2022 Player of the Year Watchlist: Offense

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 2022 high school football regular season has been an exciting one to say the least. In Kentucky, there are two weeks remaining in the regular season and things are heating up as playoff spots are on the line. To this point, there have been a lot of very talented players making a name for themselves across the state. However, some have stood out above the rest. Over the next week, I will focus on the players who are in my Player of the Year conversation as of now. With that being said, I will start things off with my top offensive players in the state so far this season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_63509281eeab5","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["331733"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"u003cpu003eIf you follow high school football in the state of Kentucky, you know the name [player_tooltip player_id='331733' first='Cutter' last='Boley']. He is not only one of the most talented quarterbacks in the state in his class but also the entire country. Although he has missed one and a half games due to injury, Boley has put up very impressive numbers. So far this season, Cutter has completed 156/241 passes for 20 touchdowns and 2,531 yards. Cutter has shown off a very strong arm and has all the intangibles you look for in a quarterback including great pocket mobility, high football IQ, impressive accuracy, touch, and ball placement. While he is an elite passer, he has also shown the ability to pick up yards on the ground when needed. Boley has a very long list of Power 5 offers and that list will continue to grow as he is a top level quarterback prospect that has time to continue to develop over the next few years.u0026nbsp;u003c/pu003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["324205"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"u003cpu003e[player_tooltip player_id='324205' first='Jacob' last='Jones'] is a player that I have been extremely high on for a long time as he is our top ranked quarterback in Kentucky in the class of 2023. While he came into the season with all eyes on him, he has exceeded expectations. Jones has been impressive as a passer this season, sitting at eighth in the state in passing, completing 115/188 passes for 1,760 yards, 20 touchdowns, and only three interceptions through eight games. While those are great numbers, he has been just as electric as a ball carrier, ranking second in the entire state in rushing with 157 carries for 1,405 yards and 18 touchdowns. As a passer, Jones throws an incredible deep ball with the arm strength to lead his receivers down the field and hit them in stride. He also puts a good amount of zip on his passes with the ability to fit the ball in tight windows and also has shown a tremendous ability to make throws on the run. In the ground game, Jones has the speed to simply run away from the defense but also has the elusiveness to make defenders miss and strength to run right through them. Jacob currently holds offers from Kentucky, Eastern Kentucky, Fairmont State, and Pikeville, but has been receiving more interest from college coaches so more could come as he is a true Division I caliber talent.u0026nbsp;u003c/pu003e","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["385949"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"u003cpu003e[player_tooltip player_id='385949' first='Chandler' last='Godby'] is a player that has been mentioned on a frequent basis in my u0022Top Performersu0022 articles this year as he has been having an incredible season. He is currently the state's leading receiver with 72 receptions for 1,307 yards and 23 touchdowns. Godby has explosive deep speed with the ability to create separation in the deep passing game. He is also dangerous after the catch as he has the elusiveness to make defenders miss in the open field then uses his speed to run away from the defense. Godby also has very reliable hands and the ability to make contested catches on a consistent basis. He also has made an impact on defense as a defensive back but has definitely shined the brightest on offense. Chandler recently picked up his first offer from Union College but I believe that more college coaches need to be paying closer attention to him.u0026nbsp;u003c/pu003e","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["245533"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"u003cpu003eAnother player that we have been very high on for a while at Prep Redzone Kentucky and who has put the entire state on notice this year is [player_tooltip player_id='245533' first='Kenyon' last='Goodin']. He has established himself as one of the best offensive weapons in the state as he is a very dangerous dual-threat quarterback. As a passer, Kenyon has completed 99/169 passes for 1,410 yards, 17 touchdowns, and only four interceptions. In the run game, he has carried the ball 131 times for 896 yards and 14 touchdowns. He has shown the ability to move in the pocket to avoid pressure and escape it when needed and make throws on the run. Goodin also has a strong arm with the ability to lead his receivers away from their defender. Kenyon also has made an impact on defense at safety with 35 total tackles and three interceptions with one interception returned for a touchdown but he still shines the brightest on offense. Goodin currently holds offers from Eastern Kentucky, Army, and Charleston but more could come as he has received a lot of college interest and is a Division I caliber talent.u0026nbsp;u003c/pu003e","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["386879"],"_player_evaluations_4_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"u003cpu003e[player_tooltip player_id='386879' first='Max' last='DeGraff'] is one of the biggest surprises