2022 Statewide Top Performers: Week 6
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Another week has come and gone, and the 2022 high school football regular season is coming down the home stretch. The sixth week of the season provided us yet another week full of outstanding performances. While it was hard to…
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Continue ReadingAnother week has come and gone, and the 2022 high school football regular season is coming down the home stretch. The sixth week of the season provided us yet another week full of outstanding performances. While it was hard to narrow down, these are the top ten performances in the state of Kentucky that stood out in week six
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The top performance from this past week came from Pikeville senior, Blake Birchfield Blake Birchfield 6’0″ | 180 lbs | RB Pikeville | 2023 State KY . Birchfield played a huge role in his team’s 60-21 victory over a very talented team in Lexington Christian Academy. Last year’s statewide leading rusher carried the ball 21 times for 339 yards and six touchdowns. He showed great vision with the ability to find the running lane and come downhill in a hurry once he found it. Once he got through the line and hit the open field, Birchfield showed the strength to run through tackles along with the speed to run away from the defense. Birchfield also made an impact on defense, coming away with an interception on Friday. Blake currently holds offer from Centre, Denison, Hanover, and Pikeville, and I believe more could come as he has the talent to be a huge difference maker at the next level.
Johnathan Griffin
Johnathan Griffin
A player that I hadn’t gotten the chance to see yet that stood out to me this past week was junior defensive end from Franklin County, Johnathan Griffin. Griffin had quite a game against Shelby County, finishing with 15 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, and four sacks. He showed a very explosive first step out of his stance, with the ability to use his speed to shoot into his gap before offensive linemen could react. Once he got into the backfield, Griffin used his speed and high motor to run down the ball carrier and showed that he is a very good open field tackler. As a pass rusher, he was able to win with his speed but also showed the ability to fight through blocks on his way to the quarterback. Griffin did a great job of running his feet through contact and securing the sack once he got to the quarterback. While he doesn’t currently hold any offers, Griffin should be a name to watch for college coaches over the next two seasons.
Chandler Godby Chandler Godby 5’9″ | 170 lbs | WR Pulaski County | 2023 State KY is a player that has been off to a very impressive senior year, emerging as one of the top receivers in the state. He continued down that path this past Friday against Whitley County, catching five passes for 94 yards, accounting for 238 all-purpose yards, and scoring three total touchdowns. At his natural position of receiver, Godby showed impressive route running skills, with the ability to create separation from opposing defensive backs. He also showed off very reliable hands, even through contact. Godby was also used on jet sweeps as a ball carrier and ran a botched snap on a PAT attempt in for a score. Chandler also made a huge impact on special teams, using his speed to run back one kickoff for a touchdown and breaking away for a pair of impressive punt returns. It is still shocking to me that Godby doesn’t currently hold any offers as he has the talent to be a very good receiver in college and I believe college coaches should be giving his a hard look.
Highlights
Once again, Jacob Jones Jacob Jones 6’2″ | 200 lbs | QB West Jessamine | 2023 State KY finds his way on to my top performers list. The standout senior quarterback had yet another incredible performance this past Friday against East Jessamine, completing 14/19 passes for 320 yards and five touchdowns while also running the ball 14 times for 210 yards and three scores. As a passer, Jones showed off a very strong arm with the ability to lead his receivers down the field. He also showed great ball placement, putting the ball where only his receiver could get to it. In the running game, Jones was very dangerous in the read option with the ability to break tackles and make defenders miss while also showing the speed to run away from the defense. Jones currently holds offers from Kentucky, Eastern Kentucky, Fairmont State, and Pikeville, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see more Division I offers come as he has the potential to be a star at the next level.
Highlights
Another player that has been off to a hot start in his senior season is Collins QB/ATH, Kenyon Goodin Kenyon Goodin 6’3″ | 185 lbs | ATH Martha Layne Collins | 2023 State KY . Goodin continued to impress this past Friday against Madison Southern, completing 10/20 passes for 126 yards and a touchdown while also running the ball 32 times for 219 yards and two touchdowns. As a passer, Goodin put a nice amount of zip on the ball, showing the ability to fit passes into tight windows where only his receiver could catch it. Goodin also showed the ability to keep his eyes down the field and make throws on the run, even down the field in the deep passing game. Goodin continued to do a ton of his damage on the ground, using his speed to run away from the defense in the open field. He also made an impact on defense as a safety, record six total tackles (4 solo) ,and coming away with a huge strip and fumble recovery on a kickoff. Kenyon currently holds offers from Eastern Kentucky and Charleston, along with a couple basketball offers, but I believe he deserves more football offers before the year is over as he can be a true difference make at the next level.
