Kentucky All-State football team: Meet the 12 members of the first-team offense
Here’s a look at the 12 members of The Courier Journal’s 2022 first-team All-State football offense, as selected by a statewide vote of coaches. A total of 113 coaches returned ballots.
Travis Egan
Bullitt East, quarterback
Height/weight: 6-2/200
Year: Senior
College: Offers from Charleston and Kentucky Wesleyan
Why he’s on the team: Egan guided the Chargers to a 14-1 record and a 28-27 victory over Male in the Class 6A championship game, giving Bullitt East its first state championship. He completed 66.2% of his passes (215 of 325) for 2,934 yards and 35 touchdowns with just five interceptions. He also was the Chargers’ second-leading rusher with 979 yards and 17 touchdowns on 139 carries (7.0 yards per carry). Egan was named Mr. Football and Class 6A Player of the Year by the Kentucky Football Coaches Association.
Coach’s take: “Travis is an elite quarterback because he plays at a high level in every facet of the game,” Keegan Kendrick said. “He can make any throw, he has the ability to hurt you with his feet, and his decision-making is on another level than most of his counterparts. He can read linebackers, defensive backs and linemen. Not only that, but he is the clear leader of our team.”
High school football: Jeff Brohm's Louisville homecoming already has local coaches buzzing
Brady Hensley
Madison Central, running back
Height/weight: 6-0/202
Year: Junior
College: Offer from Eastern Kentucky
Why he’s on the team: Hensley carried 196 times for 1,470 yards and 16 touchdowns, averaging 7.5 yards per carry for an Indians team that went 9-4 and reached the third round of the Class 6A playoffs. He also had six receptions for 111 yards and two touchdowns. Despite missing four games this season with an injury, he’s already Madison Central’s career leader in rushing yards (3,274) and rushing touchdowns (47). Hensley was a second-team All-State pick as a sophomore.
Coach’s take: “He has great vision, great hands and blocks well,” Mike Holcomb said. “He does all the things great running backs do and always gave the offensive line credit for his success.”
Cortez Stone
Central, running back
Height/weight: 5-11/170
Year: Sophomore
College: Offers from Eastern Kentucky, Louisville, Purdue and Western Kentucky
Why he’s on the team: Stone carried 271 times for 2,191 yards (No. 2 in the state) and 26 touchdowns, averaging 8.1 yards per carry and helping the Yellow Jackets go 9-5 and reach the semifinals of the Class 4A playoffs. He also had 10 receptions for 177 yards and a touchdown. Through two seasons, Stone has rushed for 3,568 yards and 47 TDs. If Stone stays healthy, he’ll have a chance to challenge Johnson Central’s J.J. Jude (8,633 yards) as the state’s all-time leader in rushing yards. Stone was named Class 4A, District Four Player of the Year by the Kentucky Football Coaches Association.
Coach’s take: “He stayed the course and never wavered during our 2-4 start,” Marvin Dantzler said. “He continued to prepare as a champion each week. He’s a tremendous student-athlete, and we’re looking forward to seeing him compete for two more seasons.“
Chandler Godby
Pulaski County, wide receiver
Height/weight: 5-10/170
Year: Senior
College: Offers from Campbellsville, Cumberlands, Georgetown, Lindsey Wilson, Montana Tech and Union
Why he’s on the team: Godby won the triple crown for receiving, leading the state in catches (93), yards (1,677) and touchdowns (28) while helping the Maroons go 9-3 and reach the second round of the Class 5A playoffs. The 1,677 receiving yards ranks ninth in state history for a single season. Godby finished his career with 193 catches for 3,037 yards and 48 touchdowns. He was named Class 5A, District Eight Player of the Year by the Kentucky Football Coaches Association. Godby was a third-team All-State pick as a junior.
Coach’s take: “Chandler is an incredibly hard worker,” coach John Hines said. “He has been told his whole life that he’s too little. He’s proven people wrong. Chandler was a terrific playmaker. When he made a catch, it was just the beginning of the play.”
Montavin Quisenberry
Boyle County, wide receiver
Height/weight: 5-9/160
Year: Sophomore
College: Offers from Eastern Kentucky, Kentucky and Louisville
Why he’s on the team: One of the state’s most electric athletes, Quisenberry impacted the game on offense, defense and special teams while helping the Rebels win their third straight Class 4A championship. He was the team’s top receiver with 57 catches for 833 yards and ranked second in rushing with 1,009 yards on 96 carries. He scored 29 touchdowns (13 receiving, 10 rushing, three punt returns, three kickoff returns). On defense, he posted 36 tackles (18 solo), three tackles for loss, three interceptions, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery.
Coach’s take: “He’s an explosive athlete who makes plays all over the field,” Justin Haddix said. “Very hard worker and coachable.”
Jakob Dixon
Pleasure Ridge Park, wide receiver
Height/weight: 6-5/200
Year: Senior
College: Committed to Kentucky
Why he’s on the team: Big target had 64 catches for 1,089 yards and 15 touchdowns while helping the Panthers go 6-5. Also a basketball and track star, Dixon emerged as a college prospect last season when he had 32 catches for 663 yards and nine touchdowns.
Coach’s take: "Jakob has an NFL combination of height, weight and speed," Tommy Williams said. "He is matchup-proof, with the ability to box out defenders, take the top off the defense or run after the catch. Kentucky is getting a player that I believe can have an early impact in the (Southeastern Conference)."
Malachi Wood
Madison Central, offensive lineman
Height/weight: 6-8/280
Year: Senior
College: Committed to Kentucky
Why he’s on the team: Anchored a line that helped the Indians average 29.2 points and 232.8 rushing yards per game. Madison Central finished 9-4 and reached the third round of the Class 6A playoffs, also producing a first-team All-State running back in Brady Hensley. On defense, Wood posted 29 tackles (eight solo) and 1 ½ tackles for loss. Wood also earned first-team All-State honors as a junior.
Coach’s take: “Malachi has great length to go with quickness, technique and mental toughness,” Mike Holcomb said. “He also played defense this year to help his team. This made him more physical. I think his best football is ahead of him.”
High school football awards: KFCA names Players of the Year, Coaches of the Year for each Kentucky district
Daniel Daff
Scott County, offensive lineman
Height/weight: 6-1/294
Year: Senior
College: Committed to Georgetown
Why he’s on the team: Anchored a line that helped the Cardinals average 34.1 points per game and rank 18th in the state in rushing yards (257 per game). Scott County finished 11-2 and reached the third round of the Class 5A playoffs.
Coach’s take: “Daniel was the leader of our line … and has a 3.8 GPA,” Jim McKee said. “He’s an extremely strong young man who benches 405 and squats 550.”
Tristan Cook
Woodford County, offensive lineman
Height/weight: 6-6/300
Year: Senior
College: Committed to Ball State
Why he’s on the team: Cook helped the Yellow Jackets rank fifth in the state in scoring at 43.1 points per game and 12th in the state in rushing at 275 yards per game. Woodford County went 11-2 and reached the third round of the Class 5A playoffs. Coach Dennis Johnson praised Cook’s versatility, noting he can play center, guard and tackle and averaged a 92% grade during his three years as a starter.
Coach’s take: “Tristan Cook is a huge man who has worked on his body,” Johnson said. “He stands 6-6 and is a mauler on the offensive line. He plays whistle to whistle and has explosive hands and lower body strength.”
Austin Anderson
Bowling Green, offensive lineman
Height/weight: 6-4/290
Year: Senior
College: Committed to Liberty
Why he’s on the team: Anderson helped the Purples average 33.1 points per game and rank 14th in the state with 209 passing yards per game. Bowling Green finished 12-3 and reached the Class 5A championship game before falling to Frederick Douglass. On defense, he posted 31 tackles (22 solo). Anderson was named the Class 5A, District Two Player of the Year by the Kentucky Football Coaches Association.
Coach’s take: “While strong and powerful, Austin also possesses incredible athleticism and flexibility for a man his size,” Mark Spader said. “He has the mindset that he wants to physically dominate his opponent every snap. His quiet, focused leadership this season is one of the reasons we were able to improve as a team each week.”
Aba Selm
Simon Kenton, offensive lineman
Height/weight: 6-4/295
Year: Junior
College: Offers from Campbell, Eastern Kentucky, Kentucky and Purdue
Why he’s on the team: Selm helped Simon Kenton rank 17th in the state in scoring (39.1 ppg) and sixth in the state in rushing (298 yards per game). The Pioneers finished 8-4 and reached the second round of the Class 6A playoffs. Selm also played a big role on defense with 35 tackles (21 solo), four tackles for loss, three forced fumbles, two sacks and one fumble recovery.
Coach’s take: “Aba is very strong and athletic, fast and agile for his size,” Roy Lucas said. “He doesn't look like he is carrying almost 300 pounds. He can play any of the positions across both offensive and defensive lines.”
More high school football: KHSAA football realignment for 2023-26: Is your school switching classes?
Lance Gossett
Male, kicker
Height/weight: 6-1/195
Year: Senior
College: Committed to Navy
Why he’s on the team: Gossett converted 43 of 45 PAT kicks and 8 of 12 field-goal tries. The eight field goals tied for fourth-most in the state. His 26-yard field goal with 10 seconds remaining helped the Bulldogs beat Trinity 23-21 on Sept. 16. Male finished 10-5 and reached the Class 6A championship game before falling to Bullitt East.
Coach’s take: “Lance is the football equivalent of a gym rat, always on the field working on his craft,” Chris Wolfe said. “His hard work allowed him to be equally proficient at kickoffs, punting and field goals, which is very difficult to do.”
Jason Frakes: 502-582-4046; jfrakes@courier-journal.com; Twitter: @kyhighs.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Kentucky All-State football team: Meet first-team offense selections