to me this season. Coming into the year, I knew that he was one of if not the best kicker in the state but what I did not know is how dynamic of a play maker he would be at receiver. DeGraff is currently sitting at fourth in the entire state in receiving through eight games with 37 catches for 932 yards and 12 touchdowns. His speed is the main thing that sets him apart as he is simply able to run right by defensive backs in the deep passing game. Once he has the ball in his hands, he uses that speed to run away from the defense. DeGraff has also shown the ability to make defenders miss in the open field on his way to the end zone. While he has been impressive on offense, he has still shined at kicker, connecting on four field goals and 35 PATs this season. Max currently holds offers from Kentucky and Eastern Kentucky where he will likely find a role on special teams but he has the talent to play receiver if needed down the road.u0026nbsp;u003c/pu003e","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_player":["483869"],"_player_evaluations_5_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"u003cpu003eNext up on the list is the young man that has been throwing DeGraff the ball, junior quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='483869' first='Jackson' last='Wasik']. Wasik has been one of the main reasons that Lexington Catholic has become one of the top teams in the state this season as he is sixth in the entire state in passing, completing 113/163 passes for 1,842 yards, 22 touchdowns, and only four interceptions. While Wasik may be on the small side for a quarterback, he makes up for it with a cannon for an arm. He has the ability to stretch the field and hit his receivers in stride in the deep passing game. Wasik has also shown an impressive ability to roll out and make throws on the run, and has shown great accuracy all over the field with tremendous ball placement. When nothing is there in the passing game, Wasik has shown the ability to tuck the ball and pick up yards on the ground as well. Jackson recently picked up his first offer from Calumet College but I fully expect more to come for him by his senior year.u0026nbsp;u003c/pu003e","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_6_player":["483870"],"_player_evaluations_6_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"u003cpu003eAnother great pass catcher that has stood out to me this season is senior wide receiver [player_tooltip player_id='483870' first='Dalton' last='Carter'] from West Jessamine. Carter has been Jones' go-to target in the Colts' offense as he is second in the state in receiving through eight games with 60 catches for 1,091 yards and nine touchdowns. He is a tremendous route runner out of the slot, using his quick feet to create early separation from defensive backs. Carter also has the speed to pose as a dangerous threat in the deep passing game. In the short passing game, Carter is very dangerous after the catch, using his speed and elusiveness to turn those short passes into big gains. While Carter doesn't currently hold any offers, he has received a solid amount of college interest and is definitely deserving of an opportunity to play at the next level as he is a very talented wide receiver.u0026nbsp;u003c/pu003e","_player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_7_player":["485012"],"_player_evaluations_7_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_7_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_7_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_7_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_7_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"Next up on the list is another talented passer that has had a breakout senior year. [player_tooltip player_id='485012' first='Brysen' last='Dugger'] has had an incredible season so far completing 156/215 passes for a state-leading 2,345 yards and 32 touchdowns, and has also only thrown three interceptions through nine games. One of the biggest things that sticks out with Dugger is his impressive pocket presence. He does a great job of standing tall in the pocket and showing the toughness to stay in the pocket and deliver passes while under pressure. Dugger also has incredible arm talent. He has the arm strength to lead his receivers down the field in the deep passing game but also has great ball placement and touch on his passes, putting the ball where only his receivers can get to it. Brysen doesn't currently hold any official football offers and he is also a star baseball and basketball player so it remains to be seen what he will decide to do after high school but he definitely has the talent to be a successful quarterback at the next level.","_player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_8_player":["313643"],"_player_evaluations_8_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_8_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_8_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_8_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_8_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_8_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='313643' first='Cole' last='Hodge'] is another quarterback that we have been high on for a while at Prep Redzone Kentucky as he is our top ranked quarterback in the class of 2024. The junior quarterback is having another impressive season this year, completing 94/125 passes for 1,693 yards for 26 touchdowns and only three interceptions through eight games. Hodge has shown tremendous accuracy in the short and intermediate passing game, showing the ability to fit passes in tight windows where only his receiver can catch it. He also throws a pretty deep ball, leading his receivers down the field and hitting them in stride. Hodge has also shown the speed and elusiveness to make plays on the