2023 Regular Season All-State Team: 3A Offense

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As we approach the end of November, playoff football is in full swing in the state of Kentucky. With the 2023 high school football season in the state of Kentucky behind us, I wanted to focus on some of the top players from this past season. In order to do this, I will be releasing my Regular Season All-State teams in each class. With classes 6A, 5A, and 4A out of the way, I will now turn my attention to 3A, starting with the offensive side of the ball.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["313643"],"_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='313643' first='Cole' last='Hodge'] continued to prove that he was one of the best quarterbacks in the state this season. During the regular season, Hodge completed 204/287 passes for 2,730 yards, 37 touchdowns, and seven interceptions. Hodge has a very strong arm which he uses to stretch the field and hit receivers in stride in the deep passing game. He has also shown impressive accuracy, showing the ability to put the ball where only his intended receiver can catch it. Hodge has also shown the ability to make plays with his legs when needed, finishing the regular season with 71 carries for 408 yards and two touchdowns. Cole is committed to East Carolina where I can see him being a successful quarterback at the next level.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["499069"],"_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='499069' first='Daniel' last='Thomas'] is a player that has had an outstanding senior season. He finished the regular season among the top rushers in the entire country with 237 carries for 2,574 yards and 40 touchdowns. Thomas has explosive speed outside of the backfield which he uses to burst through the running lane and run away from the defense to break loose for long runs. He has also shown the ability to break tackles and make defenders miss in the open field. Thomas also finished the regular season with two receptions for 42 yards while also playing a key role on defense at linebacker. Daniel currently holds offers from Kentucky Wesleyan and Notre Dame College, and I expect him to make a huge impact wherever he decides to play at the next level.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["485015"],"_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='485015' first='Steve' last='Partin'] is another ball carrier that had an outstanding senior year. He finished the regular season with 205 carries for 1,813 yards and 24 touchdowns. Partin is a very strong runner that has shown the contact balance to run straight through defenders without break stride. Once he hits the open field, he has also shown the speed to run away from the defense on long runs. Partin also caught three passes for 33 yards and threw two touchdown passes during the regular season while also playing a role on defense at linebacker. Steve is committed to Yale where I can see him making a huge impact wherever they decide to play him.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["735551"],"_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='735551' first='Connor' last='Hodge'] is a player that has been high on my radar for a while now and continued to impress this season. He finished the regular season as CAL's leading receiver, catching 84 passes for 1,022 yards and 14 touchdowns. Hodge is a very skilled route runner, showing the ability to use smooth breaks in his routes to create separation. He also has the speed to pose as a threat in the deep passing game and to be able to turn short passes into big gains at any given moment. Connor also played a key role on defense as a defensive back, finishing the regular season among the statewide leaders in interceptions. Hodge currently holds multiple Division I offers and I expect more to come his way as he is a special talent.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["418717"],"_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='418717' first='Justin' last='Ruffin Jr'] is another CAL wide receiver that stood out to me this season. Ruffin finished the regular season with 64 catches for 872 yards and 10 touchdowns. He has dangerous speed which he is able to use to his advantage to blow by opposing defensive backs in the deep passing  game. Ruffin is also very impressive after the catch, using his speed and elusiveness to turn short passes and screens into big plays. He is also an impressive corner on the defensive side of the ball. Justin is committed to Army where I could see him playing on either side of the ball at the next level.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_player":["331764"],"_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":"I decided to add [player_tooltip player_id='331764' first='Jarren' last='Johnson'] as an “ATH” selection as he had a very impressive 2023 season. He was Union County's starting quarterback this year but was mainly used as a ball carrier, finishing the regular season with 175 carries for 1,656 yards and 26 touchdowns. He has very impressive speed which he uses to take the snap and burst straight through the running lane and past defenders on his way to the end zone. When defenders are able to catch up with him, he has shown the elusiveness to make defenders miss in the open field. As a passer, Johnson completed 29/58 passes for 428 yards, four touchdowns, and two interceptions. Johnson doesn't currently hold any offers but he is definitely a player to keep an eye on heading into his senior year.