2023 Team MVP Predictions: 6A (Part 3)
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As we approach the end of May, the 2023 high school football season is quickly approaching. With that in mind, it is time to start previewing the upcoming season. As I begin to preview some top players and teams to…
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Continue ReadingAs we approach the end of May, the 2023 high school football season is quickly approaching. With that in mind, it is time to start previewing the upcoming season. As I begin to preview some top players and teams to watch in the 2023 season, I wanted to focus on which player I believe will make the biggest impact for each individual team. With most of the teams in the class out of the way, I will continue my “Team MVP” series with my final group of 6A programs.
Simon Kenton: Simon Kenton is typically one of the more talented football programs in the Northern Kentucky area and that looks to be the case again this season. Out of all of the returning talent they have, incoming senior
Aba Selm
Aba
Selm
6'4" | 295 lbs | OL
Simon Kenton | 2024
State
KY
stands out the most. Selm is our top-ranked offensive lineman in his class. He is a big, physical left tackle that is a mauler in the run game, showing the ability to drive his man down the field. Selm also is very reliable in pass protection, using quick footwork to mirror opposing pass rushers off the edge. Aba is committed to Kentucky where I believe he will develop into a key piece of their offensive line down the road.
Ryle: Ryle is another program in Northern Kentucky that has intriguing returning players. The player that stands out the most out of the group is incoming senior quarterback Logan Verax Logan Verax 6'3" | 190 lbs | QB Ryle | 2024 State KY . As a junior, Verax completed 155/290 passes for 2,018 yards,17 touchdowns, and 19 interceptions. He has a strong arm, showing the ability to lead his receivers down the field and also has shown the ability to make throws on the run. Verax is also very dangerous as a ball carrier, finishing this past season with 138 carries for 605 yards and 12 touchdowns. Logan currently holds an offer from Wilmington College and I can see more coming his way as he has the talent to play at the next level.
North Hardin: North Hardin is a team coming off a disappointing 2022 season that will be looking to bounce back this year. If they want to turn things around they will be relying heavily on incoming senior wide receiver Shaun Boykins Shaun Boykins 6'2" | 185 lbs | WR North Hardin | 2024 State KY . Boykins finished his junior year with 56 receptions for 897 yards and 10 touchdowns. He is a dangerous deep threat that is also an electric playmaker with the ball in his hands after the catch, showing the ability to break away to the end zone at any given moment. North Hardin also used him as a ball carrier at times as he finished this past season with 28 Carrie’s for 221 yards and five touchdowns. Boykins is committed to Louisville where I see him becoming a key piece of their offense once he gets there.
Central Hardin: Central Hardin had a very impressive 2022 season but unfortunately fell short in the first round of the playoffs. They have a solid group of returning players coming back which will be led by incoming senior running back Mason Gardner Mason Gardner 5'10" | 175 lbs | RB Central Hardin | 2024 State KY . Gardner is coming off a strong junior yeah in which he ran the ball 200 times for 1,171 yards and 26 touchdowns. Mason has a nice blend of speed, elusiveness, and strength as a ball carrier. He can run away from the defense and make defenders miss in the open field but also has the ability to keep his legs moving through contact to pick up extra yards. Gardner also finished last season second on the team in receiving, catching six passes for 135 yards and two touchdowns. While he doesn’t currently hold any offers, he definitely deserves some attention from college coaches as he has the talent to play at the next level.
Warren Central: Warren Central is coming off a disappointing 2022 season but has a solid group of players coming back to try to turn things around as they make the move from 5A to 6A. Among those players, incoming senior Devontre Patterson Devontre Patterson 6'1" | 205 lbs | ATH Warren Central | 2024 State KY stands out. Patterson has been a key player on both sides of the ball for Warren Central. On defense, he was impressive against the run last year at linebacker, finishing with 57 tackles and four tackles for loss. He also showed some ability in pass coverage, coming away with one interception and returning it for a touchdown last season. Patterson also played a key role on offense at running back last season, running the ball 39 times for 172 yards and two touchdowns. He also showed some reliability in the passing game, catching six passes for 173 yards and a touchdown. Patterson doesn’t currently hold any offers but has received some college interest and has the talent to play on either side of the ball at the next level.
