Landon Kirtley Landon Kirtley 6'0" | 164 lbs | DB St. Xavier | 2028 KY is quick to react to plays from the free safety position. Anticipates where the ball is going to be and can make a play from anywhere on the field. Kirtley is a sure tackler in the open field and is also fast, finding his way into opposing backfields or stuffing run plays at the line of scrimmage despite lining up 10-15 yards behind the line of scrimmage. He’s also a great communicator on the field with his teammates. Kirtley didn’t get to have a full sophomore season due to back injuries. He’s also a dynamic kickoff returner.

Kirtley has a good frame on the backend and the range to cover a lot of ground. He shows solid footwork, stays balanced in his movements, and can backpedal with ease without looking stiff or uncomfortable. I like his instincts, and he does a nice job reading what’s happening in front of him before reacting. It feels like he’s still finding his groove, which is encouraging considering the traits already there. More than anything, he strikes me as a smart player who understands the game and doesn’t make many mistakes. Those are usually the guys coaches end up trusting when the game is on the line.

Landon Kirtley Landon Kirtley 6'0" | 164 lbs | DB St. Xavier | 2028 KY is a player who caught my attention when breaking down freshman year film. He lines up at safety where he is very reliable against the run. Kirtley does a great job of reading the play quickly then coming downhill in a hurry to fill the lane. Once he gets to the ball carrier, he does a good job of running his feet through contact to secure the tackle. He has also shown the reliability in pass coverage, showing the ability to read the quarterback and break on the ball with perfect timing to make a play. Kirtley should be a player to watch as he continues to develop.

Landon Kirtley Landon Kirtley 6'0" | 164 lbs | DB St. Xavier | 2028 KY is a defensive back who has been on my radar for a while now and continued to impress this past weekend. He earned recognition as one of the top three defensive backs at the camp. Kirtley typically plays safety but he showed the ability to play man coverage on Saturday. He did a great job of reading the receiver’s route and breaking on the ball with perfect timing to make a play. Kirtley is a player who college coaches should keep an eye on as he continues to develop.

Landon Kirtley Landon Kirtley 6'0" | 164 lbs | DB St. Xavier | 2028 KY is a player who stood out to me with some impressive freshman year film. Kirtley lines up at safety where is very reliable in pass coverage. He does a great job of dropping into coverage and reading the quarterback then flowing through the secondary to put himself in a position to make a play on the ball. Landon has also shown the ability to fill the lane and provide support against the run. Kirtley should be a player to watch as he continues to develop over the next few seasons.

Coming in at number five on my list is Landon Kirtley Landon Kirtley 6'0" | 164 lbs | DB St. Xavier | 2028 KY , a defensive back at St. Xavier High School. Kirtley stands out defensively with his ability to spot the run and quickly shut down the offense from along the edge. I also like Kirtley’s electric speed and ability to suffocate the run game. Another aspect of Kirtley’s playstyle that impresses is his ability to blast into the endzone off the kick return.

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To wrap up our top five defensive backs in the class of 2028 in the state of Kentucky, I have Landon Kirtley Landon Kirtley 6'0" | 164 lbs | DB St. Xavier | 2028 KY . Kirtley played in mainly a reserve/JV role as a freshman but he put together some impressive freshman year film. Landon lines up at safety, where he is very reliable against the run, showing the ability to come downhill and fill the lane in a hurry then make the tackle in the open field. He has also proven that he can make plays in coverage, showing the ability to read the quarterback and break on the ball to break up the pass. Kirtley is also an impressive returner on special teams. Landon will be a player to keep an eye on as he continues to develop over the next three years .

Coming in at number five on my list of standouts is Landon Kirtley Landon Kirtley 6'0" | 164 lbs | DB St. Xavier | 2028 KY , an athlete at St. Xavier High School. Kirtley caught my attention as a kick returner, proving he could juke out the defense and take it all the way to the house for the touchdown. Kirtley also impressed me defensively, showing off his commanding stopping power, ability to read the offense like a book and his ability to consistently shut down the rush.

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Claiming the number three spot on my list is Landon Kirtley Landon Kirtley 6'0" | 164 lbs | DB St. Xavier | 2028 KY , an athlete at St. Xavier High School. Kirtley made a considerable difference down the stretch last weekend, showcasing his ability to provide solid coverage on receivers in the backfield. With solid versatility and a great wingspan, Kirtley proved he could be disruptive and keep the offense out of scoring range.