The Herald-Leader Hundred: 2023’s top Kentucky high school football players
Going into his senior year, Lexington Christian Academy quarterback Cutter Boley has already made a name for himself as the state’s top college recruit and a high-profile commitment to the University of Kentucky.
It follows that the 6-foot-5 signal caller would top this year’s edition of the Herald-Leader Hundred, our annual list of some of the best high school football players in Kentucky heading into the 2023 season.
High school coaches around the state picked our top 10 and Boley’s name came up most, appearing on 50 of the 76 surveys submitted with 30 No. 1 votes.
A four-star recruit according to 247Sports.com and Rivals.com, Boley led LCA to the Class 2A semifinals last season, throwing for 3,901 yards and 36 touchdowns. The Eagles are a favorite to contend for the 2A championship again this year and, if they do, Boley will be one of the top contenders for Mr. Football, the game’s highest individual accolade.
Boyle County’s dynamic junior playmaker Montavin Quisenberry ranked second in the coaches’ voting, followed by Frederick Douglass lineman Zuri Madison, an Arkansas commit.
All four of UK’s in-state commits made our top 10 with Covington Catholic’s Willie Rodriguez, Simon Kenton’s Aba Selm and Taylor County’s Hayes Johnson joining Boley. Johnson tied Christian Academy-Louisville quarterback Cole Hodge for the 10th spot.
Three juniors made the top 10 with Bowling Green quarterback Deuce Bailey and Central running back Cortez Stone joining Quisenberry in that category.
Also among the top vote-getters were North Hardin wideout Shaun Boykins Jr., a Louisville commit, and Male wide receiver Max Gainey.
Corbin fans and others who follow high school football closely will no doubt argue that Jacob Smith and his twin brother, Jerod Smith, should be among our top 10. But word about the four-star Michigan commitments’ arrival in Corbin wasn’t yet reflected in recruiting rankings in late July and similarly did not disseminate to enough coaches in time to make an impact in our survey. However, the Smiths are noted here and are in our top 50.
The following Herald-Leader Hundred is @HLpreps’ preseason list of some of the best players in the state as put forth by high school head coaches and also selected by sports writer Jared Peck. The top 10 players are presented in order of votes received from the coaches, who were asked to rank the top 10 players in the state regardless of school classification.
The next 39 players, in alphabetical order, are among those most often named as part of that survey combined with @HLpreps’ picks based on their career, statistics, recruiting rankings and coaches’ comments. Additionally, 50 additional notable players from Kentucky’s various geographic regions are recognized as players to watch.
The online version of this story links to each player’s Hudl.com highlights from their names.
The top 10
1. Cutter Boley
School: Lexington Christian
Height/Weight/Class/Position: 6-5/203/Sr./QB
College choice: Kentucky
Total points received in survey: 441 (30 No. 1 votes)
School: Boyle County
Height/Weight/Class/Position: 5-9/160/Jr./RB
College choice: Undecided
Total points received in survey: 267 (4)
3. Zuri Madison
School: Frederick Douglass
Height/Weight/Class/Position: 6-5/315/Sr./OL/DL
College choice: Arkansas
Total points received in survey: 182 (1)
School: Covington Catholic
Height/Weight/Class/Position: 6-4/240/Sr./TE
College choice: Kentucky
