Tommy Ziesmer has 47 tackles and 14 tackles for loss going into tonight's game against Frederick Douglass. (Chris Zollner Photo)
Kentucky commit Tommy Ziesmer had 61 tackles, including 27 solo stops, and 10 quarterback sacks last year for Class 4A state champion Boyle County. He’s having an even better season this year for the Rebels with 47 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, six quarterback sacks and two forced fumbles.
“Whatever he needs to do, he does it,” Boyle County coach Justin Haddix said. “He’s just special. If you look stat-wise, you have to remember he’s playing both ways this year. We have had to have him on the O-line this year and he’s done a great job there for us.”
Ziesmer verbally committed to Kentucky in May. He’s a 6-2, 225-pound defensive end who moves around a lot on defense this year to keep teams from scheming ways to block him.
“He’s got a better understanding of what to do this year,” Haddix said. “He’s so much more versatile. We play him at tackle and tight end on offense. We move him around on defense. He has played a lot of reps and just understands the game. He’s played in a state championship game every year and we hope he has one more trip to the championship this year.”
One of Ziesmer’s biggest improvements has been his intensity.
“His motor is running a lot better and a lot of that is just maturity. He sees the end (of his high school career). He has cherished playing here and in this culture,” Haddix said. “Kentucky is getting a really good player.”
Boyle will host unbeaten Frederick Douglass tonight in one of the state’s top games. The Rebels won 34-7 last season when Ziesmer had five tackles, including one tackle for loss, and one forced fumble.
