2021 Class of the Commonwealth: Kentucky’s top high school football seniors
The Lexington Herald-Leader is proud to present its 30th edition of the Class of the Commonwealth, an annual selection of the state’s top high school senior football players.
All choices were made by Herald-Leader digital sports writer Jared Peck using criteria that included: career statistics and accomplishments, senior-season stats and accomplishments, recruiting rankings, advancement in the postseason and any other notable accomplishments in athletics.
The list includes 25 players, with each of the 12 state finalist teams guaranteed at least one selection and 10 honorable mentions named. Each group of players is listed in alphabetical order.
State finalists honorees
VINNY ANTHONY, MALE
Position: Wide receiver.
Credentials: Anthony, 6-foot-1 and 170 pounds, led the Bulldogs in receiving with 1,108 yards and 15 TDs and had a kickoff return score in 2021. A three-star recruit according to 247Sports.com, Anthony committed to Wisconsin after receiving at least 13 college offers. Anthony had 129 yards receiving and two touchdown catches in the Class 6A finals against St. Xavier, a 31-21 loss. For his career, he had 2,249 yards and 33 touchdowns receiving.
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GRANT BINGHAM, JOHNSON CENTRAL
Position: Offensive tackle.
Credentials: Bingham, 6-foot-6 and 302 pounds, began racking up Division I college offers in the spring of 2020 with at least 21 schools seeking his services. Kentucky landed the four-star recruit’s commitment in April. Johnson Central has consistently been among the state’s top rushing teams during his tenure and had a second-best in the state 4,564 yards on the ground in 2021. Bingham was part of Johnson Central’s 2019 Class 4A title team and their runner-up finish this season.
XAVIER BROWN, LEXINGTON CHRISTIAN
Position: Running back.
Credentials: Brown, 5-foot-11 and 180 pounds, had his most productive season of his career in 2021 with 1,511 yards and 22 TDs rushing to go along with 386 yards and six TDs receiving for the Class 2A runners-up. A three-star recruit committed to Virginia, Brown chose the Cavaliers from at least 11 other offers, according to 247Sports.com.
ISAAC DIXON, BELFRY
Position: Running back.
Credentials: Dixon, a 5-foot-11, 197-pound fifth-year senior, was named the Kentucky Football Coaches Association’s Mr. Football for career accomplishments that included two Class 3A championship game most valuable player awards. Title winners in 2019 and 2021, this season the Pirates got 376 yards and five touchdowns rushing from Dixon that included a 62-yard fourth quarter score on a fourth-and-7 play that put Belfry up for good in their 33-28 win over Paducah Tilghman. He topped 1,000 yards rushing in four straight seasons. Dixon has received a preferred walk-on invite from Kentucky and has offers from Hanover, Pikeville, Charleston and Kentucky Wesleyan.
CHEVIS ELLIOTT, RUSSELLVILLE
Position: Defensive back.
Credentials: Elliott, 5-foot-9 and 163 pounds, tied for the state lead in interceptions with nine and had one for a pick-six. He also ranked second on the Class A runners-up in tackles with 82, including three for a loss. He helped the offense at running back with 471 yards rushing and six TDs. Elliott has offers from Thomas More, Culver-Stockton and Mount St. Joseph.
CAMERON HERGOTT, BEECHWOOD
Position: Quarterback.
Credentials: Hergott, a 6-foot-2 fifth-year senior, led the Tigers to three state championships in four years and was named the MVP of each title game. Hergott’s 2020 season earned recognition as the Associated Press’s co-Mr. Football (along with Frederick Douglass’s Jager Burton) and he held KFCA’s Mr. Football outright. Hergott ran for 1,811 yards and 29 TDs, making him one of the state’s top-50 rushers, and he threw for 2,323 yards and 32 scores. He’s committed to Eastern Kentucky.
DANE KEY, FREDERICK DOUGLASS
Position: Wide receiver.
