2022 5A All-Tournament Team: Offense
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As we begin the new year, it is time to reflect on a very exciting 2022 high school football season in Kentucky. While the regular season was great, the playoffs in each class exceeded expectations as a lot of talent…
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Continue ReadingAs we begin the new year, it is time to reflect on a very exciting 2022 high school football season in Kentucky. While the regular season was great, the playoffs in each class exceeded expectations as a lot of talent was on display. With that being said, I wanted to take some time to focus on the players that stood out during the playoffs in each class. After covering 1A-4A , I will now turn my attention to the top playoff performers in 5A. With that being said, here is my 2022 5A All-Tournament Offense.
Deuce Bailey Deuce Bailey 6’1″ | 170 lbs | QB Bowling Green | 2025 State KY put the entire state of Kentucky on notice this year, establishing himself as one of the most talented underclassmen in the state. The sophomore quarterback helped lead the Purples to the 5A State Championship Game, completing 81/122 passes for 865 yards, 12 touchdowns, and four interceptions during their playoff run. Bailey has a cannon for an arm, showing the ability to lead his receivers down the field and hit them in stride in the deep passing game. He also has impressive accuracy with a good quick release, showing the ability to hit his receivers right out of their breaks. Bailey also showed the ability to tuck the ball and pick up yards on the ground as needed, carrying the ball nine times for 95 yards during the playoffs. While Deuce doesn’t currently hold any offers, I don’t see that being the case for long as he is a Division I caliber prospect at quarterback that still has a lot of potential to grow.
Highlights
Tanner Wright Tanner Wright 5’10” | 190 lbs | RB Southwestern | 2023 State KY is a player that caught my attention during the regular season and continued to impress in the playoffs. Wright played a key role in Southwestern’s deep playoff run, carrying the ball 66 times for 488 yards and nine touchdowns. One thing that sets him apart is his tremendous vision as a ball carrier. Wright has the patience to let his blocks set up but then hits the running lane when a sense of urgency when it opens up. Once he hits the open field, Wright has the strength and contact balance to break tackles without breaking stride along with the elusiveness to make defenders miss and the speed to run away from the defense. Wright doesn’t currently hold any offers but he has received a decent amount of college interest and definitely has the talent to play somewhere at the next level.
Easton Barlow
Easton Barlow
Easton Barlow is a player that I didn’t get the chance to evaluate during the regular season but caught my attention during the playoffs. Barlow served as one of Bailey’s go-to targets during their playoff run, catching 19 passes for 311 yards and three touchdowns. He lined up mainly in the slot and was a dangerous deep threat, using his speed to run right by opposing defensive backs. Barlow also has very impressive contested catch ability, using his athleticism to catch passes at their highest point and strong hands to bring in passes through contact. He is also a very good route runner with a quick release and smooth breaks, which he uses to create separation. Barlow also uses his speed and quickness after the catch to turn short passes into big plays. Easton doesn’t currently hold any offers but I expect him to pick some up going into his senior year as he has the talent to play at the next level.
Tylon Webb Tylon Webb 6’3″ | 185 lbs | WR Frederick Douglass | 2023 State KY is a player that I’ve had on my radar for a while now that truly stood out to me in the playoffs. Webb played a key role in the Broncos’ 5A State Championship run, catching 18 passes for 245 yards and two touchdowns. Tylon is a dangerous deep threat on the outside, using his speed to create separation from his defender. He also has very reliable hands and has the speed and elusiveness to pick up a ton of yards after the catch. I also like Webb’s willingness to block in the run game. He is a very physical blocker that does a great job of driving his man out of the picture. Webb holds offers from Army, UT Martin, Eastern Kentucky, and Southeast Missouri State, and I can see him carving out a role as a very reliable receiver at any of those programs down the road.
Chandler Godby Chandler Godby 5’9″ | 170 lbs | WR Pulaski County | 2023 State KY is a player that I’ve talked about quite a bit this year as he has been one of the most productive players in the entire state, at any position. Although it was a short-lived playoff run, Godby found a way to leave his mark in the two games Pulaski County played, catching 19 passes for 301 yards and five touchdowns. Godby is dangerous in both the deep and short passing game, using his speed to blow by defensive backs and smooth route running skills to create separation all over the field. He is also very impressive after the catch, using his elusiveness to make defenders miss in the open field and speed to run away from the defense. He also ran the ball three times for 63 yards and returned one kickoff for a touchdown during the playoffs. Chandler is committed to Georgetown College (KY) where I see him becoming a key piece of their offense.
Highlights
Thomas Howard Thomas Howard 6’3″ | 215 lbs | TE Frederick Douglass | 2023 State KY has been my top tight end in his class in the state of Kentucky since the beginning of the season and he continued to impress during the playoffs. Howard played a key role in the success of the Broncos’ run game as he is a very reliable blocker. He has shown the ability to create movement off the line of scrimmage as a blocker and also get out into the open field and pave the way as a lead blocker. Howard also showed some promise in the passing game, finishing the playoffs with eight catches for 95 yards and a touchdown. Thomas is committed to play baseball at Louisville but could definitely play football at the next level if he had a sudden change of heart as he received some Power 5 offers and interest as a tight end.
Another Bronco that continued to impress me during their 5A State Championship run was junior offensive lineman Demeco Kennedy Demeco Kennedy 6’3″ | 270 lbs | DL Frederick Douglass | 2024 State KY . Kennedy lined up at left tackle and was dominant in the run game. He has an explosive first step and runs his feet through contact to drive his man down the field. Kennedy is a very physical finisher, resulting in several pancake blocks. He also does a great job of getting up to the second level and picking up blocks in space. In the passing game, Kennedy does a great job of protecting his quarterback’s blind side, using his quick feet and ability to mirror pass rushers off the edge. Demeco holds an impressive list of Power 5 offers and I expect that list to continue to grow as he is a truly special talent.
Wrapping up my 5A All-Tournament Offense is an offensive lineman that I’ve been high on for a while now. Bowling Green senior Austin Anderson Austin Anderson 6’4″ | 290 lbs | OL Bowling Green | 2023 State KY continued to impress during the playoffs as he played a key role in the Purples’ journey to the 5A State Championship Game. Anderson has played every position on the offensive line during his high school career but mainly lined up at guard this year. He showed that he is a dominant run blocker, driving his man down the field and finishing his blocks through the whistle. Anderson is also a very good pass blocker, displaying impressive footwork and the ability to pick up stunts and blitzes while protecting his inside gap. Austin is committed to Liberty where I see him becoming a key piece of their offensive line.
Honorable Mention:
Cole Carpenter Cole Carpenter 6'4" | 200 lbs | QB Frederick Douglass | 2024 State KY (2024 Quarterback, Frederick Douglass); Brysen Dugger Brysen Dugger 6'2" | 185 lbs | QB Pulaski County | 2023 State KY (2023 Quarterback, Pulaski County); Javen Huddleston Javen Huddleston 6'0" | 185 lbs | RB Bowling Green | 2024 State KY (2024 Running Back, Bowling Green); Preston Stacy Preston Stacy 6'1" | 205 lbs | ATH Woodford County | 2023 State KY (2023 Running Back, Woodford County); Jayshawn Shannon (2023 Wide Receiver, Fairdale); Cameron Dunn Cameron Dunn 5'10" | 175 lbs | WR Frederick Douglass | 2023 State KY (2023 Wide Receiver, Frederick Douglass); Brody Perkins (2023 Tight End, Southwestern); Daniel Daff Daniel Daff 6'1" | 290 lbs | OL Scott County | 2023 State KY (2023 Offensive Lineman, Scott County)