Central Kentucky WRs on the Rise

It's game day around Kentucky! Week 3 is here, and several underrated wide receivers have caught my eye over the first two weeks of the season. Keeping our focus on central Kentucky, these wideouts have stood out among their peers:    In two weeks so far this season, [player_tooltip player_id='1217585' first='Kael' last='Rihtar'] has caught 11 passes totaling 224 yards and four touchdowns. Rihtar plays out wide for Woodford County, where he's used as an explosive, playmaking threat who is speedy and a threat to make a play deep down the field. He's coming off a season in which he caught 36 passes for 625 yards (17.4 ypc) and five touchdowns, proving his explosiveness isn't something that happened overnight. Rihtar's strong start to the season was expected given his 14 touchdown receptions during EKU's 7 on 7 in July, and it's carried into the first two weeks of the season. He currently holds one offer (Wabash).     Transferred to Bourbon County. A member of Prep Redzone's 3A Preseason All-State Offense team, [player_tooltip player_id='2110401' first='Brandon' last='Smith-Santiago'] plays both ways but has the highest ceiling as a wide receiver. During Week 2, in what looked to be an upset bid against Woodford County, caught four passes for 52 yards and a touchdown. The scoring reception came from 27 yards out and gave Bourbon County a six-point advantage going into halftime. While the Yellow Jackets ultimately made the comeback, Smith-Santiago was the spark that gave the Colonels life early on. I predict he will continue to do this throughout the season.     [player_tooltip player_id='2373168' first='Zion' last='Gatewood'] has found the end zone in both of Tates Creek's first two games of the season. More importantly, he's the spark offensively that has given the Commodores confidence as they tried to come back against both Woodford County and Ashland Blazer. While neither comeback was ultimately completed, Gatewood has shown to be the most explosive player Tates Creek has to offer this season. They'll need to lean on him heavily as he develops his chemistry with QB [player_tooltip player_id='1684934' first='Ace' last='Davis']. If those two can get on the same page every down, the Commodores could pull off an upset or two this fall.     In Week 2, [player_tooltip player_id='1200570' first='Haddon' last='Cecil'] went for 213 receiving yards and a pair of touchdowns as George Rogers Clark defeated Huntington (WV) 42-23 during Week 2. In total, he's caught 13 passes for 330 yards and three scores so far in 2026. Cecil is a multi-sport athlete who helped GRC win a state championship in basketball last season. He also plays baseball and runs track & field. His basketball background aids Cecil when trying to high-point the football over awaiting defenders, as he can rise with some of the taller defensive backs in the state. I expect him to continue these performances throughout the season.     [player_tooltip player_id='2222916' first='Chaii' last='Paris'] has been the lone bright spot on a Henry Clay offense that has put up 12 points through two weeks this season. One of those touchdowns came while Paris was being triple-covered against Madison Southern. Paris caught the ball in traffic, juked all three defenders with the same move, and moseyed his way into the end zone. Paris is actually responsible for the Blue Devils' other touchdown of the season, too, which came after he slipped past the defense in the corner of the end zone deep in enemy territory. I fully expect that Paris will continue to provide highlight-reel-style plays as Henry Clay eyes its first win of the season Friday night.

It's game day around Kentucky! Week 3 is here, and several underrated wide receivers have caught my eye over the first two weeks of the season. Keeping our focus on central Kentucky, these wideouts have stood out among their peers: