Malik Coburn from Bowling Green Senior leading the pack in ’26 off the edge @MalikCoburn24, @minguabeefjerky, @bigassfans, @KyHighFootball, @PurplesFootball, @CoachSpader

’26 edge guy coming off splendid junior campaign

Coburn had a big junior year. With his Purples winning yet another 5A title, the same can be said of all the players at “Senior High” in Bowling Green. Coburn is a 6’3,” 235-pounder who sports a 3.39-GPA and is consistently listed among the best DE’s in the KHSAA. He had 92-tackles as a junior, with 20-TFLs, and 10-QB sacks. That is the kind of “down-hill” player one wants screaming off its defensive edge. This guy should have a tremendous senior season.

HB Lyon, Scouting Director, “KPGFootball”

Bowling Green, KY: What do you call a DE in high school who is 6’3,” 235-pounds, registered 92-tackles over his junior season to go along with 20-TFLs, 10-QB sacks, and a forced fumble? You probably should call him “Mr. Coburn,” we just call him one of Kentucky’s elite edge rushers in the high school ranks at any level of competition.

Malik Coburn is elite. Ask the numerous, national recruiting/ranking sites which regularly plumb the depths of Kentucky high school talent looking for prospects.

Coburn ranks up near the top at his position. Coburn ranks up toward the top regardless of position.

The late Merlin Olsen, who was an important cog in the Fearsome Foursome front of the old Los Angles Rams, once said, “A good defensive lineman has to be part buffalo and part ballet dancer.” Lyle Alzado, another former great who played for the Raiders in Oakland for the most part, said it another way. “If me and King Kong went into an alley, only one of us would come out, and it wouldn’t be the monkey.”

Both of these are true of Colburn, from where we sit. First, Colburn has the bull rush of a buffalo and the bend of a ballet dancer. Secondly, we would strongly advise against going into an alley to tussle with the young phenom.

Colburn had 92-tackles, 20-TFLs, 10-QB sacks in ’24

KHSAA statistical website

Here is the bottom line. There are components to why the Purples keep contending for and winning titles.

Do they have an elite coaching staff? Certainly. We believe Mark Spader is developing into one of the better coaches in KHSAA history.

Do they have the Jimmies and the Joes? You better believe it.

Guys who are 6’3,” 235-pounds and can bull-rush like a buffalo while bending like a ballet dancer don’t come along too often and certainly don’t grow on trees. Guys with the disposition to enter a back alley with King Kong, and emerge; well, they don’t grow on trees either.

Then again, what do we know?

This is Friday Night Fletch, reporting for KPGFootball, reminding you to PLAY THROUGH THE WHISTLE!

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About Fletcher Long 1675 Articles
Two-time winner of Kentucky Press Association awards for excellence in writing and reporting news stories while Managing Editor of the Jackson (KY) Times-Voice

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