Credentials: Key, 6-foot-2 and 190 pounds, is committed to Kentucky. He recently received the Paul Hornung Award from the Louisville Quarterback Club, which honors its pick for the state’s top player, and was the KFCA Class 5A player of the year. Rated as a four-star recruit, he was the No. 1 prospect in the state by 247Sports.com. Key led the Broncos in receiving each of the last three years and had a career high 804 yards receiving with seven TD catches and a kickoff return TD in 2021.
COLE LANTER, BOYLE COUNTY
Position: Wide receiver/defensive back.
Credentials: Lanter, 5-foot-11 and 175 pounds, has led the back-to-back Class 4A champions in receiving in each of the last two seasons, including 1,288 yards and 21 TDs in 2021. Lanter had five catches for 116 yards and two TDs in this year’s title game win over Johnson Central. For his career, he has totaled 2,253 yards and 35 TDs receiving. In addition to offers from Eastern Kentucky and Morehead State, he has gotten a preferred walk-on invite to Kentucky.
CAM MARSHALL, PADUCAH TILGHMAN
Position: Wide receiver/defensive back.
Credentials: Marshall, 6-foot-3 and 175 pounds, wowed the Kroger Field crowd in the Class 3A state finals with three touchdown catches to go with a team-high 14 tackles in the Blue Tornado’s 33-28 loss to Belfry. His 12 TD catches on the season tied for the team lead in 2021 while his 72 tackles ranked third. He also had four interceptions on defense. He led the team with 67 tackles in last year’s COVID-19 shortened season. Marshall holds an offer from Eastern Kentucky.
ISAAC MCNAMEE, PIKEVILLE
Position: Quarterback.
Credentials: McNamee, 6-foot-3 and 220 pounds, helped lead the Panthers to two Class A state championships in three years and was named the 2019 title game’s most valuable player. The Murray State commit threw for 1,819 yards and 28 TDs to go with 159 yards and three TDs rushing in 2021. He totaled 6,331 yards and 87 TDs passing in his career.
JACK SIVORI, ST. XAVIER
Position: Quarterback.
Credentials: Sivori, a 5-foot-11, 193-pound dual-threat QB, helped lead the Tigers to the Class 6A championship with 306 yards and three TDs passing and another 64 yards and one TD rushing in the 31-21 win over Male at Kroger Field that earned him MVP honors. Sivori had 2,319 yards and 28 TDs passing and 1,277 yards and 33 TDs rushing in 2021.
CADEN VELTKAMP, SOUTH WARREN
Position: Quarterback.
Credentials: Veltkamp, 6-foot-5 and 215 pounds, helped lead South Warren to the Class 5A championship, throwing for 295 yards and three TDs in the 38-26 win over Frederick Douglass. A Western Kentucky commit, Veltkamp threw for 2,456 yards and 35 TDs his senior year. He was rated as a three-star recruit by 247Sports.com and chose the hometown Hilltoppers over offers from Kentucky, Akron, Miami (Ohio) and others.
At-large honorees
SELAH BROWN, MALE
Position: Defensive line.
Credentials: Brown, a 6-foot-2, 251-pound Louisville commit, ranks as a four-star recruit and the No. 2 senior in the state, according to 247Sports.com. He was named KFCA Class 6A player of the year for his dominating presence in the Bulldogs’ defense. With games limited by injury as a senior and by COVID-19 as a junior Brown had 31 tackles, three for a loss and a sack in 2021 and 38 tackles, 12.5 for a loss and three sacks in 2020. As a sophomore, Brown totaled 50 tackles, 15 for a loss and nine sacks.
JAGGER GILLIS, BOYLE COUNTY
Position: Quarterback/linebacker.
Credentials: Gillis, a 6-foot-3, 210-pound fifth-year senior, helped lead the Rebels to back-to-back Class 4A state titles and was named MVP of the championship game in which he threw for 131 yards and two TDS and ran for 131 yards and two more scores. Named the KFCA’s Class 4A player of the year, he threw for 2,551 yards and 30 TDs and ran for 560 yards and 15 TDs in 2021. His defensive stats included a 55-yard pick-six and four sacks to go with 48 tackles.
