Behind the Rankings: 2023 Wide Receivers

<!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"15px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:15px">With the 2023 high school football season getting closer to kickoff, our initial rankings for the class of 2023 have been officially published for the state of Kentucky. Over the next couple weeks, I will go into detail on how the rankings at each position came to be. After kicking things off with the quarterbacks and running backs, I will now turn my attention to some high-caliber pass catchers. This position group is filled with tremendous play makers, making it very hard to rank them. With that being said, here are my top wide receivers in the state of Kentucky for the class of 2023.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"17px"}}} --> <h2 style="font-size:17px">1. [player_tooltip player_id='145009' first='Dakota' last='Patterson']| 6'4", 205 lbs.| Boyle County High School| <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/9635697/619ba756041d7804e0c8ece8">Junior Year Film</a></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"15px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:15px">[player_tooltip player_id='145009' first='Dakota' last='Patterson'] has made quite the name for himself as one of the top high school football players in Kentucky over the past few seasons. He is a big body wide receiver with tremendous athleticism. Patterson is very dangerous after the catch with the elusiveness to make defenders miss in the open field and the speed to break away from a defense. He can turn a screen or other short pass into a long touchdown at any given moment. Patterson also uses his speed to pose as a very dangerous deep threat and has impressive route running skills. Dakota recently transferred from Corbin to Boyle County this summer but unfortunately suffered an ACL injury during a camp so he will likely be out for at least a big chunk of his senior season. He currently holds offers from Kentucky, Memphis, Pittsburgh, Purdue, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Eastern Kentucky, so hopefully he his recovery will go smoothly and as quickly as possible so that he can go be the star that he is destined to be at the next level.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"17px"}}} --> <h2 style="font-size:17px">2. [player_tooltip player_id='327900' first='Khalil' last='Rogers']| 5'11", 170 lbs.| Owensboro High School| <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/9789911/61b0ddf302b2b003fccb5a65">Junior Year Film</a></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"15px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:15px">[player_tooltip player_id='327900' first='Khalil' last='Rogers'] is a player that has been very high on my radar since the beginning of summer. He is coming off a solid junior year in which he caught 38 passes for 532 yards and scored nine total touchdowns. Rogers has tremendous speed which makes him a very dangerous deep threat as well as a threat to turn a short pass into a long touchdown at any given moment. He also has impressive athleticism, showing the ability to go up and win jump balls with ease. Rogers also has impressive route running ability, using quick breaks to create separation from opposing defensive backs. He has also proven to be a dangerous threat as a kickoff/punt returner which adds even more value to his team. Khalil currently holds offers from Morehead State and Indiana State but I expect more to come for him as he has received a ton of college interest and has the talent to play at the Division I level. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"17px"}}} --> <h2 style="font-size:17px">3. [player_tooltip player_id='287569' first='Decker' last='Renfrow']| 6'0", 170 lbs.| Daviess County High School| <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/10059200/614de464f326910878fb0537">Junior Year Film</a></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"15px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:15px">[player_tooltip player_id='287569' first='Decker' last='Renfrow'] burst onto the scene last season with a very impressive junior campaign. He finished his junior season fourth in 6A in receiving with 60 receptions for 1,064 yards and ten touchdowns. Renfrow has very impressive route running skills with a quick release off the line of scrimmage to gain an early advantage on defensive backs. He also shows smooth breaks in his routes to create separation. He also has tremendous speed, clocking in at a 4.49 second forty-yard dash. This makes him a very dangerous deep threat as he can simply blow by defenders on fade routes. He currently only holds one offer from Morehead State but he should have more offers come his way as he has the skill set to be a very good receiver at the next level.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"17px"}}} --> <h2 style="font-size:17px">4. [player_tooltip player_id='385950' first='Tylon' last='Webb']| 6'3", 183 lbs.| Frederick Douglass High School| <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/11587776/61b15b4a4debbc08e850d53d">Junior Year Film</a></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"15px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:15px">While Frederick Douglass has a roster filled with Division I talent, [player_tooltip player_id='385950' first='Tylon' last='Webb'] is a player that is not talked about nearly as much as he should. Webb is a big, athletic wide receiver that thrives on the outside. He does a great job of using his long strides to create separation from opposing defenders in the deep passing game. Once he has the ball in his hands, he is very dangerous after the catch as he has the speed to simply run away from a defense. Webb is also a very willing and physical blocker in the run game which is a very underrated quality that will set him apart at the next level. He currently holds offers from Southeast Missouri State, Eastern Kentucky, and UT Martin, and I expect more to come his way as he has the talent to play at the Division I level.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"17px"}}} --> <h2 style="font-size:17px">5. [player_tooltip player_id='385929' first='Zackerrey' last='Kelley']| 6'0", 180 lbs.