Kentucky "state" radar scan: top 2018 Prospects
FBS Offers: Louisville, Tennessee, Kentucky, Middle Tennessee State, Purdue, Virginia, Indiana
Justice Dingle has the size and speed of a top power-5 prospect and has the frame to add more mass. He shows good speed and pursuit angles to get sideline to sideline and good get off, allowing him to get into the backfield to harass ball carriers and quarterbacks. His style is a that of the "bull in the china shop" variety which will allow him to play inside linebacker at the college level but his burst will also benefit him at outside linebacker. He has been working on his coverage skills this offseason playing for the Tennessee Select 7on7 squad. He isn't there yet coverage wise to be labeled a complete linebacker but with is work ethic and dedication to his craft, those close to him expect his coverage skills to be improved this season.
FBS Offers: Appalachian State, Ball State, Kent State, Marshall, Memphis, Western Kentucky, West Virginia, Bowling Green
Tyrese Allen is the nicest kid you will ever meet unless you're lined up against him in the trenches, then you probably won't like him very much. Allen uses a brutal club and rip technique coupled with an explosive first step to shed blockers and get into gaps. He's country strong and has a great motor, something that you want to see out of big guy.
He also has added value as a recruit because he can play on the offensive line as a guard. While he is ranked 11th in the state, an argument can be made this ranking is too low and an argument can be made that the 3-tech DT has the most impressive tape of any in-state defensive tackle in the 2018 class. I think Allen is one of the top-5 players/prospects in the state this year behind Jairus Brents, Rondale Moore, Justice Dingle, and Wyatt Smock in that order.
Allen plans to make his college commitment on Tuesday, April, 18.
FBS Offers: Eastern Michigan
Ziyon Kenner is an electric playmaker who can affect the game as a receiver and a kick returner. He set the tone for the state title game by running a kick return back for a touchdown. He's a dangerous slot receiver for the Purples who specializes in taking slants and drag routes to the house. His routes are precise, he catches the ball away from his body, breaks tackles after the catch, and has the acceleration to split safeties playing halves coverage and the top end speed to outrace them into the end zone. He only holds three offers at the moment but I expect that number to increase when he gets in front of coaches at summer camps.
FBS Offers: Committed to Miami of Ohio
AJ Mayer committed to Miami of Ohio over Toledo, Ohio, Akron of the MAC conference. He's a tall, skinny quarterback but he's a tough customer and he can sling the rock as well as tote it when called upon to move the chains. The thing that stands out about Mayer as a passer is how he anticipates throws and fires bullets through small windows. The 6-foot-3 signal caller is a gun slinger who tucks some brass and that's the kind of kid you want running your offense. As Jimbo Fisher says, "I'd rather say whoa then giddy-up."
Mayer is the best QB prospect in this class and if he decides to get in front of some more coaches even though he has committed to Miami of Ohio, he may earn some bigger offers later in the cycle.
FBS Offers: Western Kentucky, Vanderbilt, Ohio, Miami (OH), Marshall, Ball State.
Kameron Butler is a long, rangy outside linebacker with good speed and coverage ability. He does a good job of using his long frame to get in passing lanes to snatch picks and knock down passes. He's more of drag down tackler than a big time hitter, he's more of finesse guy than a physical edge setter but he does a good job of keeping his outside shoulder free and forcing action back inside. His biggest offer at this point is Vanderbilt but if he hits the camp scene his fluid hips and ability to find the ball in the air will attract offers from teams who play a lot of spread teams.
FBS Offers: Ball State, Bowling Green, Eastern Michigan, Georgia State, Marshall, Purdue, South Alabama, Toledo,
Will Bramel shows good hand and hat placement, footwork, he finishes his blocks violently, and shows good athleticism for a 6-foot-6, 260-pound offensive lineman. It's unclear if he will play guard or tackle at the next level. What is clear is that his motor and nasty attitude have attracted eight offers from FBS schools and he is certainly one of the top prospects in the state of Kentucky.
FBS Offers: Miami (Ohio), Purdue
Cory Trice is an intriguing prospect due to his size. His film shows good range from the FS position. He does a good job attacking passes and shows a willingness to unload on receivers over the middle. He has good awareness of his position on the field which mitigates his average speed. Look for the long rangy safety to emerge as a power-five recruit as the cycle progresses if he can get in front of coaches this summer during camp season.
FBS Offers: Cincinnati
Colton Williams plays in Kentucky's highest classification, 6A, for Simon Kenton and has good film against top competition. He has quick feet at 6-foot-5, 275 pounds and does a good job getting to the second level. He only has one FBS offer to date but the Rivals staff is high on Williams and expects him to receive more love once the Summer camp season is underway.
FBS Offers: Marshall, Ohio, Toledo
In Kentucky highschool football there is a penalty that all offensive lineman strive to get flagged for. That infraction is known as the prestigious "excessive blocking" penalty. Parker Bisek is the Rasheed Wallace of the excessive blocking penalty, he racks them up the way Wallace picked up T's. He's undersized to play tackle at the next level but his willingness to get nasty will definitely translate to the interior line once he gets to college.
FBS Offers: Marshall, Ohio
Trey Livingood is a versatile trenchman who played all over the offensive line for Madison Southern last season. With his height and weight he probably translates to offensive guard at the next level and he has the speed to pull and the aggressiveness to put defenders into the turf. He is still a bit raw in pass protection, he needs to work a little on punch and keeping his hat between his man and the quarterback, but his film shows adequate production there and he has the feet, plus the want to, in order to improve with more reps in practice at the next level.
FBS Offers: none
Kolbe Langhi is an interesting quarterback prospect, who stand 6-foot-5, 220-pounds yet only holds and offer from Eastern Kentucky. The big pocket passer can get the ball downfield with his powerful arm but the knock on him is that he has a weird windup delivery, where he drops the ball down below his hip, kind of like Carson Wentz from the Philadelphia Eagles but in a more pronounced manner. That's pretty much the only knock on him however, as the ball jumps out of his hand and finds its destination with good zip on the tail end. He also shows good accuracy and anticipation while making his throws from a good base. Another thing I noticed from his film is that while he's not the most nimble guy on his feet, he makes smart movement when the pocket starts to collapse and moves into good throwing angles to create passing lanes. Langhi is a sleeper prospect who plays in a wide open college type spread-offense, it will be interesting to see the trajectory of his recruitment going into the Spring and Summer of 2017.