2023 Mid-Season Top Performers: 2A Offense

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Now that we are a little past the midway point in the 2023 high school regular season in Kentucky, I want to take a look back at what has happened so far. With that being said, I'm going to focus on my top performers on both sides of the ball in each class from so far. After covering class 6A-3A, I will now turn my attention to class 2A. With that in mind, here are my top offensive performers in class 2A so far this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["288257"],"_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='288257' first='Clay' last='Hayden'] is a quarterback who came into this season with high expectations and has exceeded them so far. He is among the statewide passing leaders, completing 129/180 passes for 2,310 yards, 28 touchdowns, and only one interception through eight games. Hayden throws an impressive deep ball showing the ability to lead his receivers down the field and hit them in stride. He also has a great feel for pressure, showing the ability to escape the pocket while keeping his eyes down the field to make throws on the run. Hayden has also scored one rushing touchdown this season. While he 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 quarterback at the next level.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["373782"],"_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='373782' first='Brady' last='Atwell'] is another 2A quarterback that is at the top of the statewide leaderboard. Through his first seven games, Atwell has completed 149/206 passes for 2,247 yards, 33 touchdowns, and four interceptions. Brady has a very strong arm which he uses to stretch the field in the deep passing game. He also puts good touch on his passes, showing the ability to place the ball where only his intended receiver can catch it. Atwell has also shown true dual-threat ability as he is currently his team's leading rusher with 32 carries for 297 yards and eight touchdowns. Brady currently holds an offer from Eastern Kentucky and I expect more to come his way as he has the talent to play at the next level.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["331733"],"_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":"[player_tooltip player_id='331733' first='Cutter' last='Boley'] has continued to prove worthy of our top overall ranking in his class as he has had a strong senior year so far. Through his first seven games, Boley has completed 103/164 passes for 1,451 yards, 12 touchdowns, and four interceptions. Boley has a cannon for an arm which he uses to lead his receivers down the field in the deep passing game. He also has big play ability, showing the ability to escape pressure and make very tough throws on the run, while also showing the toughness to stand tall in the pocket and deliver passes under pressure. Boley also puts great touch on his passes, putting the ball where only his intended receiver can catch it. He has also shown the ability to make plays with his legs when needed, running the ball 30 times for 120 yards and five touchdowns so far this season. Cutter is committed to Kentucky where I can truly see him becoming their quarterback of the future.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["417271"],"_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":"My final quarterback on this list is [player_tooltip player_id='417271' first='Russ' last='Osborne'] from Shelby Valley. Osborne has had a strong senior year so far, completing 103/153 passes for 1,755 yards, 17 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. He has a great feel for pressure, showing the ability to escape the pocket while keeping his eyes down the field to make tough throws on the run. Osborne also has impressive arm strength which he uses to lead his receivers down the field and hit them in stride in the deep passing game. He is also a threat as a runner as he has carried the ball 75 times for 283 yards and five touchdowns so far this season. Osborne also plays a key role on special teams as a defensive back, accounting for 56 tackles and one interception so far. Russ currently holds an offer from Pikeville and I expect more to come his way as he has received a solid amount of college interest and has the talent to play at the next level.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["381931"],"_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='381931' first='Brady' last='Hensley'] transferred to LCA this off-season and has continued to show that he is one of the top players in the state. Through seven games, he leads 2A in rushing with 156 carries for 1,281 yards and 22 tackles. Hensley is a physical, downhill runner that hits the running lane in a hurry and has the contact balance to break tackles without losing stride. Once he hits the open field, Hensley has the speed to run away from the defense and elusiveness to make defenders miss. He has also played a key role in the passing game, catching 15 passes for 198 yards and four 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_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_player":["371230"],"_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":"[player_tooltip player_id='371230' first='Daulton' last='Tarter'] is a player that stood out to me on defense last season but has taken on a bigger role on the offensive side of the ball this year. He has been very impressive out of the backfield through his first seven games, carrying the ball 103 times for 1,025 yards and 18 touchdowns. Tarter is a hard runner that has the ability to run straight through defenders without breaking stride. Once he hits the open field, he has also shown that he can hit a second gear to run away from the defense. Tarter has also shown the ability to catch passes out of the backfield, catching six passes for 65 yards and two touchdowns so far. Daulton has also continued to make an impact on defense at linebacker, leading his team with 84 tackles, 17 tackles for loss, three sacks, and an interception so far. Tarter doesn't currently hold any offers but is a player that college coaches should keep a close eye on over the next few seasons.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_6_player":["417455"],"_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='417455' first='Kam' last='Hughes'] is a player that has been impressive in many different aspects of the game this season. Through seven games, he is among the top rushers in 2A with 107 carries for 996 yards and 17 touchdowns. He has explosive speed, showing the ability to burst through the running lane and run away from the defense. Hughes also has the elusiveness to make defenders miss in the open field. Kam has also played a role in the passing game, catching 19 passes for 225 yards and a touchdown , and has also returned one punt for a touchdown this season. He has also played a key role on defense at safety, accounting for 53 tackles, three tackles for loss, and two interceptions so far. Kam currently holds offers from Hanover and Union, and I expect more to come his way as he has the talent to play at the next level.","_player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_7_player":["653479"],"_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":"[player_tooltip player_id='653479' first='William' last='Carrico'] is a player who I've had high on my radar for a while now and has continued to impress this season. Through seven games, he is the leading receiver in 2A, catching 41 passes for 828 yards and 12 touchdowns. Carrico lines up mainly in the slot where he is able to using smooth breaks in his routes to create separation from opposing defensive backs. He is also very dangerous after the catch, using his speed and elusiveness to turn short passes and screens into big gains. Carrico has also carried the ball 10 times for 78 yards. William has also played a key role on defense as an outside linebacker/safety, accounting for 58 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, 0.5 sacks, and two interceptions so far. Carrico currently holds offers from Kentucky Wesleyan, Ave Maria, Marian, and Benedictine College, and I expect more to come his way as he has the talent to play on either side of the ball at the next level.","_player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_8_player":["502751"],"_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":"To wrap up my mid-season offensive top performers in 2A, I have [player_tooltip player_id='502751' first='Brady' last='Bentley']. Bentley has continued to be Osborne's go-to target in the Shelby Valley passing game this season, catching 39 passes for 740 yards and eight touchdowns through seven games. He is a dangerous threat in the deep passing game as he is able to use his speed to blow by opposing defensive backs to create separation. Bentley is also a skilled route runner, using quick breaks in his routes to create separation. He has also played a key role in the run game as he is currently his team's leading rusher with 33 carries for 294 yards and three touchdowns. Brady doesn't currently hold any offers but he deserves some attention from college coaches as he has the talent to play somewhere at the next level.","_player_evaluations_8_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":9,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6525ba157e973"} /-->