Kentucky’s Top Returning “Game-Plan” Performers

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>When experienced coaches and coordinators begin to break down video of each upcoming opponent, a few basic considerations typically guide their initial processes. First off, they will inventory the formations, alignments, plays and/or calls that opposing teams tend to prefer in specific field zones and down/distance contexts. Likewise, they also quickly try to pinpoint those individual performers that comprise the bulk of a team's touches, offensive production or defensive disruptions in critical situations and then specifically devise strategies to stop those players--or at least try to force them toward calls/actions that they appear less comfortable executing. While a good deal more goes into shaping and finalizing weekly game plans throughout the season, they inevitably begin with these initial attempts to identify each opponent's "bell cow" players and then devise corresponding efforts to coerce those players out of their comfort zones. Some of those returning Kentucky performers sure to attract this sort of special attention from opposing coaching staffs this fall include the following: </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Caden Arvin","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'8u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2411","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Estill County","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"When defensive coordinators begin reviewing video in preparation for their upcoming games versus the Engineers this fall, certainly the first challenge they identify will entail devising ways to contain the myriad ways in which Arvin can take over games via the run. At 5'8u0022 and approximately 160 pounds, he isn't necessarily suited to endure 25-30 carries per game, but quite frankly, given his speed, vision and quick acceleration, he doesn't need that many touches to break big plays on a consistent basis. Over the course of the 12 games comprising his junior season, he accumulated 1,308 yards with an eye-popping average of over 7.5 yards per carry and 5 touchdowns on just over 14 carries per contest. From a deep pistol formation alignment, he most often performs at his best on off-tackle trap plays, where he displays the patience to wait for his blockers and allow designed seams to develop before committing downhill and through daylight. Even more impressively, when not breaking explosive, field-flipping runs, he also manages to make a big impact from his safety position on defense, where last season he collected 32 solo tackles, 24 assists, 1 sack and 1 interception while forcing a fumble and recovering 2 others.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["381931"],"_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":"Typically aligning as the single running back in the Indians' three-and-four-wide formations, Hensley returns from a stellar junior season in which he amassed 1,470 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns on 196 carries despite missing 4 contests due to injury. Also an asset catching the ball out of the backfield when needed, he collected 6 total receptions last fall for 111 yards and 2 more touchdowns, thus averaging 2 scores per game.  When healthy, he possesses the strength, physicality and durability to carry the ball at an average of almost 22 carries per game, so suffice it to say that opposing defensive game plans will want to force this offense to a Plan B, because Plan A will be feeding Hensley the ball behind a sound, physical offensive frontu002du002devery week.  A downhill, physical runner between the tackles, he often runs through first-and-second-level peripheral contact with good forward lean that enables him to run behind his pads and take advantage of his physical strength. Likewise, on perimeter runs he displays exceptional vision and the ability to put his foot in the ground, change direction efficiently andu002du002din effectu002du002dset up his own blockers, transforming more routine, modest runs into drive-sustaining gains, if not touchdowns.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"Shawn Kiett","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"6'2u0022","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"2411","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"Berea","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_2_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"A tall, rangy receiver with the skills to impact games in a variety of ways, Kiett completed his sophomore season for the Pirates with 26 receptions, 324 yards and 4 touchdowns. In tight bunch formations, he displays the size and physicality to be an effective blocker on perimeter runs, and his versatile athleticism enables him to catch the football either downfield or behind the line of scrimmage and  generate positive yardage with quick acceleration and subtly elusive cuts while maintaining optimal speed. Opposing defensive coaches likely will want to predicate their pass coverages and matchups on where he aligns, and when he motions across the set, he can be equally dangerous either carrying the ball on jet sweeps or making receptions in the flat and turning up field. In all likely scenarios he has the ability to make the first defender miss in open space, and while the finer points of route-running remain a work in progress, he nevertheless possesses the raw speed to simply run past second-and-third level defenders and the length/height to go up and play the football at its highest point. Also an intermittent performer on defense as a safety, he contributed 11 solo tackles and 3 assists last fall while also intercepting 2 passes, 1 of which he transformed into a 70-yard pick-six.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"Christian Larkey","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"5'10u0022","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"2411","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"Rockcastle County","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_3_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"Any opposing coaching staffs that faced the Rockets last fall will certainly attest to the fact that if your team is cued up to play them this year, Job 1 must be knowing where Larkey is lined up at all timesu002du002dand in all phases of the game. Whether playing running back, linebacker, defensive back or even making a cameo appearance at quarterback, his skill set, competitiveness and acumen for the game simply guarantee that he will find ways to impact its outcome. Offensively, few returning players in the state generated a higher percentage of their team's overall production last fall, as he rushed for 1,523 yards on 222 carries and scored 16 touchdowns on the ground over 11 games. Receiving? Yes, he does that, toou002du002dhauling in 14 catches for 243 more yards, and he even completed 15 of 20 pass attempts for 121 yards and another score. However, perhaps the most impressive attribute about this competitor is that he might prove even more impactful on defense, where he earned second team all-state from theu003cemu003e Louisville Courier-Journalu003c/emu003e after collecting 46 solo tackles, 25 assists, 3 tackles for loss and 1 sack. A physical and high-energy defender with a nose for the football, he also forced 1 fumble and recovered another. While he certainly has other teammates capable of making big contributions both offensively and defensively, if opponents fail to account for this returning senior on game nights, they do so at their own peril.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='943538' first='Jax' last='Niece']","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"5'10u0022","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"2496","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"Estill County","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_4_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"The surname Niece is synonymous with Engineers football, so it stands to reason that yet again, when opponents devise game plans in preparation for contests against the blue-and-white this fall, they likely should seek out and account for all Nieces currently appearing on the team rosteru002du002dparticularly number 16.  Manning an outside linebacker spot in a 4-3 defensive structure, he will bump inside against spread formations, reflecting his exceptionally quick reads, first step/demeanor and his consistently downhill path versus inside runs. In his 11 games last fall, he totaled 68 solo tackles and 51 assists, along with 3 forced fumbles, 1 interception and 1 fumble recovery, and in fact, his stat line clearly affirms the most notable parts of his current skill set. Fundamentally sound versus both run and pass, he instantaneously reacts to what he sees, executes the resulting task with technical prowess and does so in a tireless, accelerated and energetic manner. Sure, he's an excellent player, but he's also just fun to watchu002du002dhe clearly has invested himself in the process of mastering specific mechanics and he seems to truly enjoy the playing the game earnestly. With two years remaining in his high school development, Niece will quickly attract the attention of next-level programs seeking a talented and polished contributor.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":5,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6421ed4fa8f3d"} /-->