Kentucky Stock Up Performers: Week 9

With another week of high school football action in the books, it's time to visit the Bluegrass State to highlight some of the top standouts from week nine of the season. Today, we will be continuing my "Stock Up Performers" series as we continue to breakdown some of the most explosive talent that have made their presence known on the field this year. Without any further ado, here's my list of the top standouts in the state of Kentucky from week nine.    At the top of my list of notable performers is [player_tooltip player_id='381906' first='Wick' last='Dotson'], a 5-foot-10, 190-pound defensive back at Bowling Green High School. Dotson and the Purples are coming off a big 36-29 win over South Warren this past week. In addition to excellent speed off the snap and physicality in coverage, what impresses me about Dotson is his positioning and awareness, showcasing his ability to read the offense and barrel in front of the ball to pick off the quarterback. Wick's ability to halt offensive production with his stopping power also stands out, making crucial stops when his team needs it the most as he has proved his usefulness defensively in third-down scenarios.    I am additionally impressed with [player_tooltip player_id='148268' first='Kolter' last='Smith'], a 6-foot-0, 190-pound quarterback at Louisville Male High School. Smith and the Bulldogs defeated Fern Creek on the road last week by a final score of 61-13. What impresses me about Smith is his composure and ability to adapt at the helm of the offense, proving his ability to hit his receivers in stride all over the field as well as boost offensive production on the ground. Another aspect of Smith's playstyle that has helped his team this year is his pin-point accuracy in the air and ability to make significant completions in crunch time. Smith should not be slept on as the season continues as he has a wide array of methods of making big plays.    Claiming the number three spot on my list is [player_tooltip player_id='493889' first='Keondre' last='Weathers'], a 6-foot-2, 260-pound offensive lineman at Campbellsville High School. Weathers and the Eagles remained undefeated last week, defeating Holy Cross in a 35-0 blowout victory. Weathers makes his presence known offensively with his ability to exert his strength and firepower at the offensive line, showing off his ability to collapse the pocket as well as open up the field for the rush. Another aspect of Weathers that impresses me is his overwhelming physicality off the snap, proving he can knock the defense to the ground upon impact and create defensive disorganization with his blocking.    Another skilled prospect to keep an eye on is [player_tooltip player_id='313651' first='Travis' last='Smith'], a 6-foot-2, 195-pound linebacker at Sayre High School. Smith and the Spartans are still flawless on the season, recently defeating Frankfort 45-6. Smith is so efficient defensively due to his ability to attack the pocket and stun the offense with his strength and physicality off the snap. Smith additionally stands out with his field awareness and ability to utilize his speed to quickly down offensive playmakers before they escape the pocket and reach the open field. Another aspect of Smith that impresses is his ability to quickly blast past the offensive line and apply heavy pressure on the quarterback, showing off his ability to create chaos and keep the offense behind the line of scrimmage.    Coming in at number five on my list is Joeavion Starks, a 6-foot-2, 195-pound wide receiver at Paducah Tilghman High School. Starks was relentless for the Blue Tornado down the stretch in last week's 70-20 victory over Warren East, hauling in two touchdowns in the first half. In addition to his athleticism and physical edge, Starks impressed me with his breakaway speed and awareness, showcasing his ability to haul in challenging deep passes in the endzone in heavy coverage. Starks also stands out with his footwork and ability to maneuver the field under pressure, proving he can break tackles and escape into the open field.

With another week of high school football action in the books, it's time to visit the Bluegrass State to highlight some of the top standouts from week nine of the season. Today, we will be continuing my "Stock Up Performers" series as we continue to breakdown some of the most explosive talent that have made their presence known on the field this year. Without any further ado, here's my list of the top standouts in the state of Kentucky from week nine.