2023 Statewide Offensive Top Performers: Week 1

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The wait is finally over, the 2023 high school football season is officially underway! This past weekend, we saw several great games with some impressive individual performances. While the list of performances was very hard to narrow down, here are my ten best offensive performances from Week 1 in the 2023 high school football season in the state of Kentucky. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["381931"],"_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":"The top performance by far this past week was from LCA running back [player_tooltip player_id='381931' first='Brady' last='Hensley']. In his first game as an Eagle, Hensley put on a show and helped lead his team to a hard-fought victory over Bowling Green. Hensley was a dominant force as a ball carrier, showing an impressive balance of strength and speed as a runner. He finished the game with 30 carries for 402 yards and five touchdowns. Hensley also finished the game as the team's leading receiver, catching five passes for 87 yards and two touchdowns. Brady is committed to Eastern Kentucky where I can see him developing into a key piece of their offense once he gets there.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["340071"],"_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":"On the other end of the LCA-Bowling Green shootout on Friday was junior quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='340071' first='Deuce' last='Bailey']. Despite the loss, Bailey showed that he is the top quarterback in the state in his class. Bailey displayed tremendous arm strength and the ability to place the ball where only his intended receiver has  a chance to catch it. He completed 31/42 passes for 478 yards, four touchdowns, and one interception. Bailey currently holds offers from Missouri State, Eastern Kentucky, and Miami (OH), and I expect more to come his way as he is a true Division I caliber quarterback prospect.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["324225"],"_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 quarterback that stood out this past week was [player_tooltip player_id='324225' first='Kaydon' last='Custard'] from Harrison County. Custard had a very impressive first game, leading his team to a victory over Calloway County. He showed the ability to stretch the field as a passer, completing 18/28 passes for 324 yards and two touchdowns. Custard also proved to be a very dangerous threat as a ball carrier, running the ball 34 times for 316 yards and four touchdowns. Kaydon currently holds an offer from Otterbein and I expect more to come his way as he definitely has the talent to play quarterback at the next level.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["373782"],"_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='373782' first='Brady' last='Atwell'] is another quarterback that impressed on Friday. Atwell torched the opposing secondary through the air, helping lead his team to a victory over Apollo. Brady completed 25/30 passes for 328 yards, five touchdowns, and one interception. He also showed the ability to make plays with his legs, scoring one rushing touchdown. Brady doesn't currently hold any offers but he has received some college interest and definitely has the talent to play at the next level.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["873790"],"_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='873790' first='Giaonni' last='Hunter'] is a running back that caught my attention last season and he continued to impress to kick off his junior year. Hunter played a huge role in Shelby County's Week 1 win over Collins, running the ball 23 times for 221 yards and three touchdowns. Giaonni displayed very impressive speed and elusiveness, showing the ability to make defenders miss then accelerate once he hits the open field to run away from the defense. He also made an impact on defense, returning a fumble for a touchdown. While Hunter 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 play at the next level.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_player":["873761"],"_player_evaluations_5_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"Despite a close loss, quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='873761' first='Tyson' last='Sammons'] kicked off his junior year in impressive fashion on Friday. Sammons completed 9/26 passes for 103 yards and a touchdown but it was his production as a ball carrier that impressed the most. Tyson led the Musketeers in rushing, finishing the game with 30 carries for 222 yards and three touchdowns. Sammons doesn't currently hold any offers but he is a player for college coaches to keep an eye on over the next two seasons.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_6_player":["381888"],"_player_evaluations_6_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='381888' first='Caden' last='Woolum'] is a player that showed that he can do a little bit of everything this past week, helping lead Belfry to a victory over Breathitt County. Woolum showed an impressive combination of speed and elusiveness as a ball carrier, running the ball seven times for 103 yards and two touchdowns. He also finished the game as Belfry's leading receiver, catching three passes for 145 yards and three touchdowns. Woolum currently holds an offer from Pikeville and I expect more to come his way as he has the potential to be a true impact player at the next level.","_player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_7_player":["317390"],"_player_evaluations_7_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_7_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_7_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_7_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_7_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"Another dual-threat quarterback that stood out to me on Friday was [player_tooltip player_id='317390' first='Brody' last='Benke']. Benke helped lead Highlands to a hard-fought win over Lexington Catholic. As a passer, Benke completed 12/17 passes for 194 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. He also led the team in rushing, finishing with 19 carries for 111 yards and two touchdowns. Benke also showed the ability to line up at receiver and produce, catching two passes for 42 yards and a touchdown. Brody currently holds offers from Mount Union and Pikeville, and I expect more to come his way as he has the talent to play multiple positions at the next level.","_player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_8_player":["283958"],"_player_evaluations_8_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_8_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_8_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_8_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_8_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_8_evaluation":"After a very impressive freshman year, quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='283958' first='Cam' last='O'Hara'] is off to a strong start to his second season of high school football. O'Hara led Cooper to a Week 1 win over Bardstown, completing 16/20 passes for 315 yards and five touchdowns. Cam has a very strong arm with the ability to lead his receivers down the field in the deep passing game. He also has impressive accuracy, showing the ability to put the ball where only his intended receiver can catch it. O'Hara currently holds offers from Austin Peay, Miami (OH), and Tennessee State, and I expect more to come his way as he is a Division I caliber quarterback prospect with three years to continue to develop.","_player_evaluations_8_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_9_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_9_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_9_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_9_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_9_player_details_player_name":"Mikey West","_player_evaluations_9_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_9_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_9_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_9_player_details_height":"5'10u0022","_player_evaluations_9_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_9_player_details_position":"2408","_player_evaluations_9_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_9_player_details_school":"Bullitt East","_player_evaluations_9_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_9_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_9_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_9_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_9_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_9_evaluation":"To wrap up Week 1's  top offensive performers, I have junior running back Mikey West from Bullitt East. In his first varsity start, West helped lead the Chargers to an impressive win over Woodford County. West proved himself to a be a strong downhill runner, showing the contact balance to break tackles without losing stride while also showing the burst of speed to run away from the defense. Mikey finished the game with 24 carries for 144 yards and five touchdowns. He also caught three passes for 44 yards. West doesn't currently hold any offers but he is definitely a player to keep an eye on as he transitions into his role as the Chargers' lead back.","_player_evaluations_9_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":10,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64e5117225b6c"} /-->