Total points received in survey: 165
5. Aba Selm
School: Simon Kenton
Height/Weight/Class/Position: 6-4/293/Sr./OT
College choice: Kentucky
Total points received in survey: 127 (1)
School: North Hardin
Height/Weight/Class/Position: 6-1/185/Sr./WR
College choice: Louisville
Total points received in survey: 122
7. Deuce Bailey
School: Bowling Green
Height/Weight/Class/Position: 6-0/165/Jr./QB
College choice: Undecided
Total points received in survey: 112 (5)
8. Max Gainey
School: Male
Height/Weight/Class/Position: 5-9/150/Sr./ATH
College choice: Undecided
Total points received in survey: 105 (2)
9. Cortez Stone
School: Central
Height/Weight/Class/Position: 5-10/172/Jr./RB
College choice: Undecided
Total points received in survey: 101 (1)
10. Cole Hodge (tie)
School: Christian Academy-Louisville
Height/Weight/Class/Position: 6-2/193/Sr./QB
College choice: East Carolina
Total points received in survey: 90 (2)
10. Hayes Johnson (tie)
School: Taylor County
Height/Weight/Class/Position: 6-5/295/Sr./OT
College choice: Kentucky
Total points received in survey: 90 (2)
The next 39
Austin Alexander, Cooper, 6-3/243/Jr./TE/DE
Avery Bodner, Boyle County, 6-0/175/Sr./ATH
Demauriah Brown, Boyle County, 5-11/170/Jr./ATH/LB
Jack Chappell, North Laurel, 6-2/202/Sr./LB
Aveion Chenault, Frederick Douglass, 6-2/165/Jr./WR
Buddy Collins, Scott County, 5-10/175/Jr./ATH
Santana Crayton, Pleasure Ridge Park, 5-10/180/Sr./WR/SS
Sage Dawson, Boyle County, 6-0/160/Sr./QB
Brock Driver, Boyle County, 6-2/205/Jr./ATH
Jahvon Frazier, Bryan Station, 6-2/194/Sr./DE
Dahvon Frazier, Bryan Station, 6-2/215/Sr./DE
Carter Guillaume, St. Xavier, 6-2/275/Sr./OL
Marlon Harbin, St. Xavier, 5-11/175/So./ATH
Isaiah Hare, Bullitt East, 6-3/260/Sr./DL
Antonio Harris, Male, 6-0/170/Jr./ATH
JT Haskins Jr., Bryan Station, 6-1/170/Sr./ATH
Brady Hensley, Lexington Christian, 6-0/202/Sr./RB/SS
Terrion Hicks, Frederick Douglass, 5-11/170/Sr./ATH
Jason Hocker, Bryan Station, 6-1/235/Sr./LB
Connor Hodge, Christian Academy-Louisville, 6-1/160/Jr./ATH
Ashton Jones, St. Xavier, 6-2/265/Sr./DL
Jeremiah “JJ” Jones, Murray, 6-4/196/Jr./WR/SS
Demeco Kennedy, Frederick Douglass, 6-3/265/Sr./OL/DL
Jak Lindsey, Owensboro, 6-5/300/Sr./OL
Jeremiah Lowe, Frederick Douglass, 5-11/170/Sr./CB
Ronald Lunz, North Hardin, 5-10/160/So./ATH
Lukus McDaniels, Jeffersontown, 6-5/230/Sr./ATH
David “Pancake” Pellman, Manual, 6-3/285/So./OL
Justin Ruffin Jr., Christian Academy-Louisville, 5-9/160/Sr./WR/CB
Joe Schlarman, Lexington Catholic, 6-3/265/Sr./OL
Jacob Smith, Corbin, 6-5/230/Sr., Edge
Jerod Smith, Corbin, 6-3/265/Sr., DL
Makhi Smith, Woodford County, 6-3/175/Jr./ATH
Isaac Sowells Jr., Male, 6-0/285/Jr./OL
Jutarious Starks, Mayfield, 5-10/195/Sr./RB/TE
Jhaden Vaughn, Trigg County, 6-5/185/Sr./WR/S
Zah’Ron “Zeek” Washburn, Manual, 5-11/182/Sr./ATH
Franklin West, Corbin, 6-3/295/Sr./OL
Darius Wiley, North Hardin, 6-6/230/Sr./EDGE
And 50 more players to watch from …
LEXINGTON: Will Bivens, Lexington Christian, 6-3/220/Sr./TE/EDGE; Logan Busson, Frederick Douglass, 6-2/205/Jr./OLB/ATH; Cole Carpenter, Frederick Douglass, 6-4/205/Sr./QB; Parker Chaney, Lexington Christian, 6-1/190/Sr./WR/DB; Chase Couch, Lexington Christian, 6-4/215/Sr./DE/TE; Garrison McKinney, Lexington Christian, 6-2/280/Sr./OL; Darion Neal, Frederick Douglass, 6-0/220/Sr./LB; Cooper Ranvier, Frederick Douglass, 6-3/205/Sr./K/P; Will Rich, Lexington Christian, 6-3/226/Sr./TE/LB; Jayden Taylor, Lexington Christian, 6-2/205/Sr./OLB.
