I will say that if any of these 4 or Dante Hendrix, Tanner Morgan, etc. get the Mr. Football award that I am ok with that.

 

What I deplore though is that there are NO CRITERIA for winning the Mr. Football award. This is the highest honor we bestow to any high school football athlete in our state and we can't even describe how the award should be voted on. Is it for this individual season? Is it for the players entire career? Are certain stats considered more favorably than others? Who knows.... What about lineman? We all say that MOST games are won in the trenches, yet no lineman are ever likely to win this award. What about setting up a Mr Football type award for a lineman. I'm not suggesting everyone get a trophy, but a Top Lineman in Kentucky type award - nothing more.

 

Basically, its whatever the voter wants. If he or she wants to vote for a player who sits at the end of the bench they can (I'm out of bounds here, but trying to make my point splash!). It frustrates me. :taz:

Gotta be Jamale.

Walker Wood.....ESPN top 10 twice this year....just saying

 

Looks like KY was well represented this year on ESPN Top 10. Walker Wood and Dante' Hendrix (Top play #1). Kentucky does have some players!

After watching all 4 of these players this weekend at the State Championship games and reviewing their stats of this year and their career, and I say career because Mr. Football is given to a Sr. football player, I voted from Jake Johnson. This kid obviated, the receiving record by over 100 receptions, the yardage mark by over 600 yards, these are marks that may never be broken. Led his team to 4 straight title games and 1 State Title. This feat alone has only been completed by 10 high schools in the state of Kentucky. When he left the game against BG Sunday night, Pulaski's offense was none existent. In addition, this team should not have won the east but clearly Jake willed his team back to BG. The Wood kid will probably win because he is going to UK. In my opinion, Jake is better than any receiver UK has on their roster now, and Stoops is not considering the kid. Hopefully, with Brohm going to Purdue, he will jump on Johnson and take him to West Lafayette, IN.

Mr Sixer, I would agree that after reviewing Dante Hendrix info here that he is also a worthy candidate. I simply am not familar with him (I have heard his name before and knew he was a very good player) like I am the others.

 

Is it true that Cooper choose to play up in 6A for football instead of 5A like they did when they played BG in the Title Game in 2012? If so, would think this has and effect on this issue. If Cooper were in 5A this year, they would have undoubtedly gone further in the playoffs and been talked about longer, which is a big factor in the Popularity Contest we call Mr. Football.

 

You are correct in that Cooper chose to play up in 6A beginning last year. Held their own but you are probably correct in that would have probably moved further in the post season had they stayed down in 5A. Regional champs in 2014 last year of 5A, Regional Runner-up in 2015 in the first year of 6A, Lost in 2nd round in 2016. Understand your logic with regards to team success and I would agree with the lack of criteria established.

 

Again, all of the candidates are very good and most likely are the front-runners. Wood would be my pick if this is the Final Four.

Watching these hudl accounts Carothers just explodes with the ball in his hands. Coaches want a guy who can change the scoreboard and he is it.

I will say that if any of these 4 or Dante Hendrix, Tanner Morgan, etc. get the Mr. Football award that I am ok with that.

 

What I deplore though is that there are NO CRITERIA for winning the Mr. Football award. This is the highest honor we bestow to any high school football athlete in our state and we can't even describe how the award should be voted on. Is it for this individual season? Is it for the players entire career? Are certain stats considered more favorably than others? Who knows.... What about lineman? We all say that MOST games are won in the trenches, yet no lineman are ever likely to win this award. What about setting up a Mr Football type award for a lineman. I'm not suggesting everyone get a trophy, but a Top Lineman in Kentucky type award - nothing more.

 

Basically, its whatever the voter wants. If he or she wants to vote for a player who sits at the end of the bench they can (I'm out of bounds here, but trying to make my point splash!). It frustrates me. :taz:

Agree with all of this specifically the stance that I legit think there were six viable Mr. Football Candidates that I could get on board with

Caruthers had 40+ more touches than Johnson. He was the leading rusher and second leading receiver, but your argument is he wasn't the #1 option? I could say that since Johnson was the #1 option everyone knew he was getting the ball, but still couldn't stop him. Bottom line is they were both great players Caruthers played on the better team that took some of the defense focus off him. While stopping Johnson was the gameplan for every defense.

 

Disagree with you because of this, your perception is that the Wr kept teams from loading the box, true...but Jamale kept teams from playing a soft box also. Depending on the criteria, it's hard to say your the best Football player in ky when you go 5-51 against Harlan. And there where at least 4 of those teams that did try to load the box to stop him with little success.

