article Mr. Football Watchlist (8/22)

Quarterbacks

Zach Thornton, Danville

Week 0: 5 of 11 for 54 yards ; 11 rushes for 76 yards and a TD in a 40-0 win over Woodford County

Stock:

Thornton didn't have a huge game, statistically, but that's partially because the Ads didn't need him to versus a woefully overmatched Woodford County. He'll have an opportunity for a showcase game this coming Saturday versus Corbin, where Danville will almost certainly need Thornton to step it up a notch or two.

Beau Buchanan, Bowling Green

Week 0: 26 of 39 for 241 yards in a 20-13 win over Central Hardin

Stock:

Buchanan posted solid numbers, but wasn't able to hook up with any of his receivers on a scoring strike. And Vito Tisdale (20 rushes for 146 yards) lightened some of his load by doing work on the ground. As he gels with his new corps of receivers, a more lethal passing attack should emerge, especially in the red zone.

Joey Cambron, Daviess County

Week 0: 24 of 40 for 310 yards, 5 TDs, and 2 ints. in a 49-26 win over Owensboro Catholic

Stock: UP

This guy just loves playing Owensboro Catholic. In two meetings against the Aces, Cambron has thrown for 680 yards and 10 touchdowns. He could face some stiff competition this week vs. Evansville Central (IN), a fringe top 10 team in Indiana's 4A class.

Gavin Spurrier, South Warren

Week 0: 9 of 14 for 170 yards and a TD in a 49-17 win over Hopkinsville

Stock:

Spurrier wasn't required to do too much in the Spartans' impressive beatdown of Hopkinsville. The defense was the real star of the show, recording three defensive scores.

Hopkinsville High School - Gavin Spurrier highlights - Hudl

Braxton Ratliff, Ashland

Week 0: 9 of 12 for 211 yards and 4 TDs in a 49-6 win over Harlan County

Stock: UP

Ratliff helped engineer a brutally efficient offensive performance in the Tomcats win over Harlan County. He has a plethora of weapons at his disposal, and none shined brighter against the Black Bears than WR Cade Brandt (153 yards and 3 TDs on 3 catches).

Harlan County High School - Braxton Ratliff highlights - Hudl

Chase Estep, Corbin

Week 0: 10 of 14 for 162 yards and 3 TDs ; 2 rushes for 30 yards and a TD in a 36-7 win over Whitley County

Stock: UP

Estep's first season at quarterback got off to a rousing start versus Whitley County. He accounted for four touchdowns (three passing, one rushing) in the 1st half, pushing his team to a 36-0 lead and a 1st half running clock.

Joby Jaggers, Caldwell County

Week 0: 18 of 33 for 133 yards and a TD in an 11-6 loss to Christian County

Stock: DOWN

While Jaggers certainly wasn't terrible against Christian County, the loss was an ugly one. He was unable to take advantage of a completely rebuilt Colonels secondary and was on the wrong end of a couple of safeties.

Christian County High School - Joby Jaggers highlights - Hudl

Jaden Stinson, Mayfield

Week 0: 9 of 14 for 221 yards and 4 TDs in a 43-27 win over Union City (TN)

Stock: UP

Coming off a very good junior year (2,007 yards, 24 TD passes/5 ints.), Stinson looked superb in the Cardinals win over defending Tennessee 2A champion Union City. If Kent Trey Matthews continues to produce like he did in Week 0, Mayfield could have a couple of players appear on the watchlist this season.

Running Backs

Wandale Robinson, Western Hills

Week 0: 27 carries for 215 yards and 2 TDs ; 1 catch for a 75 yard TD in a 27-20 loss to Franklin County

Stock: UP

Robinson is often referred to as the entirety of Western Hills' offense. Against Franklin County, he took that notion to a whole other level. The Wolverines connected on one pass against the Flyers - a 75 yard catch and run by Robinson. He accounted for all three of his team's touchdowns, and his 215 rushing yards were 26 more than the team's net total for the game.

Franklin County High School - Wandale Robinson highlights - Hudl

Casey McGinness, Covington Catholic

Week 0: 13 carries for 118 yards and 4 TDs ; 2 catches for 29 yards in a 40-7 win over Ryle

Stock: UP

McGinness didn't get a heavy workload against Ryle, but he made the most of his opportunities, averaging nearly 10 yards every time he touched the ball and scoring 4 TDs on those 15 touches.