CENTRAL KENTUCKY: Kaydon Custard, Harrison County, 6-0/180/Sr./QB; Maddox Hager, Boyle County, 6-6/200/Fr./TE/DE; Jasante Harmon, Scott County, 6-1/270/Sr./DT; Aiden Howard, Madison Central, 6-5/240/Sr./OL; Ethan Moore, Madison Southern, 6-2/185/Jr./ATH.
LOUISVILLE AREA: Hamilton Atkins, St. Xavier, 6-4/250/Sr./TE/T; Ethan “ET” Harris, Kentucky Country Day, 6-2/150/Sr./QB; Trevor Havill, St. Xavier, 6-5/205/Sr./QB; Christopher Jones, Manual, 6-3/308/Sr./DL; Tucker Roth, Pleasure Ridge Park, 6-4/211/Jr./MLB; Maurice Stephens, Ballard, 6-2/175/Jr./ATH; Journey Wyche, Ballard, 5-11/188/Sr./ATH.
EASTERN KENTUCKY: Darius Akal, Harlan, 5-11/155/Jr./ATH; Gavin Chadwell, North Laurel, 6-5/230/Sr./TE; Gabe Claybrook, North Laurel, 6-4/245/Sr./OL; Kade Elam, Corbin, 6-1/215/Jr./QB; Christian Larkey, Rockcastle County, 5-10/170/Sr./DB; Logan Lundy, Raceland, 6-3/215/Sr./QB; Evan Miller, Breathitt County, 6-3/280/Sr./OL; Steven Partin, Knox Central, 6-2/210/Sr./RB/LB; Daniel Thomas, Bell County, 5-9/180/Sr./RB.
NORTHERN KENTUCKY: Brody Benke, Highlands, 6-4/240/Sr./QB/TE/WR; Xavier Campbell, Beechwood, 6-0/245/Sr./Edge/LB; Ben Fay, Conner, 6-6/215/Sr./TE/LB; Cameron O’Hara, Cooper, 6-2/180/So./QB; Grady Reynolds, Ryle, 6-5/220/Sr./TE; Brach Rice, Dixie Heights, 6-3/215/Sr./TE/EDGE.
SOUTH-CENTRAL KENTUCKY: Beau Baker, Washington County, 6-7/240/Sr./QB/TE; Trevy Barber, Bowling Green, 5-9/165/So./ATH; Easton Barlow, Bowling Green, 6-0/165/Sr./WR; Bryce Button, South Warren, 6-2/180/Jr./QB; JD Crump, Hart County, 6-2/205/Sr./Edge/RB; Trey Durbin, Elizabethtown, 6-2/200/Sr./RB/DE; DeMarcus Elliott, Bowling Green, 6-3/295/Sr./OL; Josiah Hope, North Hardin, 6-4/265/So./DT; Peyton Smith, Taylor County, 6-1/160/Jr./RB/CB.
WESTERN KENTUCKY: Noah Dillbeck, Apollo, 6-3/295/Sr./OL; Jack James, Paducah Tilghman, 5-11/180/Jr./QB; Tay’Shaun Linton, Trigg County, 6-2/240/Sr./DE; Eli Masterson, Apollo, 6-1/200/Sr./WR/SS.
Methodology: All of the state’s 223 head coaches were invited to participate, with 76 responding to the top 10 player rankings question out of 168 preseason surveys returned. Players were assigned point values of 10 points for a coach’s top pick down to one point for the 10th player on their list. Players outside the top 10 were selected by Jared Peck based on input from the surveys, recruiting rankings, known college offers and career accomplishments.
‘We want to play the best.’ A Q&A with Lexington Christian quarterback Cutter Boley.
Where to watch Kentucky football’s in-state recruiting targets in 2023