| Great Crossing High School| <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/12972641/61301e1e5b47fa0554cbcc9d">Junior Year Film</a></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"15px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:15px">[player_tooltip player_id='385929' first='Zackerrey' last='Kelley'] is a player that sort of came out of nowhere when I was watching film this summer and has been high on my radar ever since. Kelley is coming off a solid junior season in which he caught 30 passes, scored seven touchdowns, and averaged 15 yards per reception. He is a long, athletic wide receiver with some of the best hands I've seen in this class. His highlight reel is filled with one-handed catches and incredible plays where he uses his athletic ability to go up and get a highly thrown pass or lays out for an overthrown ball. Kelley also has impressive speed which he uses to simply run by defenders in the deep passing game. He also does a great job of using his high catch radius to win on a regular basis in contested jump ball situations. Zackerrey currently holds offers from Fairmont State (Division II) and Morehead State, and I expect more to come for him soon as he has the talent to be a very successful player at the next level and looks to be a key piece of a very talented Great Crossing football team this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"15px"}}} --> <h2 style="font-size:15px">Best of the Rest (Players included in Top 150):</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"15px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:15px"><strong>6. [player_tooltip player_id='287561' first='Carson' last='Patrick']</strong>| 6'4", 195 lbs.| Russell High School| <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/14936140/61545fb142103607387e9f7e">Junior Year Film</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"15px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:15px"><strong>7. [player_tooltip player_id='385949' first='Chandler' last='Godby']</strong>| 5'9", 170 lbs.| Pulaski County High School| <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/8562224/6193b8eb90ef7d03441a6998">Junior Year Film</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"15px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:15px"><strong>8. [player_tooltip player_id='331698' first='Kam' last='Horton']</strong>| 5'10", 165 lbs.| Ballard High School| <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/12701749/61958859b3c9970594b0a5dc">Junior Year Film</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"15px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:15px"><strong>9. [player_tooltip player_id='180737' first='Landon' last='Smith']</strong>| 6'4", 190 lbs.| Hazard High School| <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/14194384/619edf01b3d33304fcc887c6">Junior Year Film</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"15px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:15px"><strong>10. [player_tooltip player_id='385928' first='Nolan' last='Davenport']</strong>| 6'0", 170 lbs.| Bullitt East High School| <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/13554061/619efa594797961688bd9836">Junior Year Film</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"15px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:15px"><strong>11. [player_tooltip player_id='385954' first='Channce' last='Thompson']</strong>| 5'10", 155 lbs.| Atherton High School| <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/10991286/6199ae69ab9cb50f245da0a7">Junior Year Film</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"15px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:15px"><strong>12. [player_tooltip player_id='385952' first='Darius' last='Evans']</strong>| 5'11", 170 lbs.| Martha Layne Collins High School| <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/13266765/622a2a4eab92ae174082946b">Junior Year Film</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"15px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:15px"><strong>13. [player_tooltip player_id='385953' first='Jaden' last='Commodore']|</strong> 5'9", 150 lbs.| Paul Laurence Dunbar High School| <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/12936111/619d52a9e97b010a88a40edc">Junior Year Film</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"15px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:15px"><strong>14. [player_tooltip player_id='385959' first='Tate' last='Spayd']</strong>| 6'1", 175 lbs.| George Rogers Clark High School| <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/12388676/61888c0319b0010bd0bef870">Junior Year Film</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"15px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:15px"><strong>15. [player_tooltip player_id='385930' first='Zack' last='Claudio']</strong>| 5'9", 165 lbs.| Franklin County High School| <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/11214549/6005e89a4bb26710704ad771">Junior Year Film</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"15px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:15px"><strong>16. [player_tooltip player_id='385956' first='Jermaine' last='Boyd']</strong>| 6'0", 170 lbs.| Trinity High School| <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/14911796/619af3da42061a0158ad4324">Junior Year Film</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"15px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:15px"><strong>17. [player_tooltip player_id='385951' first='Noah' last='Meyers']</strong>| 6'5", 225 lbs.| Trinity High School| <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/14950311/61a40116d21bad0a68fad05a">Junior Year Film</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"15px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:15px"><strong>18. [player_tooltip player_id='385957' first='Bert' last='Kibawa']</strong>| 5'11", 150 lbs.| Bowling Green High School| <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/14127566/61eb967d0c5da60dc04f2220">Junior Year Film</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"15px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:15px"><strong>19. [player_tooltip player_id='386150' first='Myles' last='Moseley']</strong>| 6'3", 165 lbs.| Frederick Douglass High School| <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/12940636/6185f3e90c554a051c62a5f9">Junior Year Film</a><br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"15px"}}} --> <h2 style="font-size:15px"><br></h2> <!-- /wp:heading -->