At 6’4” and 295 pounds, offensive Smith brings an imposing, almost college-ready frame that immediately stands out in the trenches. At the Battle of the Regions, he proved to be a reliable presence in both the run and pass game, using his size and strength to anchor down while consistently controlling defenders at the line of scrimmage. In pass protection, Smith displayed solid technique and patience, holding his ground and giving his quarterback the time needed for plays to develop. His combination of physical tools, functional strength, and on-field performance suggests he has the measurable traits and foundational skill set to translate well to the next level.

2030 OL LJ Smith IV LJ Smith IV 6'4" | 295 lbs | OL/DL Louisville Male | 2030 KY out of Louisville Male (KY) is an imposing presence the moment he steps on the field. He’s a massive young lineman at 6’4 295 with a broad frame that made it tough for defenders to find a path around him. He played with heavy, violent hands and delivered a punch that consistently stalled rushers on contact. Once he got engaged, it was hard for anyone opposite him to generate movement. His strength alone was overwhelming at times, but he also showed an understanding of how to use his size to his advantage and control reps. Smith is still growing into his game, but the physical tools are hard to ignore and point to a very bright future up front.

Another prospect to catch my attention was LJ Smith IV LJ Smith IV 6'4" | 295 lbs | OL/DL Louisville Male | 2030 KY , an offensive lineman/defensive lineman at Louisville Male Middle School. Smith was one of the bigger linemen on the field, showing off outstanding size and strength during positional drills. I really liked how Smith could quickly lock down his opponent, making the most of all of his reps.

Perhaps it’s a no-brainer to say, but the best teams typically have the best players at key positions — and that was the case with Region 2. The (now) back-to-back KYMSFA BOTR champs picked up a 16-0 win over an upset-minded Region 1 in the opening game before a gutsy 26-24 victory over Region 4 in the championship game.

Rounding out the BOTR 8th Grade All-Tournament Team on Offense comes as no surprise, in the form of LJ Smith IV LJ Smith IV 6'4" | 295 lbs | OL/DL Louisville Male | 2030 KY . He started at Tackle opposite Mark Stivers III Mark Stivers III 6'4" | 295 lbs | OL/DL Louisville Trinity | 2030 KY and held it down on the other side for Region 2. He too looked much stronger than he has in previous seasons. While his size may dictate him to play Tackle right now, I think may better be served as a Guard with mass. He’s a lot to handle as a run blocker and after watching him closely, I wouldn’t think twice about running behind him on 4th and 1.

One of the largest 2030 prospects anywhere in the state of Kentucky, look for LJ Smith IV LJ Smith IV 6'4" | 295 lbs | OL/DL Louisville Male | 2030 KY to anchor the Hog Mollies up front for Region 2. He has primarily played Left Tackle to this point and his feet are getting better and better with every clip I watch of him. A year ago he dominated on the interior DL in this tournament, I expect the same on the OL this year.

Respectfully, I don’t think I’ve seen a better two-way linemen in all of Kentucky, in this 2030 class, than big, LJ Smith IV LJ Smith IV 6'4" | 295 lbs | OL/DL Louisville Male | 2030 KY . Listed three inches and 25-pounds heavier than last year at this time, Smith IV is up to 6-foot-3 and 285-pounds as of this June 2025 preview. The JCTMS JV Offensive Line MVP this past season, he’s in a class of his own as of right now. Smith IV is also known throughout the state in Basketball and Track and Field. His size, academics and outstanding personality already have various private schools positioning to have him attend next year. Furthermore, Smith IV is already getting his feet wet on the college camp scene, as he hit LSU earlier this summer. As of right now, he projects to become one of the most highly-recruited kids in the 2030 class.

Smith was another defensive standout that made his presence known last weekend, proving his ability to lock it down at the line of scrimmage. I liked how Smith could read the offense like a book and breach the pocket with ease, utilizing his size to punch past the offensive line to sack the quarterback.