BluegrassPreps.com Mr. Football Watchlist (8/23)

[DevilMayCare]

Dynamic Debuts For 5A District 7 Quarterbacks

The value of an enduring first impression takes time to measure, but two players in particular got an early jump on the competition in Week 1. District mates Kenyon Goodin and Jacob Jones got their seasons off on the best foot possible, leading their teams to victory with scintillating individual performances. Collins' Goodin picked up where he left off last year, when he "discreetly" amassed 3,500 yards of offense and 52 touchdowns. He totalled 431 yards and six touchdowns against Shelby County, with upper and lower body working to maximum effect.

Not to be outdone, Jones displayed his own considerable dual threat skill set to the tune of 527 yards and six combined scores. The son of UK great Pookie Jones, who holds an offer from the Cats, raced past Bourbon County defenders for 342 rushing yards. Goodin's output was nothing we haven't seen from him before, but Jones has entered a new statistical stratosphere, one that now has him squarely on the Mr. Football radar. For the time being, it heightens the anticipation of their head to head meeting in the penultimate week of the regular season. 

 

Lead Dawg Marks His Territory In Indiana

New offensive line? No problem. New receivers? No reason to sweat. New quarterback? Who needs one of those, anyway? Those are the thoughts I like to imagine swirling through the mind of Male running back Daniel Swinney as he ran by, through, and over would-be tacklers for 225 yards and three scores to lead the Bulldogs over Floyd Central (IN). With graduation, transfers, and injuries taking a bite out of the Dawgs' offense, Coach Chris Wolfe has confidence in Swinney's ability to shoulder a heavy workload. Waiting in the wings for Male this week is Ballard, against whom Swinney tallied a career high 262 yards last year.

 

Beechwood Opens A New Berger Joint In Louisville, Leaving Fairdale With Indigestion

Beechwood was gifted an extra year of Cam Hergott last season, but there would be a cavernous void left by his inevitable departure. Attention immediately shifted to Mitchell Berger as candidate #1 to step into the alpha dog role. He has all the physical traits and intangibles to be the next great offensive force to lead the Tigers. All Coach Rash had to do was let him off the leash. Fairdale got the first look at the 2022 incarnation of Beechwood's offense. The reigning two time 2A champions are operating with a backup quarterback for the time being, resulting in a career day from Berger on the ground. He gashed the Bulldogs for nearly 200 yards and three touchdowns on 26 carries and even pitched in a field goal, channeling Paul Hornung in the 'Golden Boy's' hometown. A healthy Antonio Robinson Jr. may eventually cut into those touches, but the Tigers know who they can turn to to carry the offense, if needed.

 

Blink And You'll Miss It

No single physical attribute is more desirable in the world of sport than speed. In football, it can mean the difference between a five yard gain and a 75 yard touchdown. Or a completed pass and a pick-six going the other way. Down on the "Farm", UK commit Ty Bryant made everyone on a field full of twitchy athletes look slow while taking a punt back 79 yards for a score. It served as a high point of Frederick Douglass' dismantling of Bryan Station. Flashing some jets of his own, Kenyatta Carbon bolted 83 yards for a touchdown to give Owensboro a lead - albeit a brief one - over St. X. His acceleration after the handoff negated the heat coming from an X linebacker. All he needed was a crease and he was gone, leading a trail of pursuing defenders on a jaunt to the endzone.

 

Potential Riser

No player enjoyed a more meteoric rise over the off-season than PRP receiver Jakob Dixon. He went from being one of Louisville's best kept secrets to a UK commit in a matter of days, following an impressive workout at a UK camp. He opened his senior campaign with a pair of touchdown receptions on as many touches against Valley. The Vikings are not exactly the type of competition that will turn heads, but Dixon's inclusion here has more to do with his massive upside and potential to dominate. He's 6'5" and reportedly runs in the 4.5 to 4.6 range. And he shows a willingness to flesh out his all-around game as a blocker. Games against Bowling Green, Lexington Catholic, Manual, and St. Xavier will better serve his Mr. Football standing. For now though, the watchlist will keep him in its peripheral vision.

