekend. Hightower lines up at outside linebacker where he is very reliable against the run. He does a great job of reading the play quickly then using his speed to get to the ball carrier in a hurry to make the tackler. DJ has also shown the ability to drop into coverage and make plays against the pass, and also made an impact on offense at tight end as a sophomore. Hightower will be a player for college coaches to keep an eye on heading into his junior year.

To wrap up our top five edge defenders in the class of 2027 in the state of Kentucky, I have DJ Hightower DJ Hightower 6'2" | 215 lbs | EDGE/TE John Hardin | 2027 State KY . Hightower was very reliable against the run this past season, finishing the year with 25 tackles and three tackles for loss in 12 games. He does a great job of reading the play quickly then using his speed to get to the ball carrier in a hurry. Once he gets to the ball carrier, he has proven to be a very reliable tackler. He also finished his sophomore year with one interception and made an impact on offense at tight end, leading his team in receiving with 10 catches for 244 yards and three touchdowns. DJ doesn’t currently hold any offers but he has received a little college interest and has the talent to play somewhere at the next level.

In the first place spot on my list is DJ Hightower DJ Hightower 6'2" | 215 lbs | EDGE/TE John Hardin | 2027 State KY , an athlete at John Hardin High School. Hightower caught my attention offensively this past week, showcasing his breakaway speed and ability to utilize his wingspan to haul in the deep pass. On the other side of the ball, I liked how Hightower could read the offense like a book and quickly shut down the running game in crucial moments.

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DJ Hightower DJ Hightower 6'2" | 215 lbs | EDGE/TE John Hardin | 2027 State KY is another linebacker who had a solid freshman year. Hightower lines up at outside linebacker where he is very effective as a pass rusher. He has shown the ability to time the snap count perfectly and use his speed to blow by opposing offensive tackles on his way to the quarterback. Hightower finished this past season with three sacks in 11 games. He also showed the ability to drop into coverage and make plays, finishing the year with two interceptions, returning one for a touchdown. DJ has also shown the ability to stop the run, finishing his freshman year with 53 tackles and nine tackles for loss. He also played a role on offense, catching two touchdown passes as a freshman. DJ doesn’t currently hold any offers but he is a player who college coaches should keep a close eye on over the next few seasons.