Ryle High School - Casey McGinness highlights - Hudl

Tre' Bass, Franklin Simpson

Week 0: 17 carries for 209 yards and 2 TDs in a 44-20 win over Elizabethtown

Stock: UP

Bass paired with running mate Carlos McKinney, who also topped 200 yards, to run circles around Elizabethtown's defense. With four O-linemen back from last year, and McKinney to help draw some attention away from him, these types of performances from Bass could be frequent this year.

https://www.hudl.com/video/3/7946587/5b7834b65b3d1b060472e857

Aidan Robbins, Manual

Week 0: 17 carries for 50 yards in an 18-0 loss to Central

Stock: DOWN

The UofL commit was stymied time and again by a stout Central defense. Already a bit of a darkhorse to begin with, Robbins really needs some big games in the coming weeks, or else he risks falling from contention completely.

Anthony Adkins, Larue County

Week 0: 10 carries for 247 yards and 3 TDs in a 48-0 win over Marion County

Stock: UP

The 6'3", 225 pound Louisville commit spearheaded a school record breaking rushing output by the Hawks. Adkins churned out 214 yards alone in the 1st half, and the team piled up an incredible 602 yards on the ground for the night, which set a new Larue County single game record.

https://www.hudl.com/video/3/5280565/5b779d9c8cd3fa0a3cb2d451

Wide Receivers

Demontae Crumes, Butler

Week 0: 2 catches for 74 yards and a TD in a 49-0 win over Bullitt East

Stock:

Crumes seems to be good for at least one bomb each game. Against Bullitt East, he burned the Chargers secondary for a 54 yard touchdown.

JP Vaught, Southwestern

Week 0: 4 catches for 112 yards and a TD in a 50-7 win over Jeffersonville (IN)

Stock:

The Warriors basically did whatever they wanted, offensively, against Jeffersonville. That included a 90 yard catch and run touchdown by Vaught that really highlights the elite speed that he brings to the table.

https://www.hudl.com/video/3/5115524/5b78306923474b0f0c7aad2a

Marquel Tinsley, Daviess County

Week 0: 9 catches for 166 yards and 2 TDs in a 49-26 win over Owensboro Catholic

Stock: UP

Cambron's go-to guy showed up big time in the Panthers three score win over the Aces. He's picked up right where he left off after a monster junior season of 76 receptions for 1,447 yards and 22 TDs.

Linemen

Jacob Lacey, South Warren

Week 0: 3 tackles (2 solo) in a 49-17 win over Hopkinsville

Stock:

This was one of those rare occasions where Lacey was outshined by some of his teammates; Most notably, Clayton Bush, who recorded 5 tackles, a fumble return for a TD, and two interceptions (including a pick-six). But Lacey was his usual disruptive self, manhandling double teams and applying pressure on the QB.

https://www.hudl.com/video/3/5451864/5b7852d1dfd7e90e10dcba7c

Bryan Hudson, Scott County

Week 0: Scott County rushed 26 times for 275 yards and 5 TDs in a 56-13 win over North Bullitt

Stock:

Hudson helped pave the way for a Scott County running game that churned out 10.6 yards per carry in a drubbing of the Eagles. He also recorded three tackles and helped anchor a D-line that surrendered a mere 27 yards rushing.

https://www.hudl.com/video/3/3389161/5b77a0221600c00c2c1ce975

Stephen Herron Jr., Trinity

Statistics from Trinity's loss to Carmel have not been made available yet.

Tanner Bowles, Glasgow

Week 0: Glasgow rushed for 330 yards and 4 TDs on 42 carries in a 51-12 win over Russellville

Stock:

The Scotties were dominant up front against Russellville, running roughshod over the Panthers to the tune of nearly 8 yards per carry on 42 rushes. And the Alabama commit was no doubt leading the charge.

Athletes

Milton Wright, Christian Academy of Louisville

Week 0: 5 catches for 108 yards and 2 TDs; 11 tackles in a 21-3 win over South Oldham

Stock: UP

Wright's two-way talents were on full display in CAL's win over the Dragons. He scored on receptions of 41 and 39 yards. The second, a beautiful catch and run on a bubble screen where he broke a tackle near the line of scrimmage and outran a defender's angle to the endzone. If that weren't enough, he also led his team in tackles.

https://www.hudl.com/video/3/5223989/5b7ab57302b2c60b48d3da8e

Kyle Kelly, Newport Central Catholic

Week 0: 11 carries for 113 yards and a TD in a 41-0 win over Scott

Stock:

The 'Breds trampled all over Scott, thanks in large part to Kelly's legs. We know he has the size to play linebacker at the FBS level, but he displayed some serious giddy up on a 75 yard TD run vs. the Eagles.

https://www.hudl.com/video/3/7628670/5b78356c0dbfeb0814b23b65

Langston Jackson, Henry Clay

Week 0: 2 receptions for 151 yards and 2 TDs ; 6 rushes for 44 yards ; a 23 yard pick-six in a 50-22 win over Tates Creek

Stock: UP

Jackson showed out against Tates Creek, displaying explosive, big play ability on both of his catches. He also chipped in a team high 44 yards on the ground and returned an interception for a score.

https://www.hudl.com/video/3/3175868/5b77b4275b3d1b060472bb26

This is awesome. Great stuff here. I just found one of my favorite weekly threads.

