2028 Rankings Update 2.0: ATH

As we head into the month of December, we have entered the next round of ranking updates in the state of Kentucky. The first class to be updated in this round is the class of 2028. With that being said, I have been taking the past week to break down these rankings by position. After already covering the offensive and defensive sides of the ball, I will wrap up my position rankings breakdowns with our top ATH in the class of 2028 in the state of Kentucky who have made an impact at multiple positions.    [player_tooltip player_id='1638833' first='Brady' last='Couch'] was unfortunately only able to play in two games this season but he still deserves the top ATH spot in the state in his class as he is a very talented prospect. On offense, Couch lines up at receiver where he is able to use his speed to pose as a dangerous deep threat on the outside. He has also proven to be a skilled route runner, using some breaks to create separation. On defense, he lines up at CB where he is very reliable in coverage, showing the awareness and ball skills to come away with interceptions and break up passes on a regular basis. Couch currently holds offers from Eastern Kentucky and Delaware State, and I expect more to come his way over the next couple seasons.     [player_tooltip player_id='951327' first='Nash' last='Whelan'] is another two-way sophomore at LCA who has stood out to us. Whelan took over as their starting quarterback this season and has impressed in his new role. He has led the Eagles to the 2A State Championship Game this Friday, completing 156/239 passes for 2,299 yards, 26 touchdowns, and six interceptions in 14 games. Whelan has the arm strength to stretch the field in the deep passing game and accuracy to put the ball where only his intended receiver can catch it. He is also very dangerous as a ball carrier, leading his team in rushing this season with 135 carries for 1,000 yards and 14 touchdowns. Whelan has also made an impact on defense as a defensive back this season, recording 40 tackles, six tackles for loss, and an interception. Nash doesn't currently hold any offers but he is a player who college coaches should be keeping a close eye on moving forward.     [player_tooltip player_id='1638819' first='Darian' last='Bryant'] caught our attention as a freshman and continued to stand out this season. He established himself as the true leader of the Elizabethtown defense at inside linebacker where he was dominant against the run. Bryant does a great job of reading his keys then using his speed to flow downhill to get to the ball carrier in a hurry to make the tackle before they can get going. Darian was one of the most productive defensive players in the entire state this season, regardless of class, finishing the year with a team-high 183 tackles and 29 tackles for loss in 12 games. He also recorded 7.5 sack this season and made an impact on offense, carrying the ball 127 times for 703 yards and 11 touchdowns. Bryant has received some college interest and I expect his recruitment to continue to heat up this offseason.     [player_tooltip player_id='1652072' first='Lincoln' last='Tomlinson'] is another player who continued to impress as a sophomore. On defense, Tomlinson lined up at outside linebacker where he was very impressive against the run. He does a great job of diagnosing the play quickly then using his speed/high motor to run sideline to sideline to get to the ball carrier with a sense of urgency. Once he gets to the ball carrier, he is a very good open field tackler, finishing the season with a team-leading 149 tackles and 16 tackles for loss in 14 games. Tomlinson also showed the ability to make plays against the pass, finishing the year with 2.5 sacks and an interception. He also played a huge role on offense this season, running the ball 113 times for 726 yards and 16 touchdowns while also catching 16 passes for 149 yards and two touchdowns. Lincoln is a player who college coaches should definitely have on their radar heading into his junior year.     To wrap up our top five ATH in the class of 2028 in the state of Kentucky, I have [player_tooltip player_id='2066952' first='Nathaniel' last='Saylor']. Saylor was a key play maker in the Bell County offense this season, doing a lot of his damage as a ball carrier. He finished his sophomore year with 42 carries for 586 yards and seven touchdowns in 14 games. Saylor has explosive speed which he uses to burst through the running lane in a hurry then run away from the defense for big gains. When defenders have been able to catch up to him, Saylor has shown the ability to make quick cuts in the open field to make them miss with ease. He also caught 20 passes for 404 yards and three touchdowns this season, and made an impact on defense, recording 14 tackles and one interception. Nathaniel will be a player worth paying close attention to over the next two seasons.