Jax Niece Jax Niece 6'0" | 215 lbs | ATH Estill County | 2025 State KY is a linebacker that has been high on my radar for a while now and continued to impress this season. He was very impressive against the run, showing the ability to read his keys and come downhill in a hurry to make tackles. Jax finished the regular season with 132 tackles and 14 tackles for loss. He also showed the ability to rush the passer, finishing the season with a sack. Niece doesn’t currently hold any offers but he is definitely a player for college coaches to keep an eye on going into his senior year.

Jax Niece Jax Niece 6'0" | 215 lbs | ATH Estill County | 2025 State KY is a player that has been on my radar for a while now and continued to impress this past week. Niece played a huge role in Estill County’s win over Powell County. Jax lined up at linebacker where he was very impressive against the run, leading the team with 18 tackles and four tackles for loss. He does a great job of reading his keys and coming downhill in a hurry to get to the ball carrier to make the tackle before they can get going. Niece also played a role on offense, carrying the ball 12 times for 108 yards and two touchdowns. Jax doesn’t currently hold any offers but I expect some to come his way over the next two seasons as he has the talent to play at the next level.

Jax Niece Jax Niece 6'0" | 215 lbs | ATH Estill County | 2025 State KY is a player that has been high on my radar for a while now and has continued to impress this season. He lines up at linebacker where he has been great against the run this season. Through six games, Niece leads 3A in tackles with 80 along with nine tackles for loss. He does a great job of reading his keys and flowing to the ball quickly to make tackles. Niece has also shown the ability to rush the passer, coming away with one sack so far. Jax doesn’t currently hold any offers but he is definitely a player to keep an eye on over the next two seasons.

After finishing his sophomore season as the Engineers’ second-leading tackler and top returning defender, it perhaps would be easy to overlook even an exceptional defensive performance by Niece simply because they have clearly become the norm. For instance, despite his team’s 56-46 loss to Harrison County, the 5’11” 220-pound linebacker made plays from sideline to sideline, finishing the night with 6 solo tackles, 9 assists and 2 tackles for loss. Enlisting consistently disciplined eyes/reads, polished fundamentals and tireless pursuit of the football, he currently averages 12 tackles and 1 tackle for loss per game and possesses the durability and athleticism to also contribute offensively at fullback. In addition to his 15-tackle effort versus the Thorobreds, he also rushed the ball 5 times for 34 yards, 2 touchdowns and 2 successful two-point conversions, and he even hauled in 1 pass for 55 yards. While he likely projects more favorably as a defensive player at the next level, recruiters will be impressed by his versatility and high motor.