JOE HUMPHREYS, DAVIESS COUNTY
Position: Quarterback.
Credentials: Humphreys, a 6-foot-4½, 185-pound Miami (Ohio) commit, led the state with 3,940 passing yards, averaging 303 yards per game. His 48 TD passes were 10 more than the next closest QB. Humphreys also rushed for 601 yards and 17 scores and helped lead the Panthers to their first regional finals since 2017. His career numbers were 6,933 yards, 80 TDs passing, 1,367 yards, 31 TDs rushing.
EASTON MESSER, CHRISTIAN ACADEMY-LOUISVILLE
Position: Wide receiver.
Credentials: Messer, 5-foot-10 and 180 pounds, ranked second in the state with 104 yards receiving per game. He caught for 1,254 yards and 17 TDs in 2021 and also had a pair of pick-sixes as a defensive back, a fumble recovery TD, two kickoff return TDs and a punt return TD for the Class 3A District 4 champs. Messer’s college offers include Air Force, Western Kentucky and Marshall.
MASON MOORE, LEXINGTON CHRISTIAN
Position: Wide receiver/safety.
Credentials: Moore, a 6-foot-1, 190-pound Miami (Ohio) commit, led the Eagles in receiving each of the last two years, catching for 922 yards and 10 TDs in 2021 while also rushing for 305 yards and five scores. In wins over highly ranked Boyle County and Christian Academy-Louisville, Moore started as an emergency QB in a run-heavy offense not typical for LCA. As a defender, Moore had four interceptions, including two for touchdowns.
KALIB PERRY, GREAT CROSSING
Position: Linebacker/athlete.
Credentials: Perry, a 6-foot-3½, 215-pound Tennessee commit, led the Warhawks in tackles with 85, including 9.5 for a loss, while also contributing on offense with 405 total yards and three TDs. In Great Crossing’s first season as a program in 2019, Perry’s sophomore year, the Warhawks went 1-10. This year, Great Crossing finished 8-3. Perry chose the Volunteers over at least 12 other offers, including Kentucky and Purdue.
BRADEN MUNDY, OWENSBORO CATHOLIC
Position: Wide receiver.
Credentials: Mundy, 5-foot-11 and 185 pounds, led the state in total yards and average yards per game receiving with 1,370 and 114, respectively, and caught 17 TDs for the Class 2A District 2 champs. Munday also had a kickoff return TD. Mundy also topped 1,000 yards receiving as a sophomore and had 34 TD catches in his career. Also a baseball standout for the Aces, he committed to Kentucky Wesleyan in that sport.
JAWAUN NORTHINGTON, MANUAL
Position: Running back.
Credentials: Northington, a 5-foot-11, 185-pound three-star recruit according to 247Sports.com, rushed for 868 yards and 14 TDs, averaging 108 yards per game in a senior season shortened by an arm injury. Northington topped 1,000 yards and had 20 TDs as a sophomore, but he saw his junior season shortened by the COVID-19 pandemic. His career totals were 2,807 yards and 44 TDs. His college offers include Kentucky, Boston College and Indiana.
DAVONTAYE SAUNDERS, EMINENCE
Position: Running back/linebacker.
Credentials: Saunders, 5-foot-10 and 185 pounds, led the state in scoring per game, averaging 22.4 points with 1,815 yards and 25 TDs rushing and 724 yards and 14 TDs receiving. He also led the Warriors in tackles on defense with 97 total, four for a loss and five sacks. His offers include Union College, Lindsey Wilson and Campbellsville.
ZACHARY SHOFNER, BULLITT CENTRAL
Position: Running back.
Credentials: Shofner, 5-foot-10 and 175 pounds, led the state in average rushing yards per game (182), was second in total rush yards (2,184) and first in total points scored (260) for the Class 5A, District 3 champs, helping lead the Cougars to the program’s first regional finals. In addition to his 39 rushing touchdowns, he had 174 yards and one TD receiving. He’s reportedly received interest from Centre College.
