2022 Preseason All-Northern Kentucky Team: Offense
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With the 2022 high school football regular season underway, it is time to give some predictions before we get deeper into the season. Over the next couple weeks, I will be focusing on top players in different areas of the…
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Continue ReadingWith the 2022 high school football regular season underway, it is time to give some predictions before we get deeper into the season. Over the next couple weeks, I will be focusing on top players in different areas of the state of Kentucky. After already covering the top talent in Lexington, I will be moving to the Northern Kentucky region. While there is a ton of talent in this region, these are the players that have stood out to me the most so far on the offensive side of the ball.
Chase Crone Chase Crone 6’2″ | 190 lbs | QB Simon Kenton | 2023 State KY is a player that I have been very high on as he is our third ranked quarterback in the class of 2023. He is coming off a very impressive junior year in which he threw for 1,638 yards and 13 touchdowns. Crone has a very strong arm with the ability to lead his receivers down the field but also has dual threat ability. He has the ability to escape the pocket and pick up yards when things break down in the passing game, and is also used in read option situations as a ball carrier. Chase currently holds offers from Long Island, Thomas More, Ohio Dominican, Walsh, Centre, and Dayton, and more should come as he can be a very good quarterback at the next level.
Another player that I’ve had on my radar since the summer is the senior running back from Scott High School, Bennie Hill Bennie Hill 5’10” | 185 lbs | RB Scott | 2023 State KY . The first thing that sticks out with Hill is his vision. When the backfield gets cloudy for him, he finds the cutback lane and utilizes a quick jump cut to get to the lane. He is a hard runner that is very difficult to bring down on first contact and has the speed to run away from a defense once he gets to the edge or hits the second level. Bennie currently holds offers from Findlay and Walsh and I expect more to come as he has received a good amount of college interest.
A player that has recently jumped onto my radar is Holmes senior running back, Curtez Hill Curtez Hill 5’11” | 200 lbs | RB Holmes | 2023 State KY . Hill has blazing speed in the open field which helps him to pick up big gains on a consistent basis. He is very dangerous once he gets around the edge but he can also hit the hole hard between the tackles and run away from the defense. Hill also has the elusiveness to make defenders miss and has shown the ability to break tackles in the open field. Hill currently holds an offer from Thomas More but more coaches should have him on their radar as he has the skill set to play at the next level.
My first receiver on this list is Highlands junior, Carson Class Carson Class 6’0″ | 180 lbs | WR Highlands | 2024 State KY . Class is a player that I am very high on as he is our eighth ranked wide receiver in the class of 2024. He lines up mainly on the outside and has the speed to simply run by defensive backs in the deep passing game. Class also uses his speed to run away from the defense after the catch. He has also shown reliability in the end zone as a jump ball receiver that can adjust his body to make contested catches. Carson doesn’t currently hold any offers but I expect them to come soon as he has been receiving some college interest and has the potential to be a very good receiver at the next level.
Another player that I have been very high on this off-season is Kaden Gardner Kaden Gardner 5’11” | 175 lbs | ATH Ryle | 2023 State KY . He is our 30th ranked overall player in the class of 2023. Gardner also plays on the defensive side of the ball but shines the brightest at receiver. He has tremendous athleticism with the ability to go up and catch the ball at its highest point. After the catch, he has the speed to run away from the defense and turn short passes into big gains. Gardner is also very dangerous as a returner on special teams, showing the ability to take returns for a touchdown on multiple occasions. Kaden currently holds offers from Indiana State, Thomas More, and Dayton, and I expect more to come for him as he has been receiving a ton of college interest.
My third and final receiver on this list is Highlands senior, Charlie Noon Charlie Noon 6’2″ | 180 lbs | ATH Highlands | 2023 State KY . After playing quarterback most of last season, Noon made the switch to receiver and is an electric play maker. He has the speed to run by opposing defensive backs in the deep passing game but also has the quickness to create separation in his routes in the short/intermediate passing game. After the catch, he has the elusiveness to make defenders miss in the open field. Noon also plays a key role on special teams as a returner and on defense as a defensive back. He currently holds offers from Thomas More and Mount Saint Joseph but I expect more to come as he has the potential to be a dangerous play maker at the next level.
Next up on my list is the tight end position and Desmond Davie Desmond Davie 6’6″ | 215 lbs | TE Campbell County | 2023 KY is the best that I have seen in the area at the position. Davie is an intriguing player in my eyes as he has shown the versatility to line up outside at receiver, in the slot, and on the end of the line of scrimmage as a true tight end. He has tremendous hands with the ability to catch the ball away from his body and look it in before making his next move. Davie is also dangerous after the catch as he has the strength to run through tacklers in the open field and the speed to get up the field to pick up extra yards. Desmond doesn’t currently hold any offers but I expect them to come soon as he has been receiving college interest and has the skill set to play at the next level.
