Five Dynamic Kentucky 2028 Athletes Expected To Go Off This Year

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>While most next level coaches have desired sizes for specific positions in their program, there's no denying playmaking ability. Long term, the five Kentucky 2028 prospects below may not project to the position(s) they currently play, but their output on the field speaks for itself. Athletes come in different sizes and shapes with varying skill sets, proving that versatility and productivity are invaluable. Here's a look at some eighth-grade prospects expected to make a big splash this year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["871291"],"_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":"Paducah Middle School is home to one of the more dangerous 2028 prospects in Kentucky this year in [player_tooltip player_id='871291' first='Avery' last='Thompson']. Continuing to grow and put weight on his bones, Thompson is up to 6-foot-1 and 155 pounds for this season. A tall, rangy and athletic kid, he has played quarterback during the regular season but has also turned heads as a wide receiver. Personally, I feel the latter is where his future will be. He's been selected to the Kentucky Future Stars team as a receiver the last two years and has proven his ability on the field. His success on the outside is well documented, after coming home with the Wide Receiver MVP at a Prep Redzone Next Camp in the spring and the Offensive MVP for the Kentucky Future Stars this past June.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["953020"],"_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 a deeply-talented Woodford County team, [player_tooltip player_id='953020' first='Neo' last='Davis-Jones'] has separated himself from the pack in terms of next-level potential at this point. While running back [player_tooltip player_id='953050' first='Chris' last='Lucas'] supplies major production from the backfield, Davis-Jones is a weapon all over the field. As a wide receiver it's not out of the norm to see him get the ball on jet sweeps or other plays designed to let him work in space. Watching some early film from this season, the 6-foot, 165-pounder also dishes out punishment as a blocker, too. Flipping to the defensive side of the ball, he plays an aggressive style of outside linebacker who has no problem picking off poorly thrown passes. It wouldn't shock me to see him move back to safety or a nickel at some point in his career.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["871299"],"_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":"While Davis-Jones and Thompson (above) are both 6-foot or taller, Bryan Station's [player_tooltip player_id='871299' first='Brayden' last='Payne'] brings just as much excitement to the field at just 5-foot-3 and 120 pounds. Of course size is a question mark at this point but there is a lot of time left for growth and physical maturation. Payne's bread will be buttered as cornerback in my opinion, but don't sleep on his ability to change the game on special teams or offense. With a musclar build on his frame, great quickness and athleticism, he has the ability to make a splash in the return game or as a slot receiver/scat back on offense.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["953600"],"_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":"Heading back to the bigger 2028 Kentucky athletes, Sledge Jr. is another eighth-grader that has gotten it done on both sides of the ball throughout his pre-high school career. Up to 6-foot and 165 pounds, he's a bonafide playmaker for Bowling Green Junior High who uses his height advantage to win most 50/50 balls on either side of the ball. Offensively he's a welcomed-site in the redzone for any quarterback, as he's a threat to run across the middle or head tap a shorter defensive back in the deep corner. Defensively he can play both corner and safety at this point and is opportunistic as he looks for INTs.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["871293"],"_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":"Tying a bow on this write up is [player_tooltip player_id='871293' first='Leon' last='Melvin III'] out of Jefferson County Traditional Middle School. At just 5-foot-6 and 130 pounds he's an undersized quarterback at this point, but don't let the smaller stature fool you. Allen Iverson is an NBA Hall of Famer but go watch his u003ca href=u0022https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TH2D6vDQOcou0022u003ehigh school football filmu003c/au003e and you'll see a style of play very reminiscent of Melvin III. He's a dual-threat kid that is a threat to take the ball to house on a designed keeper or broken play, at any time. Obviously the next level will want to see him get substantially taller if he wants to continue to play quarterback, but an athlete with his speed and ability to pick up yards on the ground will be difficult to keep off the field if he continues on this trajectory.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":5,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64dd3823e416f"} /-->