LUKE SLUSHER, BEECHWOOD
Position: Offensive tackle.
Credentials: Slusher, a 6-foot-5, 285-pound two-star recruit according to 247Sports.com, helped the Tigers to their second straight Class 2A state title and third state championship in four years. The Beechwood offense ranked third statewide in scoring with 45.9 points per game, and were among Class 2A’s leaders in team rushing (3,310 yards) and team passing (2,517 yards). Slusher chose WKU among six other offers.
JADAIRION SMITH, BALLARD
Position: Defensive line.
Credentials: Smith, a 6-foot-4, 220-pound three-star recruit according to 247Sports.com, had 56 tackles, 17 for a loss and a team-high 14.5 sacks (fourth-highest in the state overall) for the 8-4 Bruins. He had six sacks in just four games of a COVID-19 shortened junior season and had 58 tackles and eight sacks as a sophomore. Smith has at least 13 college offers, including Louisville, West Virginia and Boston College.
JACKSON SMITH, BOYLE COUNTY
Position: Kicker.
Credentials: Smith, a 5-foot-11, 180-pound five-star kicker according to ProKicker.com, has been recognized as a first-team all-state player for three consecutive seasons. The Kentucky commit made seven of his nine field goal attempts and 72 of his 78 extra points playing for the back-to-back Class 4A champs. His 23-yard field goal in overtime against Franklin County helped capture the 2020 state title.
Honorable mention
Brady Clark, Bardstown (QB): Among the state leaders in passing with 2,888 yards and 38 TDs passing and 433 yards and six TDs rushing for the Class 3A, District 3 champs.
Eric “E.J.” Dickerson, Kentucky Country Day (RB): Had 1,237 yards, 18 TDs and 513 yards rushing, seven TDs receiving, and a kickoff return TD. Also a big part of the Bearcats’ run to the 2020 Class A finals as a junior.
Caden Johnson, Frederick Douglass (LB): Ball State commit was a three-star recruit according to 247Sports.com. Had 48 tackles, eight for a loss, two sacks and three fumble recoveries for the Class 5A runners-up.
Jeremiah Lightfoot, Bowling Green (DL): An Eastern Kentucky commit, Lightfoot had 71 tackles, including 17 for a loss, and four sacks for the 6-6 Purples in 2021. He also had a forced fumble, fumble recovery and an interception.
Treyveon Longmire, Corbin (WR/CB): A four-star recruit according to 247Sports.com, Longmire had 475 yards receiving and seven TDs in 2021 for the Class 4A, District 7 champs. Recently decommitted from Kentucky and has at least 19 other offers, including Michigan, Arkansas and Oklahoma.
Cole Pennington, Sayre (QB/DB): Marshall commit helped lead Spartans to 8-1 and 8-3 seasons in their first two varsity campaigns as a program after a 40-year hiatus. Had 1,906 yards and 20 TDs passing and 220 yards and six TDs rushing to go with 52 tackles and four interceptions as a defender.
Elijah Reed, Pleasure Ridge Park (CB): A Kentucky signee who was a three-star recruit with offers from teams including Purdue and Illinois, according to 247Sports.com, Reed’s stats are incomplete for 2021. But PRP improved from 2-4 in 2020 to 6-5 this season.
Charlie Terry, East Carter (RB/LB): Among state’s leading rushers and scorers with 1,959 yards, 35 TDs on the ground and had 53 tackles, four for a loss and a sack for the Class 3A state semifinalists.
Cole Wallace, Rowan County (RB): Fifth-year senior rushed for 1,795 yards and 17 TDs to push his career totals to 6,516 yards and 74 TDs for the Vikings. Has an offer from hometown Morehead State.
Evan Wibberley, Dixie Heights (OL): Western Kentucky commit rated as a three-star recruit by 247Sports.com with offers from 12 schools. Colonels ranked 10th in rushing yards (2,118) and averaged 26.39 points per game. Wibberley had 31 tackles, one for a loss and one sack on defense.
This story was originally published December 26, 2021 at 6:00 AM.
