Next Stop HS Ball: KY Future Stars' Top '29 Offensive Performers

The annual border war between the Kentucky Future Stars and Tennessee Future Stars went down this past weekend on the beautiful, scenic campus of UT-Martin. While both states featured plenty of future college prospects–some with verbal offers already–the home team would come away with the victory on all three grade levels. Call it a Tenne-sweep, but Kentucky had plenty of standouts. Below are the Kentucky prospects that shined on the offensive side of the ball, in the eighth-grade (2029) Tennessee vs. Kentucky Future Stars Game.    While RB [player_tooltip player_id='1311186' first='Jayvian' last='Meaux'] (listed below) had to certainly be in the conversation for 8th Grade Kentucky Future Stars Offensive MVP, that prestigious honor went to starting Quarterback, [player_tooltip player_id='868214' first='Cooper' last='Scott']. The Pikeville prospect showed just how tough of a young man he is, during the game against the Tennessee Future Stars. He completed his first pass of the day on Kentucky's opening drive to RB [player_tooltip player_id='1669517' first='Enzo' last='Swanson'], which was a simple 7-yard pitch and catch. However, the rest of the positive yardage in the game, wouldn't come so easily.   Rotating a trio of Quarterbacks, Scott was at the helm for his second drive in the second quarter. After throwing only three interceptions all season, Scott was picked off by Tennessee on a 2nd down play and it brought the drive to screeching holt. However, Scott got back on the saddle the very next drive, with Kentucky now trailing 18-0. While the drive didn't amount to any points for Kentucky, Scott threw four very nice passes on an eight-play drive, with the biggest gainer on a slip screen to RB Javian Meaux for a nice pickup. Despite the moderate success, Kentucky entered half time tailing 18-0.   Come the fourth quarter with Kentucky trailing 24-7, Scott's toughness and moxie were personified. He (the coaching staff) called his own number on back-to-back plays, and on the back half of the play calls, he reached end zone. The touchdown run was emphatic, as he took some stiff hits from the tough Tennessee defense (as did the other Kentucky QBs on the day) and proceeded to spike the ball after getting up and cutting the TN lead to just 10 points, with the score 24-14. If you take nothing else away from this write up, let it be clear how much of a leader and tough guy [player_tooltip player_id='868214' first='Cooper' last='Scott'] is. Kid is a gamer.     Bate Middle School standout turned Danville High School prospect [player_tooltip player_id='1311186' first='Jayvian' last='Meaux'] was clearly a focal point for the 8th Grade Kentucky Future Stars. Despite being kept off the scoreboard in terms of touchdowns, the starting Running Back got the most touches of any skill player on the roster.   The Kentucky offense struggled to find balance and consistency throughout the afternoon, but Meaux did everything in his power to effect the outcome--and one could make an argument he could have been named MVP. I don't have official stats, but per my notes he carried the ball 10 times, highlighted by three runs of 12-yards or more. He was also targeted twice coming out of the backfield in the passing game, with his lone reception coming on a well-designed slip screen in the third quarter.     Despite a frustrating and tough game, [player_tooltip player_id='1648823' first='Jailen' last='McCown-Carter'] looked to be the top WR on the 8th Grade Kentucky Future Stars team in this year's tilt against the Tennessee Future Stars. The Westport Middle Schooler turned Trinity High School prospect ran excellent routes and got himself open consistently.   In the first half he was targeted a team-high three times but it didn't amount to much production. He was forced out of the back of the end zone on the first target, made a catch but was stopped short of the sticks on this second grab, and was wide open on the third target, but ball was under-thrown a bit and he couldn't reel it in.   While he was kept at bay for most of the second half, he finally broke through with under a minute left in the fourth quarter. After a beautiful stop-and-go route that froze two Tennessee DB's, he caught a rope from QB [player_tooltip player_id='1668011' first='Austin' last='Jacobson'] and 46-yards later he was in the end zone for the lone Kentucky TD through the air.     While he was selected as a Wide Receiver, [player_tooltip player_id='1150399' first='Jett' last='Reynolds'] made his biggest impact on Special Teams. The Bowling Green prospect handled the bulk of the kick and punt return duties for the 8th Grade Kentucky Future Stars and it didn't take long for him to make an impact. On the opening kick return, Reynolds rushed up field and brought the ball all the way back to the Tennessee 30-yard line to give Kentucky excellent field possession.   