ground as a ball carrier when nothing is there in the passing game. Cole currently holds offers from Eastern Kentucky and Central Michigan but I expect that list to continue to grow as he has been receiving a ton of college interest and is a true Division I level talent at quarterback.","_player_evaluations_8_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_9_player":["417460"],"_player_evaluations_9_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_9_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_9_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_9_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_9_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_9_evaluation":"One of the biggest breakout players in the state that has truly made a name for himself this season is junior running back [player_tooltip player_id='418572' first='Zah'Ron' last='Washburn'] from DuPont Manual. Washburn has been a huge piece of Manual's success this season, carrying the ball 150 times for 988 yards and 17 touchdowns through eight games. He is a downhill runner that has great vision and hits the running lane hard once it opens up. Washburn is a strong runner that keeps his legs churning through contact to pick up extra yards. Once he hits the open field, Washburn has great contact balance, bouncing off tacklers without breaking stride. He also has the speed to run away from a defense and has shown reliability in the passing game as a receiving threat. Zah'Ron currently holds an offer from Eastern Kentucky and I expect more to come as he is a true Division I caliber running back.","_player_evaluations_9_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_10_player":["385943"],"_player_evaluations_10_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_10_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_10_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_10_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_10_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_10_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='385943' first='Blake' last='Birchfield'] has had an incredible high school career in his four years at Pikeville. He has continued to impress in his final season, carrying the ball 124 times for 1,112 yards and 19 touchdowns. Birchfield is an explosive ball carrier that shoots out of his stance and hits the running lane with a sense of urgency. He has shown the speed to run right by defenders but when opposing players are in position to tackle them, he has the elusiveness to make them miss and the strength to run right through them. Birchfield is also a very reliable pass catcher out of the backfield as he is truly Pikeville's biggest offensive weapon. Blake currently holds offers from Centre, Hanover, Denison, and Pikeville, and I wouldn't be surprised to see more come as he has the skill set to continue to be a very exciting player to watch at the next level.","_player_evaluations_10_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_11_player":["408048"],"_player_evaluations_11_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_11_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_11_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_11_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_11_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_11_evaluation":"While this list is filled with skill players, the big men up front deserve some recognition as well. [player_tooltip player_id='408048' first='Demeco' last='Kennedy'] has continued to be one of the best offensive linemen in the state this season. He has helped anchor a Frederick Douglass offense that has continued to blow teams out with several games having running clock by halftime. Kennedy has had some experience at guard but has slid over to left tackle this season. He is a very physical lineman that explodes out of his stance and drives his man off the line of scrimmage. Kennedy does a great job of finishing his blocks through the whistle. He also has shown the athletic ability to pull from the tackle spot and get to the second level and pick up blocks in the open field. Kennedy is also a very reliable pass blocker, showing great foot work and the ability to mirror pass rushers off the edge. He also is an impressive defensive end and could play on that side of the ball at the next level but I believe he has looked his best on offense. Demeco currently holds offers from Miami (OH), Kentucky, Louisville, Ole Miss, Ball State, Southeast Missouri State, Western Michigan, Toledo, Marshall, and Illinois, and I expect that list to continue to expand as he is a true Power 5 level talent.","_player_evaluations_11_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_12_player":["313670"],"_player_evaluations_12_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_12_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_12_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_12_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_12_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_12_evaluation":"Another junior offensive lineman that I have been very high on is [player_tooltip player_id='313670' first='Hayes' last='Johnson'] from Taylor County. Johnson is our top ranked offensive linemen in the class of 2024 in Kentucky and he has continued to impress this season. He lines up at right tackle and is a true mauler in the run game. If there is a man in front of him, he drives them off the line of scrimmage and out of the picture and if there isn't he gets to the next level and destroys anything in his path in the open field. Hayes blocks through the whistle with a ton of physicality, resulting in a large amount of pancake blocks. Throughout his career, Johnson has seen some snaps at guard and his physicality, size, and play style will allow him to move inside at