Players to Watch for This Week: 10/7
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As each week of football passes by, we arrive closer to the end of the 2022 fall season. So far, we have been overwhelmed by the amount of talent arising from the state of Kentucky. What is truly exciting is…
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Continue ReadingAs each week of football passes by, we arrive closer to the end of the 2022 fall season. So far, we have been overwhelmed by the amount of talent arising from the state of Kentucky. What is truly exciting is that the talent depth has not declined, but has continued to steadily increase over the season. It has made it difficult for the Prep Redzone Kentucky team to be able to rank players since they are so many talented prospects to rank. Like last week, I will present players to watch for in this week’s Friday night lights.
Cortez is a multi-threat tailback that can break out onto the open field with his electrifying speed, and can outmaneuver tackles with his quick & shifty footwork. The senior out of Holmes High School currently leads the state class 4A in rushing yards per carrying at around 12. Once Cortez accelerates to his prime speed, it is nearly impossible for anyone to hit him as he is too quick. He also possesses lots of strength when carrying the football as he can break off multiple tackles frequently. I am surprised this young man is not talked about as often. However, I expect interest to rise for him near the end of the season.
William “Tutt” Carrico
William “Tutt” Carrico
Carrico had a spectacular performance overall this past Friday, recording 6 receptions for 210 receiving yards & 4 touchdowns while also making 15 tackles on the defensive side of the ball. On the offense, Tutt is solid at making abrupt jukes that get him past the opposing defender easily. This is due to his amazing footwork as he stays steady until he reads what side the tackle will try to hit on and use that to his advantage. On the defensive side of the ball, Tutt plays the zone exceptionally well and is quick enough to get down the field and make the stop. Tutt’s game IQ is top-notch which helps him accomplish these feats in games and any team would be lucky to add him to their squad.
Jordauyn White
Jordauyn White
Like Carrico above, Jordauyn is another multi-threat athlete that can produce excellent performances playing on both sides of the ball. When playing on offense, White uses his strength to push through multiple defenders to gain yardage alongside his sharp jabs that break defenders off of him. Due to this, every defender finds it difficult to take down White when he carries the football. This past Friday, he posted 16 carries for 166 rushing yards & 4 touchdowns. When on defense, his defensive IQ and footwork help him lock up incoming wideouts at the strong safety slot. He has been able to grab easy picks due to his ability to read the quarterback’s eyes when he throws the football. There is a lot of expertise in White’s game and it should not go unnoticed.
Mitchell Toney
Mitchell Toney
Mitchell is an extremely quick edge rusher that can quickly put too much pressure on the quarterback to make a play. With his speed, Toney can catch up and make crucial tackles against any opposing ball carrier. Last week, Toney produced 4 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, and 3 total sacks. Along with that, Mitchell’s pure strength is something not many players can match in this state. The 2023 grad obliterates the offensive line and throws down QBs like a feather. It is disappointing that not much talk about Mitchell as he is a huge bright spot on the Trinity Dline since their school is one of the most well-known football teams in the state.
Tay’Shaun Linton Tay’Shaun Linton 6'2" | 235 lbs | DL Trigg County | 2024 State KY
Tay’Shaun Linton Tay’Shaun Linton 6'2" | 235 lbs | DL Trigg County | 2024 State KY
Tay’Shaun currently leads the entire 3A state class in total sacks, sitting at 8.5. It seems that every week, the team that has to face Trigg County certainly highlights Linton’s name as a defensive threat. Tay’Shaun has consistently produced intense pressure on opposing quarterbacks and recorded multiple sacks per game. Tay’Shaun uses his explosive acceleration and strength to maneuver himself off the opposing guard and get to the quarterback to make the sack. The reason he can perform this with such consistency is the terrific hand skills that enable him to hit the guards at the right spot to create an opening for him. Although he may not show his speed that often, Linton can keep up with any quarterback once putting pressure on them to complete the sack. What is unique about Linton is once he gets to the quarterback, he does not try to throw him down right away. Rather, he will push him back to try to get him to fight off him so he can push him back down and cause a loss of more yards. This defensive strategy is college-level IQ and I can see Linton using this in the future as a college defensive end.