KJ was a fun player to look at on film – when I saw him live, he played a lot with his hand in the dirt, so I wasn’t sure if I was going to put him in the EDGE category, but on film, KJ showed some impressive work out of the 2 point stance on the outside, so we went ahead and put him here. Nevertheless, KJ’s get-off from either the 2-point or 3-point stance is impressive. His hand usage at the snap to shed blocks in the run game or work a pass-rush move is strong – most notably how quick he is at using those hands along with the technique involved to disengage from offensive linemen. KJ received double-digit offers and named a Top 8 colleges for his choice back in February, so we’ll see if he makes a decision before the season.

KJ is another player that I got to observe live last season, and he was a major disruptor in both the running game and passing game. As a run defender, KJ excels in getting his hands on linemen, shedding blocks, and reading the play to get to the football. In passing situations, KJ showed a good ability to play half a man in his pass rush and get upfield pressure with a couple of different pass rush moves. Jacksonville State, Old Dominion, Georgia State, and Georgia Tech are KJ’s latest offers. An easy Junior Bowl selection.

I thought KJ had a very impressive game overall. KJ was one of the Mooresville defenders who constantly was putting pressure on Providence’s QB and never letting them find a consistent offensive rhythm. Specifically, KJ had an impressive sack/fumble play that helped thwart one of the last chances Providence had offensively in the game. KJ did a good job of shedding blocks and getting penetration in the run game as well. KJ has multiple Division 1 offers and showed in this game he is a legitimate college football prospect.

A lot of defensive linemen want to win with speed-to-strength, but Gillespie is at his best when he’s playing strength-to-speed. He likes to engage blockers and then explode inside or outside to make plays on the quarterback or ball carrier. I’m not sure whether to project him inside or outside, but the athleticism and intelligence will translate here.