All of these great Bluebird traditional state champion teams, the key to most of their success was all of the great Linebackers! From the Rollers days, thru great hiitters like the Dempsey's, Dusty Cottinghams and Grover. Look at 2007's crew, Ryan Ball,(Georgetown), Luke Stein,(Gardner-Webb),and Branden Hurrt(?) obvious one the best in the state (15-0). But, These next few years these youngmen at the LB 's positions are probly all Div I players.

^ So the 08 crew is going to be even better than the 07 LB's?? Thats scarey:scared: I thought the 07 bunch played great as a unit...

All of these great Bluebird traditional state champion teams' date=' the key to most of their success was all of the great Linebackers! From the Rollers days, thru great hiitters like the Dempsey's, Dusty Cottinghams and Grover. Look at 2007's crew, Ryan Ball,(Georgetown), Luke Stein,(Gardner-Webb),and [b']Branden[/b] Hurrt(?) obvious one the best in the state (15-0). But, These next few years these youngmen at the LB 's positions are probly all Div I players.

 

Zach Hurtt I believe is going to Wittenberg..

I beg to differ. Trinity has a pretty good unit led by Jordan Whting. Not sure the names of the other 2 guys but he elevates that unit regardless.

 

I think the top 2 units in the state are Beechwood and Louisville Central. For a small school Beechwood has some guys with some great size and pretty good athletic ability in Brady Slusher 6'2/210, Joe Daniels 6'3/205 and Neico Teipel 6'2/200 not sure if their ability translates into D1 scholarships but they have the frames to develope.

 

I have to give the best LB core distinction to Louisville Centrals' Ridge Wilson 6'4/210 William Lanecaster 5'11/195 and Tim Patterson 6'4/215. I heard that several Big 10 and SEC schools are walking the halls of Central in pursuit of these guys.

 

I think, of the three, Tim Patterson has the biggest star potential; becasue he is still growing and will be at least 6'5/225 before he graduates. He is going to be a Jr. next season and just turned 16 in March. He reminds me of the former MLB for North Carolina (K. Mays) when they had one of the top defenses in the nation.

 

Ridge Wilson is the unquestioned leader and will be able to play either OLB spot in college. He has a nose for the ball and makes plays all over the field. He reminds me of former U of L LB Terry Rice-Locket. He will hit you and has the speed to run down backs from the weakside and looks like he will develop his frame to be able to play at 235 pounds once he gets into a college weight program.

 

William Lanecaster is the most athletic and can play safety, receiver, or tailback. He will probably end up going to a historically black college as a punter. Thats right, punter. As good of an athlete as he is, he probably has the most potential as a punter. I think he averaged something like 40 yards per punt, and ran for several first downs on punt fakes.

 

I would love to see some insight on some other LB units, rather than just names and speculation that they are D1 talents; because realistically there may be 5-6 D1 linebackers in the whole state.

All of these great Bluebird traditional state champion teams' date=' the key to most of their success was all of the great Linebackers! From the Rollers days, thru great hiitters like the Dempsey's, Dusty Cottinghams and Grover. Look at 2007's crew, Ryan Ball,(Georgetown), Luke Stein,(Gardner-Webb),and Branden Hurrt(?) obvious one the best in the state (15-0). But, These next few years these youngmen at the LB 's positions are probly all Div I players.[/quote']

 

Hold on there my friend. What great hitters were named Dempsey? Heck, I don't even recall a LBer named Dempsey for what it's worth. Bud Dempsey played in 75, but he was a safety and not a Lber. Furthermore, while I think we'll have a very good LBing crew this year, there may be one that could be a D-1 player someday. Love the enthusiasm, but a little bit of realism goes a long way. :thumb:

I would match Roller, Collingsworth and Conner, with the best among state. With Newman, Laber, and Turner at back-ups

I would match Roller' date=' Collingsworth and Conner,[/b'] with the best among state. With Newman, Laber, and Turner at back-ups

 

Since the title of this thread is "Highlands, #1 Linebacker crew in the bluegrass..." is it your assumption that Collinsworth and Conner are also playing linebacker? I don't recall seeing that during spring ball, nor did I see it last year, but maybe you know something I don't.:confused:

Since the title of this thread is "Highlands, #1 Linebacker crew in the bluegrass..." is it your assumption that Collinsworth and Conner are also playing linebacker? I don't recall seeing that during spring ball, nor did I see it last year, but maybe you know something I don't.:confused:

 

You are right, neither Collinsworth nor Conner will be playing linebacker (inside or outside) this year, nor did they play that position last year.

Hold on there my friend. What great hitters were named Dempsey? Heck, I don't even recall a LBer named Dempsey for what it's worth. Bud Dempsey played in 75, but he was a safety and not a Lber. Furthermore, while I think we'll have a very good LBing crew this year, there may be one that could be a D-1 player someday. Love the enthusiasm, but a little bit of realism goes a long way. :thumb:

 

The '75 State champ LB's were Jim Head (Ollie's Uncle) and Jeff Schlosser (Hunter's Dad). Jeff McMahon was the "monster" LB and NKY POY. THe Dempsey kid was just the "last guy to the pile"...so the announcer called his name alot!! :lol: Next year's LB's will be special...but maybe a year away from KY's best!

I can remember, it seemed like Dangerous Dempsey was on every tackle. "Like a Nightmare ", for the opposition.

You are right, neither Collinsworth nor Conner will be playing linebacker (inside or outside) this year, nor did they play that position last year.

 

Maybe true, But Stein and Ball never played guard and tackle before! Coach Meuller obviously knows what he's doing and he knows how to get the players in the right positions to win Championships!!

I have a lot of respect for Highlands, and anyone in the football program. But let's be honest; last year, they said, was possibly one of their best seasons ever. It probably was; and how many of them went Div. 1? Zero. Another thing, who was the last player from Highlands to go Div. 1? I think it was like two years ago, and before that, two.

 

To go Div. 1 is a big deal, and not just a "good" player can go. Most of the time all you hear about is that like five players from every season are Div.1 worthy; but rarely does anyone ever actually get anything. So yes, they may be good, but I doubt more than one of them will even get anything Div. 1.

 

 

 

 

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You are right, neither Collinsworth nor Conner will be playing linebacker (inside or outside) this year, nor did they play that position last year.

That would be a huge waste of their talents.

Luke Stein...D1...Gardner-Webb...this year.

I have a lot of respect for Highlands, and anyone in the football program. But let's be honest; last year, they said, was possibly one of their best seasons ever. It probably was; and how many of them went Div. 1? Zero. Another thing, who was the last player from Highlands to go Div. 1? I think it was like two years ago, and before that, two.

 

To go Div. 1 is a big deal, and not just a "good" player can go. Most of the time all you hear about is that like five players from every season are Div.1 worthy; but rarely does anyone ever actually get anything. So yes, they may be good, but I doubt more than one of them will even get anything Div. 1.

 

 

 

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I will tell you right now that Brandon Roller and Austin Collinsworth are both D-1 athletes... I would be very surprised at the end of their senior seasons if they didn't have a few offers on the board..:thumb::thumb: