2017 Pre-Season Louisville All-Metro Defense

After extensive research this offseason in the Louisville it's very hard to pick just eleven candidates for the All-Metro defense so I expanded it a little and added four defensive lineman and four linebackers to go along with five defensive backs. In today's spread offensive world defensive coordinators need to deploy different looks based on match-ups. If Central plays Belfrey they may go with a 4-4-3 look. If Male is playing Doss they may want to go with a 4-2-5 or 3-3-5 scheme. With that in mind, I expanded the All-Metro team to include personnel that reflects the need for multiple defensive looks.

This is a no brainer pick. Herron is rated as the best player on the state out of the 2018-2019 class and he's committed to Michigan. While Rivals projects him as a Weakside DE Trinity is going to use him on the Strongside and that is where he would play for me. He is a smart player who knows how to use his hands to keep his outside shoulder free and set the edge and his ability to rush the passer is icing on the cake in passing downs.

Tahj Rice is a Duke commit who flashes a lot of upside as a three-technique. I would like to see more dominance from him on a consistent basis but he makes plays and there is no one who can stop him when he goes full throttle.

I saw Ricky Barber at Kentucky's camp this summer and his get off was impressive. I'm surprised he didn't walk away with an offer but he's got another year to grow and if he can add about 25 pounds he's gonna be a monster 3-technique considering his motor and his athleticism. Barber is a dog and that Doss line is going to benefit with him and Purdue commit Charles "Polamalu" Allen clogging the middle this season.

AJ McDuffie is criminally underrated. Trinity assistant coach Mike Jackson told me McDuffie has the best get off he has seen in almost 20 years of coaching. It's not fair how much havoc Trinity is going to wreak off the edges this season with him and Herron playing the rooks.

When it comes to get off, Pulliam may be the best pass rushing OLB in the state of Kentucky. He is also dangerous with a hand in the dirt making him a versatile weapon schematically for PRP this season. Like McDuffie, he is very underrated as a college prospect. He checks all the boxes as an outside linebacker at the FCS level considering his size, explosiveness, motor, and instincts. He also shows the ability to roll his hips throw tackles, thrashing ball carriers and quarterbacks to the turf. I can see Pulliam being a steal for an FBS school willing to pull the trigger on him.

Hull is a typical Trinity linebacker in the sense that he shows good awareness before the snap, he's versatile, and he comes downhill to lay the wood. What isn't typical about him is that he can run and shows the ability to cover backs and tight ends. He is another 2018 Kentucky prospect to watch and could end up at an FCS team like UT-Martin or Eastern Kentucky.

McCauley is a big guy who can run. He'll also come up and lay a back sideways in the hole. Like Hull, he is versatile enough to play inside or out and has the speed to cover tight ends and running backs out the backfield. He fits well in a hybrid defense that must transition from a thumper to a coverage backer. He has offers from Army, UT-Martin, Murray State, Morehead State, and Southeast Missouri. With some solid mid-season film, he could easily see a boost in offers.

Knight-Goff will most likely be deployed as a defensive end by Doss head coach Phil Hawkins but I like him as a stand up outside linebacker and that is where he projects most likely at the next level. He is so versatile that he will also be featured at tight end this season for the Dragons and quite frankly, he could probably play some receiver. His versatility cannot be overlooked and that's why he makes this team as an outside linebacker as well as a nickel or dime defensive end who wouldn't leave the field much if I was his coach.

Brents is one of the fastest corners in the country. He won the Hershey Indoor Youth National Championship in the 55-Meter dash with a blazing 6.51 time. He's also one of the strongest corners in the state as he benches 365 pounds, squats almost 600, and can box jump his height, with elite footwork and hip swivel. Like Stephen Herron, Brents is a no brainer pick for this squad and not only is he a lock down corner despite his height, he'll come up in run support and tattoo the ball carrier. Brents is the type of dog any team would want on the boundary matched up against the other team's best receiver while finishing the edge against the run.

Bishop is one of the most dynamic playmakers in the state, he can take a simple five yard hitch to the house from anywhere on the field, take the lid off any defense, and lock down your best receiver on the field or boundary side. He's also a threat to take a punt back and break your back on special teams so you better have a punter who can angle the ball out of bounds. WKU got a steal when "Beannie" chose the tops but I have a feeling they will be in for a fight to keep him once other bigger programs miss out on a few guys on their board, namely Jairus Brents. Bishop was dominant at WKU, Kentucky, and Purdue camps this summer shutting down any receiver who tried to challenge him vertically, even kids 6-foot-2 and above. Imagine have to chose whether to throw to Brents' side of the field of Bishop's as an offensive coordinator. Beanie is a triple threat athlete but I would deploy him as my starting field corner and punt returner.

Trinity strong safety Jacob Dingle will be a hot commodity for FCS schools next summer and could very well land some FBS offers if he can stack another 20 pounds on his frame. His father played in the NFL, he's fast, smart, hits hard, and can snag screens and slants over the middle for interceptions. Look for Dingle to benefit from the pressure Trinity's front line puts on the quarter back this season.

Durrah playing the nickel is unfair really. He is Fern Creek's boundary corner but on this team I would put Durrah against any slot receiver in the state knowing he could hold his own in man coverage. They dynamic playmaker can also return punts and line up in the slot on offense.

Smith is a Purdue commit who I feel Rivals has ranked too low as a two-star. He could play running back for any team in the state and would probably be the fastest at that position as he has posted times of 11.04 in the 100-meter-dash and ran a 4.5 flat on the stopwatch at Purdue. With that being said, Smith projects as a free safety at the next level with his speed, size, and willingness to tattoo receivers as well as his knack for high pointing contested balls in the secondary.

As I said above, Bishop can change the game in all three phases and he is my pick for All-Metro punt returner.