2023 All-State football defense: First, second, third teams and honorable mention picks
Here are the defense selections for The Courier Journal's 2023 All-State football team, as selected by a statewide vote of coaches. A total of 126 coaches returned ballots.
First team
DL – Jerod Smith, Corbin
6-3 265 Senior
DL – Austin Alexander, Cooper
6-3 242 Junior
DL – Johnathan Griffin, Franklin County
6-3 210 Senior
DL – Isaiah Hare, Bullitt East
6-2 275 Senior
LB – Jacob Smith, Corbin
6-4 230 Senior
LB – Brach Rice, Dixie Heights
6-3 220 Senior
LB – Avery Bodner, Boyle County
6-0 175 Senior
DB – Connor Hodge, Christian Academy
6-1 160 Junior
DB – J.T. Haskins, Bryan Station
6-1 175 Senior
DB – Jeremiah Lowe, Frederick Douglass
5-11 170 Senior
DB – Martels Carter, Paducah Tilghman
6-1 185 Junior
P – Isaac Johnson, East Jessamine
6-2 170 Senior
Second team
DL – Mikel Clack, Ballard
6-4 190 Senior
DL – Kaden Smith, Taylor County
6-2 210 Senior
DL – Kenyatta Hardge, Lexington Christian
6-0 290 Senior
DL – Camron McDaniels, Jeffersontown
6-5 245 Junior
LB – Vince Carrico, Owensboro Catholic
5-11 210 Junior
LB – Jacob Savage, Ryle
6-1 205 Sophomore
LB – Brock Driver, Boyle County
6-3 215 Junior
DB – Antonio Harris, Male
6-0 170 Junior
DB – Kellen Marksbury, Spencer County
5-10 150 Senior
DB – Sage Dawson, Boyle County
6-0 160 Senior
DB – Terrion Hicks, Frederick Douglass
5-11 170 Senior
P – Lincoln Suiter, Mayfield
5-11 155 Senior
Third team
DL – Jahvon Frazier, Bryan Station
6-2 220 Senior
DL – Tyler Neal, St. Xavier
6-3 225 Senior
DL – Tytus Brown, Franklin-Simpson
5-9 193 Senior
DL – Keondre Weathers, Campbellsville
6-2 250 Senior
LB – Brady McEnaney, Trinity
6-2 220 Senior
LB – Jason Hocker, Bryan Station
6-1 235 Senior
LB – Jax Niece, Estill County
6-0 210 Junior
DB – Avaion Johnson, Central
6-0 170 Junior
DB – Paul Garner, Scott County
5-11 185 Senior
DB – Xavier Biggers, Mayfield
5-11 175 Senior
DB – Brock Coffman, Sayre
6-0 170 Junior
P – Lane Grant, Adair County
6-0 190 Junior
Honorable mention
Defensive linemen
Sam Dawson, South Oldham; NyYon Fitzgerald, Paducah Tilghman; Dahvon Frazier, Bryan Station; Hunter Griffie, Perry County Central; Tre Jackson, Mayfield; Austin Johnson, North Laurel; Ashton Jones, St. Xavier; Elijah Luna, John Hardin; Frankie Nutt, McCracken County; Aiden Riley, Bardstown; Cole Rose, Montgomery County; Dillon Smith, Ryle; Jacob Sutton, Graves County; Blayne Tracy, Allen County-Scottsville; Nate Tronzo, Trinity; Zian Webb, Paris; Preston Williams, Madison Southern; Dre Young, Belfry
Linebackers
Xavier Campbell, Beechwood; Keshawn Dixon, Fort Campbell; Daniel Forbis, Campbellsville; Elijah Hampton, Owensboro; Jacob Johnson, Floyd Central; Jack Lonaker, Cooper; Jimmy Mooney, Paducah Tilghman; Darion Neal, Frederick Douglass; Noah Payton, Central Hardin; Gray Price, Greenwood; Bryce Pugh, Leslie County; Ethan Reynolds, South Warren; Davon Rudolph, Ballard; Jaxson Shoulders, Hart County; Aiden Weatherholt, Hancock County; Waylon Wheatley, Union County; Ian Williams, Mayfield
Defensive backs
Braidin Baughman, Danville; Demauriah Brown, Boyle County; Blake Burnett, Bell County; Zander Curry, Corbin; Mason Estes, Metcalfe County; Christian Larkey, Rockcastle County; Lincoln Mitchell, Trinity; Ethan Moore, Madison Southern; Braden Morris, Mayfield; Dane Morrow, Trinity; Grayson Newman, Bowling Green; Darionte Ragsdale, Paducah Tilghman; Noah Reynolds, Washington County; Julian Stafford, Martin County; Deonte Stevens, Pikeville; Noah Wallace, Raceland; Caden Woolum, Belfry; Jack Zwernemann, Bullitt East
Punters
Emmanuel Castro, Tates Creek; Blake Caudill, Pikeville; Damian Cheek, Martin County; Jackson Freeland, Greenwood; Gage Miller, Collins
More high school sports: 10 basketball tournaments to see in Kentucky during the Christmas holidays
Reach Jason Frakes at jfrakes@courier-journal.com and follow him on X @kyhighs.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Kentucky All-State football teams: KHSAA coaches pick top defenders