In unquestionably his biggest play of the day, Reynolds finally got Kentucky on the scoreboard on the first play of the fourth quarter. Reynolds, a State Champion on the track, returned a Tennessee punt to the house to get Kentucky on the board, making the score 18-7.     Another one of the extremely gifted Running Backs on this 8th Grade Kentucky Future Stars team, it took a little while for him to truly get going, but finally seeing [player_tooltip player_id='1669517' first='Enzo' last='Swanson'] play in person was a definite treat.   After a ho-hum second half with six yards on just two carries, Swanson had a much stronger second half. Without the benefit of official stats, he was in the neighborhood of 50 yards on just six carries--four of which were in the second half. The former Myzeek Middle Schooler also had a 7-yard reception on his lone target out of the backfield.     The Indiana native who will be off to St. Xavier for high school, may have not gotten into the game until Kentucky's third series, but he's also the only Big Blue Quarterback to record a passing touchdown in the losing effort against the Tennessee Future Stares.   After going three-and-out on his only two drives of the opening half, Jacobson started the second half at QB for the 8th Grade Kentucky Future Stars, but unfortunately that drive ended with an INT on a 3rd-and-14 plays. His next series, Kentucky's first possession of the final quarter, went just like his pair in the first half and Kentucky unfortunately went three-and-out again.   However, a silver lining was found late in the game. After an unfruitful day at QB, Jacobson finally made the throw we all know he's capable of with under a minute left in the game. Following a textbook stop-and-go route by [player_tooltip player_id='1648823' first='Jailen' last='McCown-Carter'] (listed above), Jacobson hit him on a rope for a 46-yard touchdown pass to make the score 24-20, unfortunately it just came too late.     Like most of the 8th Grade Kentucky Future Stars offensive players, the fastest 2029 prospect in Kentucky and reigning Division 1 Player of the Year struggled to get going. There's no question Burton has all the ability in the world, but it was an uphill battle for him. He had a couple carries, but failed to move the needle in anyway. While it wasn't his best day, it does not reflect the upside he has on the football field.     While succeeding in proving to me that Fullbacks were not fully extinct, the only true power back on the 8th Grade Kentucky Future Stars struggled to get going--much like the offense in general. Again, without official stats, I had him a three carries for minimal yards. He also had a short kick return on a kick off.     Perry saw his first action of the game on the Kentucky Future Stars' second drive of the game. After Kentucky ran the ball on six of their seven plays on its opening possession, the game plan completely flipped with Perry and his arm in the game, as they attempted four straight passes. His day wouldn't get much better, as he only completed two passes in the game (again, without official stats). However, his arm strength is clearly impressive. If he continues to grow--watch out here.     It wan uncharacteristically quiet game for proven playmaker, [player_tooltip player_id='868412' first='David' last='Lawless']. His top plays of the day came as kick/punt returner. He had an excellent punt return following Tennessee's first drive of the second half, but a questionable penalty call negated what could have been a momentum-gainer. He was also targeted by QB [player_tooltip player_id='1668020' first='Brooks' last='Perry'] (listed above) in the third quarter, but couldn't make the grab.     There typically isn't too much love shown to the Kickers, but Jones deserves some love. He went 2-for-2 on extra points on the day. Following his second successful PAT, he booted the ensuing kickoff into the endzone forcing a touchback. The Muhlenberg County prospect has a strong leg for this level.

The annual border war between the Kentucky Future Stars and Tennessee Future Stars went down this past weekend on the beautiful, scenic campus of UT-Martin. While both states featured plenty of future college prospects–some with verbal offers already–the home team would come away with the victory on all three grade levels. Call it a Tenne-sweep, but Kentucky had plenty of standouts. Below are the Kentucky prospects that shined on the offensive side of the ball, in the eighth-grade (2029) Tennessee vs. Kentucky Future Stars Game.