Herald-Leader Hundred: 2022’s top Kentucky high school football players
The race for Mr. Football this season might be as wide open as ever judging by responses from high school coaches to the Herald-Leader @HLpreps preseason survey, which helped set the basis for the 2022 Herald-Leader Hundred.
Franklin County running back Kaden Moorman, a Kentucky commit, topped this year’s voting for Herald-Leader preseason player of the year, but the balloting was close.
South Warren’s Cristian Conyer, St. Xavier’s Micah Carter and Moorman each received four No. 1 votes. Taylor County’s Peyton Smith took three. Two No. 1 votes each were cast for Boyle County’s Tommy Ziesmer and Dakota Patterson. Unfortunately, Patterson, a transfer from Corbin, suffered an almost certain season-ending knee injury at a camp earlier this summer. The other No. 1 votes were scattered around the state.
A UK-bound player has topped the Herald-Leader’s preseason player list each of the last four seasons. Of that group, only Frederick Douglass’s Jager Burton came away with a share of the Mr. Football honor bestowed by The Associated Press to the state’s top senior at the end of the year.
Since 2019, the surefire way to win Mr. Football has been to deliver a spectacular performance in a state championship game on top of a sensational career. That worked for Belfry’s Isaac Dixon in 2021, Beechwood’s Cameron Hergott in 2020 (shared with Burton), and Covington Catholic’s Michael Mayer in 2019. All were among the Herald-Leader’s preseason top players in their respective years.
Who will break out in 2022?
The following Herald-Leader Hundred is @HLpreps’ preseason list of the top 100 players in the state, as put forth by high school head coaches and also selected by sports writer Jared Peck. The top 10 players are presented in order of votes received from the coaches, who were asked to rank the top 10 players in the state regardless of school classification*.
The next 40 players, in alphabetical order, are among those most often named as part of that survey combined with @HLprep’s picks based on their career, statistics, recruiting rankings and coaches’ comments. Additionally, 50 additional notable players from Kentucky’s various geographic regions are recognized as players to watch.
The online version of this story links to each player’s Hudl.com highlights from their names.
First I want to thank God for putting me in the position I am today. I also want to thank my entire family and friends for being so supportive and always believing in me.After many prayers & talks with my family,I am 1000% committed to @BoilerFootball @JeffBrohm@CoachMarkHagen pic.twitter.com/mi1rWNiSMJ
— Micah Carter #99 (@BigMicgetbusy) June 14, 2022
The Top 10
School: Franklin County
Height/Weight/Class/Position: 5-11/205/Sr./ATH/RB
College choice: Kentucky
Total points received in survey: 185
School: South Warren
Ht./Wt./Cl./Pos.: 6-1/180/Sr./CB
College: Tennessee
Points: 181
First I want to thank God for putting me in the position I am today. I also want to thank my entire family and friends for being so supportive and always believing in me.After many prayers & talks with my family,I am 1000% committed to @BoilerFootball @JeffBrohm@CoachMarkHagen pic.twitter.com/mi1rWNiSMJ
— Micah Carter #99 (@BigMicgetbusy) June 14, 2022
3. Micah Carter
School: St. Xavier
Ht./Wt./Cl./Pos.: 6-5/250/Sr./DL
College: Purdue
Points: 172
School: Boyle County
Ht./Wt./Cl./Pos.: 6-2/220/Sr./Edge
College: Kentucky
Points: 150