Moving on to the offensive line, Aba Selm Aba Selm 6’4″ | 295 lbs | OL Simon Kenton | 2024 State KY is one of the best in the state of Kentucky. He is our fifth ranked offensive lineman in the class of 2024 and is my selection for Preseason Offensive Player of the Year in Northern Kentucky. Selm is a physical mauler with the ability to create movement off the line of scrimmage and finish his blocks. He also has shown the ability to pull from the left tackle spot as a lead blocker and destroy anything in his path in the open field. Selm is also very reliable in pass protection, showing the ability to mirror opposing pass rushers. He currently holds an offer from Eastern Kentucky and I expect his offers list to expand over the next two years as he is a true Division I talent at offensive tackle.
Another offensive lineman that I have been high on this off-season is Ryle senior, Drew Dickerson Drew Dickerson 6’5″ | 310 lbs | OL Ryle | 2023 State KY . He is a very physical offensive tackle that drives the opposing defensive lineman off the line of scrimmage and finishes his blocks through the whistle. Dickerson is also impressive in pass protection, showing quick feet in his pass drops along with the ability to mirror opposing pass rushers. Drew currently holds offers from Wilmington, Thomas More, Hanover, and Morehead State, and I expect more to come for him as he has received a lot of college interest and has the potential to be a very good player at the next level.
Dylan Stewart Dylan Stewart 6’5″ | 290 lbs | OL Conner | 2025 State KY is an underclassman offensive lineman that has caught my attention recently. Stewart is a big, athletic offensive tackle that does a great job of getting into his pass sets quickly and mirroring opposing pass rushers. In the run game, he creates movement off the line of scrimmage and keeps working to make a path for the ball carrier. He also does a great job of down blocking and creating an outside lane for his running back. Dylan currently holds an offer from Eastern Kentucky and I expect his offers list to expand over the next few seasons as he is a talented offensive lineman with plenty of time to continue to develop.
Highlights
Damarcus Winn Damarcus Winn 6’3″ | 235 lbs | OL Holmes | 2023 KY is an offensive lineman that recently jumped onto my radar. He is a physical left tackle that is a bully in the run game. Winn has an explosive first step out of his stance and keeps his feet churning to drive his man down the field. He finishes his blocks through the whistle, resulting in pancake blocks on many occasions. Winn also shows the ability to pull from the left tackle spot and pick up blocks in the open field as a lead blocker. Damarcus doesn’t currently hold any offers but he is a play that should be on college radars as he definitely has the ability to play at the next level.
My final offensive lineman on this list is the man in the middle for Highlands, senior center Adam Bowman Adam Bowman 6’2″ | 265 lbs | OL Highlands | 2023 KY . Bowman stood out to me the most in the run game as he has shown the ability to snap the ball and explode off the line of scrimmage with a quick first step. Once he steps to his man, he keeps his feet running and drives him off the line of scrimmage, resulting in many pancake blocks. He has also shown the ability to get to the second level when uncovered and pick up blocks in the open field. Bowman currently holds offers from Wilmington and Centre, and I expect more to come as he has been receiving a lot of college interest and has the skill set to be a very good center at the next level.
Highlights
Eli White Eli White 6’0″ | 185 lbs | ATH Cooper | 2023 KY is a very intriguing player that has jumped onto my radar lately. He mainly lines up at running back where he has very impressive vision. White has great patience as a ball carrier and waits for the running lane to open then hits it in a hurry. Once he hits the second level, he has the elusiveness to make defenders miss in the open field, along with the speed to run away from the defense. White also lines up in the slot at receiver and uses his speed to pose as a very dangerous deep threat. Eli currently holds an offer from Thomas More but I expect more to come as he has received a ton of college interest and has the potential to be a very electric play maker at the next level.
Other Players to Watch:
Quarterback: Jackson Smith Jackson Smith 6'3" | 175 lbs | QB Walton-Verona | 2024 State KY (Walton-Verona, 2024), Zaccary Roberts Zaccary Roberts 5'11" | 185 lbs | QB Covington Catholic | 2023 KY (Covington Catholic, 2023)
Running Back: Cam Giesler Cam Giesler 5'8" | 190 lbs | RB Highlands | 2024 State KY (Highlands, 2024), Jayden Lawson (Simon Kenton, 2023)
Wide Receiver: Matteo Matteoli Matteo Matteoli 6'0" | 175 lbs | WR Highlands | 2024 State KY (Highlands, 2024), Terry Phillips Jr. (Conner, 2023), Chase Williams (Simon Kenton, 2023)
Tight End: Nolan Hunter Nolan Hunter 6'5" | 205 lbs | TE Scott | 2023 State KY (Scott, 2023)
Offensive Line: Treyvon Brown Treyvon Brown 6'1" | 270 lbs | OL Scott | 2023 KY (Scott, 2023), Kaleb Russell Kaleb Russell 6'3" | 305 lbs | OL Simon Kenton | 2023 KY (Simon Kenton, 2023), Evan Johnson Evan Johnson 6'0" | 255 lbs | OL Highlands | 2024 State KY (Highlands 2024)
ATH: Brody Benke Brody Benke 6'4" | 235 lbs | ATH Highlands | 2024 State KY (Highlands, 2024)