Highlights
Kangakole Jean Aime
Kangakole Jean Aime
An unknown player to me that put himself on my radar this past week was Warren Central senior linebacker, Kangakole Jean Aime. He put on a very impressive performance against Russell County, finishing the game with 17 tackles, six tackles for loss, two sacks, and a forced fumble. Kangakole did a great job of reading the play and taking good angles to the ball to put himself in position to make a play. He was able to read the quarterback and time perfectly when to rush the passer. Once he got to the quarterback, he did a great job of running his feet on contact and securing the sack. Against the run, he played with a very high motor and was able to run sideline to sideline to make tackles. He also played receiver on offense, coming away with a reception but he looked his best on defense. Kangakole doesn’t currently hold any offers but should be on some college radars as he has the skill set to play somewhere at the next level.
After playing safety for most of his career, Wyatt Fowler Wyatt Fowler 6’4″ | 210 lbs | LB South Oldham | 2023 State KY has found himself a nice new role playing as a true linebacker. Fowler continued to thrive in his new role on Friday against Jeffersontown, finishing the game with 16 tackles, five tackles for loss, and five sacks. Against the pass, Fowler did a great job of timing his blitzes perfectly from the inside linebacker spot and bursting through his gap before the offensive line could react. Once he got to the quarterback, he did a great job of running his feet on contact and finishing the sack. Fowler also took very good angles to the ball when the ball was run away from him and showed that he is a very good open field tackler. I also liked the physicality he plays with as he showed the ability to lay big hits on ball carriers. While Wyatt doesn’t currently hold any offers, he deserves some attention from college coaches as he has the talent to play at the college level.
Highlights
Quintel Thomas
Quintel Thomas
Another player that I hadn’t gotten the chance to see yet that stood out to me this past Friday was Eastern senior running back, Quintel Thomas. Thomas had a very impressive game against Henry Clay, running the ball 16 times for 237 yards and four touchdowns. He showed that he is a strong, physical runner as he exploded out of his stance and through the hole, keeping his legs churning and running through tackles. Thomas also showed tremendous speed in the open field and the ability to make cuts in the open field to make defenders miss. Quintel doesn’t hold any offers at the moment but he should be getting looks from college coaches as he has the skill set to be a solid running back at the next level.
After being introduced to him in week five, Austin Howard Austin Howard 6’1″ | 185 lbs | ATH Lewis County | 2023 State KY once again has made my top performers list. He got the job done on both sides of the ball Friday against Powell County, carrying the ball 22 times for 235 yards and two touchdowns while also finishing the game with 16 tackles and one tackle for loss. He has a great combination of speed and athleticism, with the ability to run away from the defense and make defenders miss in the open field. Howard also has impressive vision, finding the running lane and coming downhill in a hurry once it opens. On defense, he fills the lane from the safety position and is a very reliable open field tackler. He also uses his speed to burst into the backfield and get to the ball carrier before opposing offensive linemen can react. Howard doesn’t currently hold any offers but definitely has the talent to play somewhere at the next level.
An underclassman that stood out to me this past week was sophomore quarterback Landry Collett Landry Collett 6’0″ | 185 lbs | QB Leslie County | 2025 State KY from Leslie County. Collett led his team to an impressive 52-12 win over Fairview, completing 11/13 passes for 213 yards and four touchdowns while also rushing for 38 yards and a touchdown. Collett showed tremendous touch/placement on his passes, putting the ball where only his receiver could catch it. He also showed the ability to deliver strikes down the field on the run. Collett also showed the ability to escape pressure and take off as a ball carrier to pick up positive yards. He showed a solid amount of speed in the open field along with the ability to run through tackles. Landry doesn’t currently hold any offers but will definitely be a name to watch over the next few seasons as he continues to develop.