Committed!!#famILLy23 @CoachJamison @UofIllinoisABuh @BretBielema @IlliniFootball pic.twitter.com/ceJRrkCHCb
— Jamarrion Harkless (@JamarrionHarkl2) June 6, 2022
School: Frederick Douglass
Ht./Wt./Cl./Pos.: 6-4/290/Sr./DL
College: Undecided
Points: 133
6. Ty Bryant
School: Frederick Douglass
Ht./Wt./Cl./Pos.: 6-1/185/Sr./ATH
College: Kentucky
Points: 85
#BBN. @OL_Coach_Yenser @vincemarrow @MCentral_FB pic.twitter.com/wdxYiAQS2u
— Malachi Wood (@_BIGMAL_67) June 29, 2022
7. Malachi Wood
School: Madison Central
Ht./Wt./Cl./Pos.: 6-8/280/Sr./OT
College: Kentucky
Points: 77
12-0 pic.twitter.com/UYjYoZPGla
— Dakota Patterson (@Dj_pattersonn) November 14, 2021
School: Boyle County
Ht./Wt./Cl./Pos.: 6-3/190/Sr./ATH
College: Undecided
Points: 68
Happy to announce that I have committed to Purdue university #boilerup pic.twitter.com/DfQHTiJmVs
— Saadiq clements (@saadiq_clements) June 17, 2022
School: Henderson County
Ht./Wt./Cl./Pos.: 6-4/265/Sr./DL
College: Purdue
Points: 67
Blessed to say I have received my first D1 offer from @EKUFootball @coacharichman @astephens0222 @TCCardinalsFB pic.twitter.com/n7bX2pjOGk
— Peyton smith (@peyton_smith123) February 18, 2022
10. Peyton Smith
School: Taylor County
Ht./Wt./Cl./Pos.: 6-1/160/So./RB/CB
College: Undecided
Points: 42
The Next 40
Austin Alexander, Cooper, 6-3/218/So./TE/DE
Austin Anderson, Bowling Green, 6-4/290/Sr./OL
Blake Birchfield, Pikeville, 6-0/180/Sr./RB
Cutter Boley, Lexington Christian, 6-5/200/So./QB
Shaun Boykins Jr., North Hardin, 6-1/185/Jr./ATH
Gavin Chadwell, Knox Central, 6-5/235/Jr./TE
Tristan Cook, Woodford County, 6-5/300/Sr./OL
Jakob Dixon, Pleasure Ridge Park, 6-4/197/Sr./WR
Oryend Fisher, Great Crossing, 6-6/210/Sr./Edge
Max Gainey, Male, 5-9/150/Jr./WR
Kenyon Goodin, Collins, 6-3/190/Sr./QB/WR/ATH
Jalen Hand, Frederick Douglass, 6-3/280/Sr./DL
Andrew Hardwick, Boyle County, 6-3/270/Sr./OL
JT Haskins Jr., Bryan Station, 6-0/150/Jr./ATH
Brady Hensley, Madison Central, 6-0/202/Jr./RB/SS
Terrion Hicks, Frederick Douglass, 5-11/170/Jr./ATH
Jason Hocker, Bryan Station, 6-1/235/Jr./LB
Cole Hodge, Christian Academy-Louisville, 6-2/180/Jr./QB
TJ Horton, Frederick Douglass, 5-10/180/Sr./RB
Thomas Howard, Frederick Douglass, 6-3/215/Sr./ATH/TE
Lofton Howard, Greenwood, 6-5/210/Sr./TE/LB
Jack James, Paducah Tilghman, 6-0/185/So./QB
Max Johnson, Hazard, 6-0/170/Sr./DB
Hayes Johnson, Taylor County, 6-5/295/Jr./OT
Christopher “CJ” Jones, Manual, 6-3/360/Jr./DL
Jacob Jones, West Jessamine, 6-2/200/Sr./QB
Demeco Kennedy, Frederick Douglass, 6-2/270/Jr./G/T
Peyton Ledford, Franklin County, 6-3/250/Sr./LB
Jak Lindsey, Owensboro, 6-5/280/Jr./OT
Jeremiah Lowe, Frederick Douglass, 5-11/170/Jr./CB
Daisjaun Mercer, Hopkinsville, 6-0/185/Sr./ATH
Aden Nelson, Woodford County, 6-2/185/Sr./DB
Antonio Robinson, Beechwood, 5-10/181/Sr./CB
Justin Ruffin Jr., Christian Academy-Louisville, 5-9/160/Jr./WR/CB
Makhi Smith, Woodford County, 6-3/175/So./ATH
Cortez Stone, Central, 5-10/172/So./RB
Demoni Taylor, North Hardin, 6-4/265/Sr./OL
Ben Tshita, Manual, 6-3/247/Sr./Edge
Brody Wells, Corbin, 6-2/210/Sr./LB
Darius Wiley, North Hardin, 6-6/235/Jr./TE/DE
50 MORE PLAYERS TO WATCH FROM …
LEXINGTON: Cameron Dunn, Frederick Douglass, 5-10/175/Sr./WR; Dahvon Frazier, Bryan Station, 6-2/215/Jr./DE; Jahvon Frazier, Bryan Station, 6-2/200/Jr./DE; Damin Green, Bryan Station, 5-10/190/Sr./ATH; Walker Hall, Lexington Catholic, 5-11/204/Sr./RB/LB; Isaiah Kenney, Frederick Douglass, 5-11/178/Sr./S; Zuri Madison, Frederick Douglass, 6-5/277/Jr./OL/DL; Tylon Webb, Frederick Douglass, 6-3/183/Sr./WR/ATH.