Watching these hudl accounts Carothers just explodes with the ball in his hands. Coaches want a guy who can change the scoreboard and he is it.

 

I watched that Hudl video. I likened it to a bunch of Cessnas chasing an F-18 Hornet.

I watched that Hudl video. I likened it to a bunch of Cessnas chasing an F-18 Hornet.

 

Ditto! Too funny Mr. D.

After watching all 4 of these players this weekend at the State Championship games and reviewing their stats of this year and their career, and I say career because Mr. Football is given to a Sr. football player, I voted from Jake Johnson. This kid obviated, the receiving record by over 100 receptions, the yardage mark by over 600 yards, these are marks that may never be broken. Led his team to 4 straight title games and 1 State Title. This feat alone has only been completed by 10 high schools in the state of Kentucky. When he left the game against BG Sunday night, Pulaski's offense was none existent. In addition, this team should not have won the east but clearly Jake willed his team back to BG. The Wood kid will probably win because he is going to UK. In my opinion, Jake is better than any receiver UK has on their roster now, and Stoops is not considering the kid. Hopefully, with Brohm going to Purdue, he will jump on Johnson and take him to West Lafayette, IN.

 

Great post.. x2

Here are some cliff notes for you as you review a little more in depth:

 

1. Spencer Blackburn - Negative - Most people didn't even know his name until near the playoffs, as Trinity is Trinity. Doesn't bode as well for a popularity contest. One Trinity fan I asked said he "may have a scholarship offer to Kentucky Wesleyan". But again, he may not.

Positive - In the Championship game that he was named MVP of (and a certain other candidate you'll hear of later did NOT get this award), rushed for 110 yards and 2 TDs and passed 14 for 16 with 222 yards and 4 scores. (Problem is Lafayette isn't known for defense as they have given up a ton of points this year including 55 to a 4 and 7 Bryan Station squad)

 

2. Jamale Carothers - Negative - Had 1 of the 2 best (Blackburn for Trinity being the other) supporting casts around him. Did not "have" to be the Man all the time because of this.

Positive - Of the 15 games played in, 12 were running clock games that he only played 2 or 3 quarters in and he still broke the All-Time BGHS scoring records of Avery Hibbett, who was a solo show for BG back in the mid-2,000s, that most did not think would be broken in a long time . In the pick your poison defensive approach preparing to face BG, stopping Carothers first was always the goal, if you didn't attempt to do that = running clock in the first half.

 

3. Jake Johnson - Negative - easily the weakest schedule played of the 4. Easily the easiest path to WKU of any candidate. Limited scholarship offers could be seen as a negative.

Positive - Regardless of competition, those catches will stand in the record books for a long time.

 

4. Walker Wood - Negative - The Generals schedule certainly helps get you the 30 rush TDs and 30 pass TDs. As others have said, the chippiness of the 6A game (no handshakes, etc.) does leave a sour taste in your mouth for both Wood and Blackburn.

Positive - You play the position most played by a Mr. Football and you have committed to the most coveted School in the state (sorry UofL fans) who typically have STRONG media connections. Those connections are likely a majority of the voters.

Would definitely agree with adding Cooper's Dante Hendrix to list, I also think you need to add his QB Jerod Lonaker. Only 8th NKY QB ever to throw for over 3000 yards in a single season! (3200 in 12 games.) Only 7th NKY QB to throw for over 200 completions in a single season. (Scroll down after opening link.)

Prep Sports Notebook: Notre Dame volleyball player showing her net worth as team leader | NKyTribune

 

If going strictly on stats, Lonaker led Kentucky at 6A from week one and finished there as well. 216 KY Football Stat Leaders

 

Also finished second overall statewide for all QBs. (Tanner Morgan was sixth in 6A and 20th overall.)

216 KY Football Stat Leaders

 

Jerod Lonaker Video highlights: 216 Highlights - Jerod Lonaker highlights - Hudl

 

Not bad for a first year starter in a mix of good NKY QBs!

Would definitely agree with adding Cooper's Dante Hendrix to list, I also think you need to add his QB Jerod Lonaker.

Not bad for a first year starter in a mix of good NKY QBs!

A53,

 

I don't disagree with you and I think both are fine football players. But if you add both your boys to this list, you split the NKY vote, which is pretty slim from what I'm told, and have no shot to win. The ideal candidate has to be known enough across the state to pull "some" votes from all areas of the state not just their own region.

@ATLCat do you recall if they (I suppose the KHSAA) provides any information concerning how the vote talley ends up for Mr. Football. I would be interested in that. I suppose it is a smoke and mirror exercise and they just announce who gets it an that's it.