These Kentucky football recruiting targets will play in high school finals at Kroger Field

Kentucky football coach Mark Stoops is expected to be among the spectators when UK hosts the KHSAA state finals at Kroger Field this weekend.

Stoops will have a chance to see a couple of his class of 2023 commitments in person on their future home field as well as several underclassmen who have already picked up scholarship offers from the Wildcats.

Kentucky fans hoping to take an early look at some future Wildcats should be focused on two games: the 4A finals between Boyle County and Corbin at 8 p.m. on Friday and the 5A finals between Frederick Douglass and Bowling Green at 8 p.m. on Saturday. Boyle County and Frederick Douglass each boast three players with UK scholarship offers.

Here is a closer look at the players at Kroger Field this weekend with UK offers.

BOYLE COUNTY

▪ Tommy Ziesmer

One of two UK class of 2023 commitments getting an early look at Kroger Field this weekend, Ziesmer will look to lead Boyle County to its third consecutive 4A championship. Ziesmer ranks second on the team in tackles (78) and leads the team in sacks (nine). He has forced three fumbles in 14 games. A three-star recruit as an edge rusher according to the 247Sports Composite, Ziesmer committed to Kentucky in May over reported offers from Louisville, Tennessee, West Virginia, Purdue and others.

▪ Montavin Quisenberry

One of just four in-state prospects in the class of 2025 to already land a UK scholarship offer, Quisenberry does a little of everything for the Rebels. He has totaled 945 rushing yards and 821 receiving yards with 22 total touchdowns. He also has completed two of three passes for 90 yards and two touchdowns. Quisenberry has returned three punts and three kickoffs for touchdowns. On defense, Quisenberry has tallied 34 tackles, three tackles for loss and three interceptions. Louisville and EKU have also extended scholarship offers.

▪ Brock Driver

Quisenberry’s classmate also has a UK offer for the class of 2025. The recruiting websites rate him as a running back but he ranks sixth on the team in rushing yards (107) with three touchdowns. His bigger impact for the Rebels has come on defense with 50 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, one sack and three fumble recoveries. Driver’s father, Randy, played at Kentucky in the early 2000s.

FREDERICK DOUGLASS

▪ Ty Bryant

The son of former Wildcats wide receiver Cisco Bryant was the first player to commit to UK’s 2023 class. He made the most of the ability to reclassify and spend an extra season at Frederick Douglass, contributing on both sides of the ball to earn the Paul Hornung Award as the state’s top player. In 13 games, Bryant is credited with 456 rushing yards, 14 total touchdowns, 20 tackles, three tackles for loss, one-half sack, one fumble forced and one interception. He is expected to play defensive back at UK and is rated as a three-star athlete by the recruiting websites.

▪ Jeremiah Lowe

A junior picking up early interest from several Midwestern powerhouse programs, Lowe was offered a scholarship by UK in October. Michigan and Missouri have both offered. Lowe also took a visit to Notre Dame this fall. The defensive back has been credited with 14 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and two interceptions. Rivals.com rates Lowe as the top prospect in the state’s 2024 class.

▪ Demeco Kennedy

The Broncos’ junior offensive lineman picked up a scholarship offer from UK in July. Ole Miss, Louisville and Illinois have also offered. While Kennedy is being recruited as an interior offensive lineman, he contributes in other areas for Frederick Douglass, too. On defense, he has been credited with eight tackles and 3.5 tackles for loss. Perhaps most impressively, Kennedy has scored six two-point conversions as a ball-carrier in goal-line situations.

High school football state championships

At Kroger Field in Lexington

When: Friday and Saturday

Tickets: Available by advance sale digitally at KHSAAtickets.org. No walk-up paper tickets sold.

Streaming broadcasts: Subscription required for live video stream at KHSAA.tv. Pay-per-view live video at Go.PrepSpin.com. Free audio stream at KHSAA.net.

State finals schedule

FRIDAY’S GAMES

Class A: Pikeville (11-2) vs. Raceland (13-1), Noon

Class 2A: Beechwood (13-1) vs. Mayfield (14-0), 4 p.m.

Class 4A: Corbin (14-0) vs. Boyle County (12-2), 8 p.m.

SATURDAY’S GAMES

Class 3A: Christian Academy-Louisville (14-0) vs. Bardstown (14-0), Noon

Class 6A: Male (10-4) vs. Bullitt East (13-1), 4 p.m.

Class 5A: Frederick Douglass (14-0) vs. Bowling Green (12-2), 8 p.m.

This story was originally published December 1, 2022 at 7:00 AM.

Jon Hale

Lexington Herald-Leader

(859) 414-6776

Jon Hale is the University of Kentucky football beat writer for the Lexington Herald-Leader. He joined the Herald-Leader in 2022 but has covered UK athletics for more than 10 years. Hale was named the 2021 Kentucky Sportswriter of the Year. Support my work with a digital subscription