CENTRAL KENTUCKY: Demauriah Brown, Danville, 5-11/170/So./ATH/LB; Marcus Floyd, Bourbon County, 5-10/160/Sr./WR/DB; Pilot Lukacsko, Great Crossing, 5-10/190/2023/LB; Montavin Quisenberry, Boyle County, 5-9/160/So./RB; Preston Stacy, Woodford County, 6-1, 205/Sr./RB/LB; Mason Sulla, Garrard County, 6-6/295/Sr./OL/DL.
LOUISVILLE AREA: Grayson Brashear, South Oldham, 6-4/300/Sr./OL; Gavin Copenhaver, Christian Academy-Louisville, 6-0/210/Sr./RB/LB; Travis Egan, Bullitt East, 6-2/200/Sr./QB; Noah Meyers, Trinity, 6-5/225/Sr./TE/WR; Jayshawn Shannon, Fairdale, 6-3/175/Sr./WR/FS; Daniel Swinney, Male, 5-10/216/Sr./RB; Amare Townsend, Manual, 6-1/175/Sr./DB/ATH; Gavin Willis, Ballard, 6-0/210/Sr./LB.
EASTERN KENTUCKY: Darius Akal, Harlan, 5-11/155/So./ATH; Sydney Bowen, Williamsburg, 5-9/205/Jr./QB/DB; Zackary Brooks, Pike County Central, 6-5/285/Sr./OL; Gabe Claybrook, North Laurel, 6-4/245/Jr./OL; Cole Crampton, West Carter, 5-10/195//RB/LB; Dylan Ferguson, Lawrence County, 5-11/200/Sr./LB; Byron May, Rowan County, 6-3/240/Sr./DE/LB; Harris Phelps, Paintsville, 5-11/178/Sr./ATH; Nathan Totten, Russell, 6-2/185/Sr./K/P; Brenton Willoughby, Knox Central, 6-1/223/Sr./RB/LB; Dawson Woolum, Bell County, 6-0/170/Sr./RB/LB.
NORTHERN KENTUCKY: Chase Crone, Simon Kenton, 6-2/195/Sr./QB; Drew Dickerson, Ryle, 6-5/310/Sr./OL; Kaden Gardner, Ryle, 5-11/175/Sr./WR/FS; Nolan Hunter, Scott, 6-5/220/Sr./ATH; Charlie Noon, Highlands, 6-2/180/Sr./QB/ATH; Drayden Pavey, Cooper, 6-3/280/So./OL/DL.
SOUTH-CENTRAL KENTUCKY: Bryce Button, South Warren, 6-2/180/So./QB; Trey Durbin, Elizabethtown, 6-2/200/Jr./RB/DE; TJ Greenwell, Bardstown, 5-10/190/Sr./ATH; Adam Hobbs, Central Hardin, 6-3/245/Sr./TE/DE; Evan Shelton, Elizabethtown, 6-4/190/Sr./WR; Kaden Smith, Taylor County, 6-2/225/Sr./RB/LB; Keiron Stockton, Glasgow, 6-2/200/Sr./FB/DE.
WESTERN KENTUCKY: Preston Crosley, Daviess County, 6-7/285/Sr./OT; Jeremiah Goodwin, Owensboro, 6-2/195/Sr./LB; Ethan Pendleton, Owensboro, 6-4/195/Sr./WR/CB; Malachi Rider, Paducah Tilghman, 5-6/165/Jr./RB; Khalil Rogers, Owensboro, 5-11/165/Sr./WR.
Methodology: All of the state’s 223 head coaches were invited to participate, with 66 responding to the top 10 player-rankings question out of 170 preseason surveys returned. Players were assigned point values of 10 points for a coach’s top pick down to one point for the 10th player on their list. Players outside the top 10 were selected by Jared Peck based on input from the surveys, recruiting rankings, known college offers and career accomplishments.
*William Spencer, a senior defensive lineman who played for Male in 2021, transferred out of state in the offseason. Coaches’ votes for Spencer were disregarded.