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_6_player":["735990"],"_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='735990' first='Ben' last='Stotts'] is an offensive lineman that has been high on my radar for a while now and has continued to impress this season. He lines up at guard where he is very impressive as a run blocker. Stotts explodes out of his stance and does a great job of finishing his blocks down the field through the whistle, resulting in several pancake blocks. He also does a good job of getting to the second level and picking up blocks in open space. In pass protection, he does a great job of keeping a strong base, not allowing for much penetration into the pocket. Stotts currently holds offers from Eastern Kentucky and North Alabama, and I expect more to come his way as he is a Division I caliber offensive lineman.","_player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_7_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_7_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_7_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_7_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_7_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='1121538' first='David' last='Holloway']","_player_evaluations_7_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_7_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_7_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_7_player_details_height":"6'2u0022","_player_evaluations_7_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_7_player_details_position":"2405","_player_evaluations_7_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_7_player_details_school":"Christian Academy of Louisville","_player_evaluations_7_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_7_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_7_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_7_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_7_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"Another CAL offensive lineman that stood out to me this season is [player_tooltip player_id='1121538' first='David' last='Holloway']. Holloway lines up at left tackle where he is a true mauler in the run game. He does a great job of exploding out of his stance and driving his man out of the picture to creat a running lane. Holloway is also very impressive in pass protection, showing the ability to mirror opposing pass rushers off the edge while keeping a strong base, not allowing for much penetration into the pocket. David currently holds offers from Greenville and Bluffton, and I can see him making a true impact on the offensive line wherever he ends up playing at the next level.","_player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_8_player":["313676"],"_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":"[player_tooltip player_id='313676' first='Joe' last='Schlarman'] is an offensive lineman that has been high on my radar for a while now and continued to stand out this season. Schlarman lines up at center where he is very impressive as a run blocker. He does a great job of getting the snap off quickly and stepping through his man drive them out of the picture. Schlarman has also shown the ability to get up to the second level and pick up blocks in open space. He is also reliable in pass protection, showing the ability to pick up stunts/blitzes and protect his inside gap. Schlarman is committed to Eastern Kentucky where I can see him developing into a key piece of their offensive line once he gets there.","_player_evaluations_8_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_9_player":["224739"],"_player_evaluations_9_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_9_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_9_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_9_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_9_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_9_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='224739' first='Bo' last='Wolford'] is a young offensive lineman that continued to show that he is one of the best in the state this season. He lined up at right tackle where he was dominant as a run blocker. Wolford explodes out of his stance and does a great job of running his feet through contact to drive his man down the field. He finishes his blocks with a ton of physicality, resulting in several pancake blocks. Bo doesn't currently hold any offers but I expect some to come his way soon as he has received some college interest and has Division I caliber talent.","_player_evaluations_9_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_10_player":["735991"],"_player_evaluations_10_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_10_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_10_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_10_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_10_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_10_evaluation":"To wrap up my 3A Regular Season All-State Offense, I have [player_tooltip player_id='735991' first='Max' last='Dotson'] from Belfry. Max lines up at center where he plays a key role in the Pirates' high-powered rushing attack. He does a great job of getting the snap off quickly while stepping to his man and driving them out of the picture to create a running lane. Dotson finishes his blocks through the whistle, resulting in several pancake blocks. Max doesn't currently hold any offers but he is definitely a player to keep an eye on heading into his senior season.","_player_evaluations_10_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":11,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-655beba951271"} /--> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Honorable Mention</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Quarterback: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='654297' first='Tate' last='Rice'] (Clay County, 2024); [player_tooltip player_id='483869' first='Jackson' last='Wasik'] (Lexington Catholic, 2024); [player_tooltip player_id='417270' first='Tucker' last='Warren'] (Rockcastle County, 2024)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Running Back: </strong> [player_tooltip player_id='373042' first='Cortez' last='Stone'] (Central, 2025); [player_tooltip player_id='1149612' first='Dwaylon' last='Dean'] (West Carter, 2025)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Wide Receiver: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='735680' first='Jackson' last='Kreutzer'] (Lexington Catholic, 2025); Caleb Moore (Rockcastle County, 2024); [player_tooltip player_id='952669' first='Solomon' last='Stonebraker'] (Adair County, 2025)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Offensive Line: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='735675' first='Bryson' last='Brown'] (Central, 2025); [player_tooltip player_id='1149618' first='Caiden' last='Broadus'] (Union County, 2025)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->