Tre Bass will go crazy this year with the people he’s playing with and the teams he will play against. The teams on his schedule are really down this year. Outside of SW.

This is awesome. Great stuff here. I just found one of my favorite weekly threads.

I know, right?? Seriously, this is SUCH a cool thread!

Kyle Kelly, Newport Central Catholic

 

Week 0: 11 carries for 113 yards and a TD in a 41-0 win over Scott

 

Stock:

 

The 'Breds trampled all over Scott, thanks in large part to Kelly's legs. We know he has the size to play linebacker at the FBS level, but he displayed some serious giddy up on a 75 yard TD run vs. the Eagles.

 

Scott High School - Kyle Kelly highlights - Hudl

I thought I saw in the NCC/Scott recap thread where Kelly left the game with an injury. Anyone know if he's going to be back this week for the New Cath vs. Cooper game?

What kind of impact does an injury have on a player's viability for Mr. Football? Does number of games played sway the decision, or is this about total statistical output at the end of the season?

BluegrassPreps is the only place you can find a weekly watchlist of potential Mr. Football candidates. All this and weekly articles for each class, weekly articles for each region of the state, weekly rankings by people who actually watch the games around the state and contest with great prizes. How a true high school football fan could live without these articles is beyond me. Industry leader, right here.

Great work @DevilMayCare.

I was at the DC vs. OC game... Cambron had some good stats due to the fact his running back made some plays on swing routes. But he had 2 picks and had one bounce out of a Catholic DB's hands that could have been a pick 6. With about 2 min left in game OC down 17 points and just punted to Daviess County to concede the game and with some backups in for OC, Cambron hit Tinsley on a 72 yard touchdown. Take that play off their stats and both had average nights. Very interested to see how they do against Evansville Central who is extremely athletic this week. Should be a very good test for them.

What kind of impact does an injury have on a player's viability for Mr. Football? Does number of games played sway the decision, or is this about total statistical output at the end of the season?

That's a good question. Off the top of my head, I can't recall if there's ever been a Mr. Football winner that missed extensive time during the year he won it. Kash Daniel missed Paintsville's final game in 2015, but I think most minds were already set on him winning it that year. I feel like certain players over the years (guys like Couch, Alexander, and Brohm) could have missed some games and still won it.

As for this weekly watchlist, if a player misses a couple of games or more, he'll drop off the list while he's out. Once he's healthy, and if he comes back playing at a high level, he could work his way back onto the list.

That's a good question. Off the top of my head, I can't recall if there's ever been a Mr. Football winner that missed extensive time during the year he won it. Kash Daniel missed Paintsville's final game in 2015, but I think most minds were already set on him winning it that year. I feel like certain players over the years (guys like Couch, Alexander, and Brohm) could have missed some games and still won it.

 

As for this weekly watchlist, if a player misses a couple of games or more, he'll drop off the list while he's out. Once he's healthy, and if he comes back playing at a high level, he could work his way back onto the list.

Damien Harris immediately comes to mind as an example to look at

He didn't win Mr. Football when he was the most dominant player in the State, but he also missed a lot of time his Senior year to injury. He still put up big numbers despite only playing in 7 games, almost 1500 yards and 25 TD's

Damien Harris immediately comes to mind as an example to look at

 

He didn't win Mr. Football when he was the most dominant player in the State, but he also missed a lot of time his Senior year to injury. He still put up big numbers despite only playing in 7 games, almost 1500 yards and 25 TD's

He might be the prime example of a sure fire future Mr. Football whose campaign was derailed by an injury.

This is awesome. Great stuff here. I just found one of my favorite weekly threads.

Ditto

ttt

Cade Brandt - Ashland WR

300+ yards on 6 catches resulting in four touchdowns through two games. If my memory is right he has 316 yards on the season earning him 52 yards per reception. Pretty impressive for someone that is new to the Ashland offense.