the college level if asked to do so. Hayes currently holds offers from Louisville, Tennessee, Cincinnati, Michigan State, Purdue, Baylor, Eastern Kentucky, and Kentucky, and I expect that list to continue to grow as he has the skill set to be a high quality lineman at just about any Power 5 program in the country.","_player_evaluations_12_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_13_player":["386122"],"_player_evaluations_13_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_13_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_13_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_13_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_13_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_13_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='386122' first='Malachi' last='Wood'] is our top ranked offensive lineman in the state in the class of 2023 and has continued to show us why in his senior season. He has helped anchor a very impressive Madison Central offense from the left tackle spot. Wood is a massive young man, measuring in at 6'8u0022, 280 pounds and he uses that size to his advantage. In the run game, he explodes out of his stance and runs his feet through contact to drive his man down the field. He plays with a ton of physicality, finishing his blocks through the whistle. Wood is also a very impressive pass blocker, showing great footwork with the ability to mirror edge rushers. He uses his long arms to his advantage to get extension on opposing defensive linemen and does a great job of protecting his inside gap. Malachi is committed to stay close to home and play at the University of Kentucky and I expect him to develop into a very good offensive tackle for them once he gets there.","_player_evaluations_13_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_14_player":["485039"],"_player_evaluations_14_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_14_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_14_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_14_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_14_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_14_evaluation":"Last but not least, I have the state's current leading scorer, senior [player_tooltip player_id='485039' first='Ethan' last='Jarvis'] from Prestonsburg. Jarvis does most of his damage in the ground game, carrying the ball 172 times for 1,454 yards and 25 touchdowns through nine games. He is a hard-nosed, downhill runner that explodes through the running lane and does a great job of keeping his feet running through contact to break tackles and pick up as many extra yards as possible. Once he gets to the second level, Jarvis has shown the speed to run away from the defense and break off long runs. Jarvis has also made an impact in the passing game, catching three touchdown passes on the season, and has also scored on three two-point conversion attempts, giving up him 174 total points on the season. Ethan hasn't reported any official offers but he should be on college radars as he has the talent to plat somewhere at the next level.","_player_evaluations_14_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":15,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"edit","anchor":"acf-block-652ff559f1546"} /--> <!-- wp:heading {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"17px"}}} --> <h2 style="font-size:17px">Honorable Mention:</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"15px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:15px">[player_tooltip player_id='417271' first='Russ' last='Osborne']| 2024 Quarterback| Shelby Valley</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"15px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:15px">[player_tooltip player_id='324210' first='Cooper' last='Stone']| 2023 Quarterback| Bethlehem</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"15px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:15px">[player_tooltip player_id='324225' first='Kaydon' last='Custard']| 2024 Quarterback| Harrison County</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"15px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:15px">[player_tooltip player_id='328124' first='Travis' last='Egan']| 2023 Quarterback| Bullitt East</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"15px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:15px">[player_tooltip player_id='313674' first='Sage' last='Dawson']| 2024 Quarterback| Boyle County</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"15px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:15px">[player_tooltip player_id='485015' first='Steve' last='Partin']| 2023 Quarterback| Knox Central</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"15px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:15px">[player_tooltip player_id='289365' first='Ryan' last='Rayno']| 2023 Running Back| Logan County</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"15px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:15px">[player_tooltip player_id='386903' first='Jayden' last='West']| 2023 Wide Receiver| Madison Central</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"15px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:15px">[player_tooltip player_id='403366' first='Jakob' last='Dixon']| 2023 Wide Receiver| Pleasure Ridge Park</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"15px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:15px">[player_tooltip player_id='313656' first='Shaun' last='Boykins']| 2024 Wide Receiver| North Hardin</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"15px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:15px">[player_tooltip player_id='385964' first='Austin' last='Anderson']| 2023 Offensive Lineman| Bowling Green</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->