2024 Rankings Update: Wide Receiver

<!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"15px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:15px">As we head into the 2023 high school football season, we have updated our rankings for the incoming senior class. Now that these rankings are published, I will be taking an in-depth look at each position for the class of 2024. After covering the quarterback and running back positions , I will now turn my attention to the top incoming senior pass catchers in Kentucky. With that being said, here are our top wide receivers in the class of 2024 in the state of Kentucky. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["313656"],"_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":"[player_tooltip player_id='313656' first='Shaun' last='Boykins'] continued to show that he is one of the most talented football players in the entire state this past season. He had an impressive junior year, catching 56 passes for 897 yards and ten touchdowns. Boykins has very impressive speed which he uses to blow by opposing defensive backs to create separation in the deep passing game. He is also a very good route runner, using quick breaks to get open all over the field. When the ball is thrown his way, Boykins has shown the ability to use his athleticism to go up and catch the ball at its highest point. Boykins was also used out of the backfield and on jet sweeps very frequently, running the ball 28 times for 221 yards and five touchdowns this season. Shaun currently holds offers from Marshall, Campbell, West Virginia, Miami (OH), Akron, Louisville, Eastern Kentucky, and Kentucky, and I expect more to come his way going into his senior year as he is a true Power 5 caliber talent at wide receiver.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["418716"],"_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":"[player_tooltip player_id='418716' first='Max' last='Gainey'] is another wide receiver that came into this past season high on our radar and continued to impress. Gainey only played in seven games due to recovering from an injury but played a huge role in Male's run to the 6A State Championship Game when he returned. He finished his junior year with 37 receptions for 445 yards and five touchdowns. Gainey has shown his incredible athleticism and catch radius on numerous occasions as he is able to go up and catch the ball at its highest point in jump ball situations. He also has the speed to run by defensive backs to create separation in the deep passing game. After the catch, Gainey has shown the ability to use his speed and elusiveness in the open field to turn short passes into big gains. Gainey currently holds one offer from Purdue but I expect more to come his way soon as he has the talent to play for a Power 5 program.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["313666"],"_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":"Another receiver that continued to prove that he is one of the best in the entire state is Trigg County's [player_tooltip player_id='313666' first='Jhaden' last='Vaughn']. Vaughn had an impressive junior year, finishing with 39 receptions for 862 yards and nine touchdowns. He is a long, athletic wide receiver that thrives on the outside. Vaughn is very dangerous in the deep passing game, using double moves and his natural speed to create separation from defensive backs. He also has the speed and elusiveness in the open field to turn screens into big gains and touchdowns. Vaughn also proved to be a very dangerous returner on special teams, breaking away for multiple big returns this season. Jhaden currently holds offers from Eastern Kentucky and Murray State, and I expect more to come his way as he is a true Division 1 caliber prospect at receiver.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["653474"],"_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":"[player_tooltip player_id='653474' first='Easton' last='Barlow'] is a player that I hadn't gotten the opportunity to evaluate coming into this season but he jumped onto our radar very quickly. Barlow had a very impressive junior year, catching 52 passes for 1,008 yards and 12 touchdowns. He lines up mainly in the slot where he is able to use his speed to run right by opposing defensive backs in the deep passing game. Barlow is also a very impressive route runner. He is able to use his quick release to create early separation and has very smooth breaks in his routes. Barlow is also very impressive in contested catch situations as he is able to go up and catch passes at their highest point, and uses his strong hands to bring in those passes through contact. Easton recently picked up his first offer from Eastern Kentucky and I expect more to come his way as he has the talent to play at the Division I level.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["653477"],"_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":"[player_tooltip player_id='653477' first='Carter' last='Stewart'] is another wide receiver that jumped onto our radar quickly this season. He had a very impressive junior year as he played a key role in Corbin's run to the 4A State Championship Game. Stewart finished the season with 53 receptions for 1,065 yards and nine touchdowns. Carter does most of his damage on the outside where he uses his speed to run by opposing defensive backs to create separation. I also like Stewart's ability to adjust to the ball and look passes in. On multiple occasions, he showed the ability to twist his body to make tough catches. In the deep passing game, he showed the ability to look passes in over his shoulder and catch them without breaking stride. He is also a very impressive blocker in the run game and on screens, showing the physicality to drive his defender out of the picture. Stewart also proved to be a dangerous returner on special teams, running away for multiple big returns this season. While Carter doesn't currently hold any offers, I expect some to come his way soon as he has received some college interest and has the talent to be a very productive receiver at the next level.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":5,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-63fe9b2d66359"} /--> <!-- wp:heading {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <h2 class="has-medium-font-size">Best of the Rest (Players Included in Top 175):</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>6. [player_tooltip player_id='316807' first='Shammai' last='Gates'] (Male)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>7. [player_tooltip player_id='523030' first='Santana' last='Crayton'] (Pleasure Ridge Park)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>8. [player_tooltip player_id='418721' first='Brandon' last='Houston'] (Ashland Blazer)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>9. [player_tooltip player_id='381899' first='Carson' last='Class'] (Highlands)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>10. [player_tooltip player_id='418723' first='Traevon' last='Berry'] (Dunbar)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>11. [player_tooltip player_id='518257' first='Tyson' last='Wagers'] (Clay County)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>12. [player_tooltip player_id='502751' first='Brady' last='Bentley'] (Shelby Valley)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>13. [player_tooltip player_id='418722' first='Logan' last='Rodgers'] (Hopkins County Central)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>14. [player_tooltip player_id='418720' first='Malachi' last='Embers'] (Christian Academy of Louisville)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>15. [player_tooltip player_id='313640' first='Francis' last='Saysay'] (Seneca)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->