Side note: Dixon's quarterback, Kayden Anderson, went full Madden on rookie mode against Valley - 10/10 for 370 yards and 7 touchdowns. We need to see more from him before he joins the conversation in earnest - and again, it's Valley - but wow, what a night to remember for that young man.

 

Inauspicious Openers

Two of the state's premier backs spun their tires out of the starting block last week. The 'Battle of Elkhorn Creek' and the 'Cumberland Falls Pigskin Classic' could have served as high visibility platforms to get a jump on the rest of the Mr. Football field, but Kaden Moorman and Blake Birchfield were met with stonewall defensive efforts from Scott County and Corbin, respectively. The Cardinals exacted revenge on Franklin County at the expense of Moorman, who was limited to 38 yards on 17 touches. Birchfield fared no better in defeat, mustering 47 yards on 15 attempts after going for 100+ yards in every game last year. Neither struck paydirt.

 

Players Highlighted This Week:

Kenyon Goodin (QB/DB, Collins)

Season to date: 17/20 for 268 yards and 4 touchdowns | 163 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns 

Highlights: vs. Shelby County

 

Jacob Jones (QB, West Jessamine)

Season to date: 11/18 for 185 yards and 5 touchdowns | 342 rushing yards and a touchdown 

Highlights: vs. Bourbon County

 

Daniel Swinney (RB, Male)

Season to date: 20 rushes for 225 yards and 3 touchdowns 

Highlights: vs. Floyd Central

 

Mitchell Berger (RB/LB, Beechwood)

Season to date:  26 rushes for 196 yards and 3 touchdowns 

Highlights: vs. Fairdale

 

Ty Bryant (ATH, Frederick Douglass)

Season to date: 1 rushing touchdown | 1 kick return touchdown

Highlights: vs. Station

 

Kenyatta Carbon (RB/DB, Owensboro)

Season to date: 17 rushes for 122 yards and a touchdown 

Highlights: vs. St. Xavier

 

Jakob Dixon (WR, Pleasure Ridge Park)

Season to date: 2 receptions for 83 yards and 2 touchdowns

Highlights: vs. Valley

 

Kaden Moorman (RB, Franklin County)

Season to date: 15 rushes for 46 yards | 2 receptions for -8 yards

 

Blake Birchfield (RB, Pikeville)

Season to date: 15 carries for 47 yards

[DevilMayCare]

Tweaking the format this season. This allows me to focus on the biggest developments and trends from week to week without being as repetitive or restricted. The increased flexibility is a big plus.

[Purple88]

Great Job DMC!  That's alot of work!

Really Impressed with the Collins QB Goodwin going 17 for 20 and he did that against their rivals.  Wow!

[The Double Deuce]

That was a fun read, thanks.

 

[Tigerallamerican]

Cutter Boley - LCA

17-25 passing for 367 yards

2 TD's - 1 int 

26 yards rushing - 1 TD

Not a bad night for his first time as an Eagle vs a very tough Madison Central team. 

[Paul Dean]

Dang, no love for any of the Rebels?

[DevilMayCare]

2 hours ago, Tigerallamerican said:

Cutter Boley - LCA

17-25 passing for 367 yards

2 TD's - 1 int 

26 yards rushing - 1 TD

Not a bad night for his first time as an Eagle vs a very tough Madison Central team. 

He's a junior. Only seniors are eligible. I like his chances of being showered with some watchlist love next year. 

[DevilMayCare]

1 hour ago, Paul Dean said:

Dang, no love for any of the Rebels?

Dawson was the offensive star for Boyle last week, but he's a junior. Same goes for Bodner. Quisenberry is just a sophomore. Zeismer made the preseason watchlist, but defensive players are hard to evaluate without actually watching them. I'll predict Zeismer makes a future watchlist or two this season, maybe more.

[DevilMayCare]

Week 2's Mr. Football Spotlight Games

Pikeville vs. CovCath - Birchfield looks to get on track after a slow start that snapped a streak of 14 straight games with at least 100 yards.

Male vs. Ballard - Conversely, Swinney looks to continue his fast start against a team he punished last year. 

Simon Kenton vs. Highlands - Can Crone throw his name in the hat, or will the clock strike Noon? 

Hopkinsville vs. Mayfield - Daisjaun Mercer doesn't get a mulligan for last week, but going off on Mayfield would be the next best thing.