Players to Watch For This Week: 10/28
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For most teams in the Bluegrass State, this week will be the final week of regular season football. Some of these players may be playing some of the last games of their high school careers while others may be proving…
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Continue ReadingFor most teams in the Bluegrass State, this week will be the final week of regular season football. Some of these players may be playing some of the last games of their high school careers while others may be proving themselves to be their school’s next sports superstar. The kids we come across playing in Kentucky have been nothing short of amazing this year. From 4+ touchdown games to 20+ tackle performances, Kentucky truly holds a heavy arsenal of abundant talent that ranges in all positions. Today, I will be covering players you should watch for in this week’s games.
Montavin had a crazy week for Boyle County, taking 4 carries for 129 rushing yards & rushing touchdown, an 18-yard receiving touchdown, 1 punt return touchdown, and one kick return for a touchdown. This man seems to be all over the field, no matter where you place him he will make a play. The 2025 grad makes impressive cuts when running and his speedy acceleration propels him toward the endzone. But the reason why he is so talented at scoring on long plays is his ability to read the defensive movements so quickly. When returning a punt/kickoff, Montavin begins to read where the open gaps are in the defense before he makes his running cut. Moreover, this tactic enables him to read open gaps for him to run and his speed does the rest of the work for him. These traits closely resemble Devin Hester and we all know what he is known for. His IQ of the game is top-notch and should be noted when schools begin to look at him more in the coming years.
Tayvion Jones
Tayvion Jones
Although he has been recently recruited to play quarterback, I am going to talk about Tayvion’s talent as a receiver. The 2023 grad from Butler High School had a dominant performance playing receiver against Manual, catching 7 throws for 181 receiving yards & 2 touchdowns. Tayvion’s pure athleticism is at such an extreme level it is nearly impossible to compare his athleticism with other players in his position in the entire state. He has ridiculous hops that help him reach out for high throws and excellent hands to come down with the toughest grabs. What is also noticeable is his strength as he can easily body the opposing defensive back to come up with the reception. Overall, Tayvion’s freakish athleticism allows him to play fantastic football at any position he wants to play.
Kangakole looked like a superstar last week, recording 19 total tackles, 9 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, and 1 interception against Marshall County. The senior is an aggressive outside linebacker that is consistently producing lots of pressure on the offense when blitzing. Although he may not be as big as some of the interior linemen, his strength should not be doubted as he can break through the offensive line with ease to pressure the quarterback. Along with that, his zone coverage is excellent due to his outstanding accurate readings of the quarterback’s decision-making. With the performances he’s been making this year, it’s hard to understand why there is not much interest in this kid, do not sleep on him!
Jeremiah had a stellar week running the football last week as he ran for 146 rushing yards & 1 rushing touchdown off only 16 carries. Jeremiah is one of the fastest offensive players in 6A football and is a huge threat when left out on the open field. Because of this, Jeremiah has developed terrific route running skills and excellent footwork to make great cuts to get himself open to running freely. These plays are dangerous for any defense to face as there are very few that can keep up with Lynn. Give Jeremiah some solid blocking off an HB screen pass and it’s over. His speed & crafty footwork skills running the football should be a top candidate for recruiting by many college coaches.
Past Analysis: Austin had an unforgettable sophomore season as he led the entire state of Kentucky in total sacks with 21. The North Laurel Defensive End brutally dominated the opposing offense every game, constantly putting pressure on the quarterback and sacking them as well. The unique trait that helps Johnson dominate is the brute strength that helps him bulldoze over the opposing guards, which enables him to put pressure on and sack the QB. Along with that, Johnson inherits great hand skills that allow him to drive past a guard if they are bigger. If this kid continues to produce state-leading sack numbers like he did last season, look to see him signing papers to a college in the near future.
Current Season: With just a week left of football for most Kentucky teams, Austin Johnson Austin Johnson 5’10” | 220 lbs | DL North Laurel | 2024 State KY still leads the whole 5A state class in total sacks with 17. His strength and brutality on the defensive line have improved from last year’s dominant play. His pure dominance on the line is noted by every opposing offense that has to face him and the North Laurel defense. I expect him to finish out just as strong, if not better, than last year for North Laurel. I believe that Austin will be gaining more recruiting interest from schools after the end of his junior season this fall.