Kentucky Future Stars: Class of 2028 Offense

An assortment of talented middle school football players showcased their talent on the field in the Kentucky vs. Tennessee Future Stars Game this past weekend at Austin Peay University. Team Kentucky faced off against Team Tennessee in a trio of competitive games at Fortera Stadium as the Bluegrass State won two games out of the three. After catching the Bluegrass State in action in the 7th grade contest, here's my list of the top offensive standouts in the class of 2028.    One of the most impressive offensive standouts this past weekend was [player_tooltip player_id='871293' first='Leon' last='Melvin'], a versatile quarterback that made the most of his time under center during the 7th grade contest against Team Tennessee. What stands out about Melvin is his unpredictable playstyle and ability to contribute both in the air and on the ground. Another aspect of Melvin that stood out was his size, speed off the snap, composure under pressure and his ability to convert on third down. Melvin additionally showcased excellent arm strength and pin-point accuracy, connecting with his receivers anywhere on the field.    Another highly explosive offensive standout that caught my eye was [player_tooltip player_id='423446' first='Avery' last='Thompson'], who contributed on both sides of the ball as a cornerback and wide receiver. Thompson was crucial in disrupting Team Tennessee down the stretch during the 7th grade game last weekend. What stood out about Thompson's game was his size, speed and overall explosiveness down the stretch. With experience on both sides of the ball, Thompson was one of the more efficient receivers on the field, showcasing his ability to jump, dive and muscle past defenders to make plays. I was additionally impressed with Thompson's physicality in coverage as he consistently bullied defensive backs in the backfield.    Also catching my attention on the offensive end was [player_tooltip player_id='871290' first='Jaaubrey' last='Sherrill'], a highly explosive running back that helped keep Team Kentucky's offense on the field throughout the 7th grade contest against Team Tennessee. What stood out about Sherrill's game was his size, speed and physicality in the pocket. In addition to blasting past the Volunteer State's defensive line at several points in the game, Sherrill's ability to withstand the opposing defense, shake tackles and find the open field was impressive. With excellent size, Sherrill also proved to be a challenge to contain due to his footwork and quick movement off the snap.    Team Kentucky also benefitted offensively thanks to [player_tooltip player_id='871292' first='Lukas' last='Olmstead'], a well-balanced tight end on Team Kentucky's roster that made the most of his minutes on the field last weekend, contributing to the scoring effort in the 7th grade game against Team Tennessee. What stood out about Olmstead's game was his size, speed and physical coverage down the stretch. With solid footwork and a versatile build, Olmstead was a challenge for Team Tennessee to contain down the stretch and in the endzone. Olmstead additionally matched up well with the defense, using his toughness in coverage to push back against defenders down the field.    Another significant standout that caught my eye was [player_tooltip player_id='871289' first='Ahmad' last='Simon'], a versatile and experienced athlete that made significant contributions for Team Kentucky on both sides of the ball, contributing as both a defensive back and wide receiver. Simon was a key offensive weapon during the 7th grade contest against Team Tennessee last weekend. What stood out about Simon was his well-balanced playstyle and versatility. With snaps on both sides of the ball, Simon carried over his knowledge of the defensive back position and was nearly unstoppable on Team Kentucky's receiving core. Simon's size, speed and physicality in coverage all made a huge impact offensively.    Also standing out on the offensive side of the ball was [player_tooltip player_id='871288' first='Kingston' last='Dillard'], an experienced and versatile playmaker on Team Kentucky's roster that contributed as both a running back and wide receiver. Dillard was a challenge to contain for Team Tennessee during the 7th grade game last weekend. In addition to solid size and speed, Dillard impressed me with his physicality and durability in the pocket and his toughness in coverage down the stretch. I liked both his footwork and ability to confuse and overwhelm the defense. Another aspect of Dillard's game that made a difference on Saturday was his ability to utilize his toughness to escape tackles and find the open field.

An assortment of talented middle school football players showcased their talent on the field in the Kentucky vs. Tennessee Future Stars Game this past weekend at Austin Peay University. Team Kentucky faced off against Team Tennessee in a trio of competitive games at Fortera Stadium as the Bluegrass State won two games out of the three. After catching the Bluegrass State in action in the 7th grade contest, here's my list of the top offensive standouts in the class of 2028.