A Pair of Promising Linemen and a Trio of 2028 Playmakers in KY
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Use PROMO CODE: ALPOPS40 for a DISCOUNT on your Prep Redzone Next subscription. The pre-high school season in Kentucky is winding down. Championships are coming close to being claimed, post-season honors have been earned, and the the class of 2028 is getting set to…
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Continue ReadingUse PROMO CODE: ALPOPS40 for a DISCOUNT on your Prep Redzone Next subscription. The pre-high school season in Kentucky is winding down. Championships are coming close to being claimed, post-season honors have been earned, and the the class of 2028 is getting set to move on to high school ball. However, there is still some time before these 8th graders become freshmen–so let’s take a look at some of these Kentucky ballers.
From what I’ve seen of the Kentucky 2028 class, Blevins is the most varsity-ready offensive lineman of the group, right now. Despite his middle school career for Northern Pulaski coming to an unceremonious end earlier this month, Blevins left his mark on the KYMSFA. Filling the shoes of 2027 stud Brady Hull Brady Hull 6’3″ | 280 lbs | OL Pulaski County | 2027 State KY this year, Blevins’ pre-high school career was marked with honors, awards, wins and a solid foundation of football ability. As I’ve mentioned in previous writeups, the two-time Regional Player of the Year Honorable Mention Team-selectee will likely move inside as he moves to high school, but with his strength and initial explosion, there’s a lot to look forward to here.
Highlights
The Woodford County Middle School football team(s) have been spectacular to track this year, with both the seventh-graders and eighth-graders, still alive in the post-season.. The eighth-graders, in particular, have had quite the season, winning the Bluegrass Conference championship in the process. Currently, they sit awaiting Hebron Cougars in the Region 2 Championship game, which will take place this weekend (October 28th). Defensive lineman Dylan Branson Dylan Branson 6’2″ | 215 lbs | DL Woodford County | 2028 KY has more than done his share up front. The 6-foot-2, 215-pounder just earned his second consecutive Regional Player of the Year Honorable Mention Team-selection and was a standout on a defense that held West Jessamine to -10 yards of total offense during a 72-0 blowout in the Regional semi-finals. Branson is just starting to hit as stride as a prospect–there continues to be a lot of promise here.
Highlights
Keeping with the theme of two-time Regional Player of the Year Honorable Mention Team selections, Johnson County’s Lincoln Browning Lincoln Browning RB Johnson County | 2028 KY is one of the biggest reasons the eighth-grade Eagles are in the Region 3 Championship this upcoming weekend (October 28th). Operating of a Wishbone, an offense that was particularly popular/effective in the 1970’s and 1980’s, Browning is part of a crowded backfield that has clearly kept defenses on their toes–scoring 36 and 38 points specifically–in their two playoff wins thus far. Browning, who plays behind a very good group of offensive linemen up front, in addition to an unselfish arsenal of backs, was specifically impressive in their 36-8 victory over top-seeded Elkhorn. In the Regional semi-final victory over the Elks, he accounted for three touchdowns, as the Eagles dominated the contest.
With a bonafide future super star like Noah Beasley Noah Beasley 6’4″ | 170 lbs | TE Anderson County | 2028 KY taking the top off the defense for Anderson County, not only does it put fear in the opposition, but it also allows for a ton of space on underneath routes for teammates like Braydon Caldwell Braydon Caldwell 5’8″ | 175 lbs | ATH Anderson County | 2028 KY . Though built more like a middle linebacker–which he does also play–than anything else, nearly all of his film from this season showcases his play offensively. Listed at 5-foot-8 and 175-pounds (unverified) he made a huge impact in the short and intermediate passing game, as he routinely found pockets of soft coverage underneath Beasley going deep. He concluded his eighth-grade season by being selected to the Regional Player of the Year Honorable Mention Team.
Heading back to the Johnson County well once more, joining Lincoln Browning Lincoln Browning RB Johnson County | 2028 KY as a two-time Regional Player of the Year Honorable Mention Team selection, I can’t fathom a scenario where the eighth-grade Eagles are in the Region 3 championship game without the play of Collin Cantrell Collin Cantrell ATH Johnson County | 2028 KY . Lining up at quarterback, middle linebacker and punter this season, Cantrell was a constant spark all season long. He’s a shorter, thicker kid that picked up his fair share of yards on the ground as he operated the Wishbone Offense at a high level. As a middle linebacker, he did a great job of patrolling the tackle box and was in on a ton of stops throughout the season. Long term, look for him to shine as a linebacker for as long as his playing days take him–he’ll be a nice player for Johnson County over the next four years.