2025 Kentucky Future Stars – Tight End Selections

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Just making it to the college level and playing football should undoubtedly be celebrated, but when looking at the history of the Tight End position in the state of Kentucky, it isn't exactly full of NFL All-Time greats. Covington Catholic's Michael Mayer, who is also Notre Dame's all-time leader in receptions at the position, is the only active Tight End in the NFL who played HS ball in Kentucky. In fact, dating back to 1990, there have only been four native Kentucky Tight Ends to dress for in over 100 NFL games. The three (3) prospects below, were the lone Tight EndS selected to their respective Kentucky Future Stars teams. Here's a look at the future of the position in the Bluegrass State.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1295700"],"_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-681e2918b406c"} --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Is now a two-time selection for the Kentucky Future Stars</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Will be attending Southwestern High School for high school</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>When looking at the middle school level, I feel like the Tight End position, similar to the Long Snapper/Kicker/Punter, are often overlooked and taken for granted--until they're needed most. In last year's walk-off victory for the 7th Grade Kentucky Future Stars, [player_tooltip player_id='1295700' first='Everest' last='Whitaker'] was there when his team, and his state, needed him most. The tough, athletic Tight End caught the game winning TD pass from QB [player_tooltip player_id='868214' first='Cooper' last='Scott'] as the clock his 0:00. He's currently listed at 6-foot-2 and 185-pounds, up nearly three inches and 15 pounds from last year. Watching him most recently at the Battle of the Regions in March, he was a devastating blocker and had opposing defenders on skates. The dual-sport athlete (basketball) also ran very sharp routes, some even better than the Wide Receivers on the Region 4 team. On top of everything else, he's a humble and hardworking kid--the kind of kid you root for.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1306376"],"_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-681e2918b40c8"} --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Is now a two-time selection for the Kentucky Future Stars</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Caught my eye last year the 6th Grade Kentucky Future Stars</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Whitley County's [player_tooltip player_id='1306376' first='Cade' last='Chappell'] is one of the better Tight Ends in Kentucky's 2030 class and his selection to the Future Stars for the second consecutive year is a testament to that. The multi-sport athlete (Basketball/Track and Field) is wrapping up a very successful seventh-grade athletic year. Following a regular season that saw Chappell aid in helping Whitley County to the second round of the KYMSFA State Playoffs, the bruting Tight End earned a KYMSFA Regional POY Honorable Mention nod. Most recently during the spring Track and Field season, he's re-writing his personal record book--earning PRs in the 100m (13.59), shot put (30'5.5") and discuss (74'5").</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1670496"],"_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-681e2918b410f"} --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>First time selection for the Kentucky Future Stars</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Multi-sport athlete</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On the sixth-grade level of the Kentucky Future Stars, ya' never know what you're gonna' get because this level is so young and there is lightyears of maturation and changes left to come. My knowledge of Williams is minimal, but after watching some film, I can see the potential he has at the Tight End position. He's a tall, long kid who also participates in the Long Jump; While I can't confirm it, it would not shock me if he played basketball as well. One of, if not <em>the</em> tallest kid on the Notre Dame Academy Saints, he lined up everywhere from Tight End to Wide Receiver to Linebacker this past season. Williams has a little bit of baby deer in him at this point, but that's to be expected when you're as long as he is and still developing full body functional movement. On this level it should go without saying that there's some development needed, but he certainly has a frame to work with.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->