Christian County: Christian County is another program that is making the move from 5A to 6A this season. If they want to have any success against their new competition, incoming senior quarterback Jordan Miles Jordan Miles 6'1" | 170 lbs | QB Christian County | 2024 State KY will have to lead the way. As a junior, Miles completed 71/161 passes for 1,033 yards, seven touchdowns, and seven interceptions. Miles throws a nice deep ball, showing the ability to lead his receivers down the field and place the ball where only his intended receiver can catch it. He is also very dangerous as a runner, finishing this past season with 127 carries for 537 yards and six touchdowns. Jordan currently holds one offer from Kentucky Wesleyan but I expect more to come his way as he has the talent to be a college quarterback.
Oldham County: Oldham County is a team that is looking to rebound from a winless 2022 season. If they want to turn things around, they will be relying heavily on incoming senior running back Caden Sheppard Caden Sheppard 5'11" | 245 lbs | RB Oldham County | 2024 KY . Last season, Sheppard ran the ball 62 times for 155 yards and three touchdowns while splitting carries with senior Grant Gilchrist. I expect those numbers to take a big increase as he likely becomes the true lead back this season. Sheppard also plays a role on defense as a defensive tackle, finishing this past season with 13 tackles. Sheppard doesn’t currently hold any offers but will be a player to keep an eye on as a senior.
Meade County: Meade County is a team that will be looking to build off a solid 2022 season. They have some intriguing talent coming back but a player that stands out to me is incoming sophomore Wyatt Raney Wyatt Raney 5'11" | 205 lbs | LB Meade County | 2026 State KY . Raney played a key role on both sides of the ball in his first season of high school football. On defense, he lined up at linebacker and was one of the top performers on the team. He finished the year with 101 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, and one sack. Raney also carried the ball twice for 22 yards on offense and will likely see his workload increase on that side of the ball this season. Wyatt doesn’t currently hold any offers but he is definitely a player to keep an eye on over the next few seasons.
McCracken County: McCracken County is a team that struggled last season but has a solid group of returning players that are looking to turn things around. One player that stands out from this group is incoming senior offensive lineman Brody Phelps Brody Phelps 6'3" | 295 lbs | OL McCracken County | 2024 State KY . Phelps is our 12th ranked offensive lineman in his class. Brody starts at left tackle and is very impressive as a run blocker, showing the ability to get up to the second level and destroy anything in his path in the open field. He has also proven to be a sold in-line blocker, showing the ability to explode out of his stance and create movement off the line of scrimmage. Brody currently holds one offer from Thomas More and I expect more to come his way as he definitely has the talent to play at the next level.
Daviess County: Daviess County is a team that had a strong 2022 season but lost a lot of key pieces from last year’s senior class. However, they do have a very intriguing incoming senior in
Luke Floyd
Luke
Floyd
6'2" | 185 lbs | ATH
Daviess County | 2024
KY
still on the roster. Floyd is a key playmaker on both sides of the ball for Daviess County. On offense, he lines up at receiver and finished first on the team in receptions last season with 36 for 731 yards and 7 touchdowns. He has the speed to blow by defensive backs in the deep passing game and turn up the field after the catch to break away from the defense. Luke is also very talented safety on defense. He finished his junior year with 74 tackles, 4 tackles for loss, eight sacks, and two interceptions. Floyd doesn’t currently hold any offers but he has the talent to play on either side of the ball at the next level.
Barren County: To wrap up the 6A class for this series, I have the Barren County Trojans. The Trojans had a disappointing 2022 season but have some solid players coming back that are looking to turn things around. A player that stands out to me from this group is incoming junior Brey Bewley Brey Bewley ATH Barren County | 2025 KY . Bewley played a key role on both sides of the ball for Barren County as a sophomore. He was impressive as a defensive back last season, finishing with 30 tackles and a team-high three interceptions. Bewley also played a key role on offense as a receiver. He finished his sophomore year with five receptions for 145 yards and two touchdowns. Brey doesn’t currently hold any offers but he should be a player to watch over the next two seasons.