Kentucky’s Top Receivers 2022

As with the quarterback position, eight receivers made it into the top fifty of the best players in the state. Speed, quickness, sure hands, and big play potential best describes the characteristics of these exceptional athletes. They all have the potential to turn a game around in one snap of the football. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="144976" first="Dane" last="Key"]     6’2” 170     Lexington Frederick Douglass</strong> The “Great” Dane makes plays all over the field and is ranked the number one wide receiver and the number four player overall in the Prep Redzone rankings. This future Kentucky Wildcat has all the tools to make it big at the next level including speed, route running, soft and sure hands, and the all-important ability to make yards after the reception. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="144977" first="Vinny" last="Anthony"]     6’1” 170     Louisville Male     </strong> Anthony really stretches the defense with his talent running vertical routes. He is a confident receiver who looks the ball in and doesn’t break stride when going deep. Vinny displays superb release skills versus press man coverage. He is a complete and unselfish receiver as evident in the way he blocks for his teammates. Anthony is also a talented punt returner. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="144978" first="Easton" last="Messer"]     5’10” 180     Louisville Christian Academy</strong> Messer can play outside or inside but is best utilized as a slot receiver where he can use his quickness and athleticism to his advantage. His speed is on display when running takeoff and fade routes and when running the jet sweep. Messer is a physical player who consistently breaks tackles in space. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="144979" first="Zac" last="Lockhart"]     6’1” 190     Pikeville</strong> If you want a sure handed receiver that snatches the ball out of the air then make positive yards downfield, Lockhart is your man. He can make difficult receptions seem routine by reaching back across his body to make the catch. Lockhart doesn’t shy away from running routes over the middle and can take, and give, a hit once he has the football in his possession. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="145537" first="Devin" last="Holbert"]     5’11” 180     Dixie Heights</strong> Holbert has deceiving speed and exceptional moves in terms of route running. Defensive backs make a mistake when they try to press cover Devin, he has exceptional release skills and then will dart past the defender and be downfield immediately. Few receivers run the stutter-n-go route better than Holbert, but he also is exceptional at running the post and post corner. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="145543" first="CJ" last="Munford"]     5’10” 165     Bryan Station</strong> He may not be the biggest receiver on the field but is definitely one of the quickest in the state of Kentucky. Munford has tremendous separation skills as a route runner. He also does a great job of staying in the vision of his scrambling quarterback. Munford is extremely shifty in the openfield avoiding or squirming through defenders that try to tackle him in space. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="148462" first="Mekhi" last="Smith"]     5’10” 175     Louisville St. Xavier</strong> Smith could also fit in the athlete category as well as being one of the best receivers in the state. He is so good at kickoff returns he often brings the ball back without being touched. As a wildcat quarterback, he is a dangerous runner who can weave his way through small openings then turn on the jets to pull away from defenders. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="148451" first="Cameron" last="Patterson"]     6’5” 210     Covington Scott</strong> Even though Patterson looks like a possession receiver, he can fool you with his speed and elusiveness. He is a tall target for his quarterback and catch anything in the neighborhood with his soft hands and leaping ability. Patterson is the “go to” guy in the redzone running the fade or slant routes.