2024 Midseason All-State Teams: 2A Offense

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As we enter the month of October, we have reached the halfway point in the 2024 high school football regular season in the state of Kentucky. With that being said, I wanted to take a look back at some of the top players of the first half by releasing my Midseason All-State teams in each class. After covering classes 3A-6A, I will now turn my attention to class 2A, starting with the offensive side of the ball.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["373782"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66ff0efb0cd4e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='373782' first='Brady' last='Atwell'] has picked up right where he left off last season with a very strong start to his senior year. He has continued to impress so far, completing 90/144 passes for 1,372 yards, 19 touchdowns, and four interceptions in six games. Atwell has the arm strength to stretch the field in the deep passing game and also has very impressive accuracy, showing the ability to hit his receivers out of their breaks so that they can make catches in stride. He has also continued to show his dual-threat ability, leading his team in rushing with 42 carries for 303 yards and eight touchdowns. Brady is committed to play baseball at Western Kentucky but he has also received some Division I football offers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1008393"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66ff115d5fc54"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1008393' first='Andrew' last='McCutcheon'] is a player who has been on my radar for a while now and is off to a strong start to his senior season. Through six games, McCutcheon is the 2A leading rusher, carrying the ball 112 times for 1,266 yards and 18 touchdowns. The main thing that stands out with Andrew is his ability to make defenders miss. He has shown the ability to make cuts on the dime in the open field and change direction quickly to make it very tough for defenders to take a good angle on him. McCutcheon has also shown the speed to run away from the defense on long runs. He has also caught five passes for 164 yards and three touchdowns, returned one kickoff for a touchdown, and has made an impact on defense with 49 tackles and three tackles for loss. Andrew currently holds offers from Otterbein and Minnesota North College Vermillion, and I expect more to come his way as he has the talent to play at the next level. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["371230"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66ff1599b0371"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='371230' first='Daulton' last='Tarter'] is another player who has been high on my radar for a while now and has continued to stand out so far this season. He is off to a strong start to his junior year, carrying the ball 83 times for 792 yards and 13 touchdowns in nine games. Tarter is a physical runner, getting downhill in a hurry and showing the ability to run straight through defenders to break tackles without losing stride. Once he hits the open field, he has shown the speed to run away from the defense on long runs. Daulton has also made a huge impact on defense at linebacker this season, accounting for 43 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, one sack, and two interceptions (one returned for a touchdown). Tarter doesn't currently hold any offers but he has received some college interest and should be a player to keep an eye on over the next couple season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1517136"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66ff1798b0993"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1517136' first='Waryn' last='Ebelhar'] is a player who has jumped onto my radar with a very impressive start to his senior year. Through six games, Ebelhar is the leading receiver in 2A, catching 22 passes for 573 yards and eight touchdowns. He is a very dangerous deep threat, using his speed to blow by opposing defensive backs with ease. Ebelhar has also shown impressive jump ball ability, showing the ability to go up and catch passes at their highest point, regardless of the coverage around him. Waryn doesn't currently hold any offers but he is definitely a player who college coaches should be paying close attention to during his senior year. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1517149"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66ff18bd1600e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1517149' first='Caden' last='Howard'] is another receiver who has caught my attention this season. He is off to a strong start to his junior year, catching 32 passes for 486 yards and seven touchdowns in five games. Howard is a very impressive route runner, showing the ability to use smooth breaks in his routes to create separation. He is also dangerous after the catch, using his speed and elusiveness in the open field to turn short passes/screens into big gains. Caden has also made an impact on defense with 28 tackles, two tackles for loss, and one interception so far this season. Howard doesn't currently hold any offers but he should be a player to keep an eye on over the next two seasons. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1517143"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66ff190ac3039"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1517143' first='James' last='Cusick II'] is another receiver who has jumped onto my radar this season. He is off to a hot start to his senior season, catching 26 passes for 421 yards and five touchdowns in six games. Cusick has explosive speed which he is able to use to pose as a threat in the deep passing game. He has also shown the ability to use his speed to his advantage after the catch to pick up extra yards. James doesn't currently hold any offers but he should be a player to keep an eye on this season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["727126"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67059ab69df5e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='727126' first='Hayes' last='Preston'] is an offensive lineman who has been high on my radar for a while now and has continued to impress so far this season. Preston has shown the versatility to play both guard and tackle. He is very reliable as a run blocker, exploding out of his stance and creating movement off the line of scrimmage with ease. Hayes finishes his blocks with a ton of physicality, resulting in frequent pancake blocks. Preston is committed to Air Force where I can see him becoming a key piece of their offensive line unit. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1252786"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67059b05eb3d6"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1252786' first='Jake' last='Darby'] is another senior offensive lineman from LCA who has stood out so far this season. Like Preston, Darby has shown the versatility to play multiple spots on the offensive line. He is a very dominant run blocker, showing the ability to drive his feet through contact to drive his man down the field with ease. Darby has also shown the ability to get to the second level quickly and pick up blocks in the open field. Jake currently holds offers from Eastern Kentucky and Marian, and I expect more to come his way as he is a Division I caliber prospect. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["735995"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67059d10e054c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">To wrap up my Midseason 2A All-State Offense, I have [player_tooltip player_id='735995' first='Ashby' last='Spacek']. Spacek lines up at center where he is very reliable as a run blocker. He does a great job of getting his snap off quickly then driving through his man to create movement off the line of scrimmage. Spacek is also impressive as a pass blocker, showing the ability to pick up blitzes/stunts with ease while keeping a strong base, not allowing for much penetration into the pocket. Ashby doesn't currently hold any offers but 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. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Honorable Mention</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Quarterback: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='288257' first='Clay' last='Hayden'] (Beechwood, 2025); [player_tooltip player_id='401931' first='Wyatt' last='Robbins'] (Murray, 2026); [player_tooltip player_id='373793' first='Landry' last='Collett'] (Leslie County, 2025)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Running Back: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1577038' first='Byron' last='Kirkland-Lundy'] (Metcalfe County, 2025); [player_tooltip player_id='1252825' first='Leland' last='Edwards'] (Lexington Christian Academy, 2025); [player_tooltip player_id='1610670' first='Josiah' last='England'] (Mayfield, 2027)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Wide Receiver: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1339282' first='Luke' last='Erdman'] (Beechwood, 2025); [player_tooltip player_id='401921' first='Malik' last='Kirby'] (Mayfield, 2026)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Offensive Line: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='735992' first='Brooks' last='Kerwin'] (Lexington Christian Academy, 2025)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->