Where to watch Kentucky football’s in-state recruiting targets in 2022
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2022 Kentucky high school football preview
The 2022 high school football season kicks off Friday, Aug. 19. High school sports beat writer Jared Peck is writing numerous stories in the Herald-Leader and on Kentucky.com previewing the season around the city, region and state and highlighting the top players, games and rankings. Click below to read all of his stories in case you’ve missed any of them, and watch for more in the lead-up to the season.
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Hardcore Kentucky football fans (we know you’re out there) have a chance to see who the next young stars for the Wildcats could be if you’re willing to venture out to take in some Friday night lights this fall.
There are at least 21 high school football players in the commonwealth who have been targeted by the University of Kentucky with scholarship offers. Five seniors have already committed to play for the Cats. And there are several seniors, juniors, sophomores and even freshmen actively being courted by UK.
Like running backs? See Franklin County’s Kaden Moorman. Quarterbacks? Lexington Christian sophomore Cutter Boley is 6-foot-6 and can sling it. Pass rushers? Great Crossing’s Oryend Fisher and Boyle County’s Tommy Ziesmer each have three-star ratings. The list goes on.
Here’s a full rundown of who they are, where they play, and some of the best games they will be a part of this season. Offers and star ratings are according to 247Sports.com or Rivals.com. The online version of this story has links to each team’s full schedule and each player’s Hudl.com highlights.
Boyle County
UK commit: Tommy Ziesmer, three-star edge, 6-2/220/Sr.
UK offers: Brock Driver, running back/defensive end, 6-1/210/So.; Dakota Patterson, three-star athlete, 6-3/190/Sr. (injured).
Best games: Aug. 27 vs. Bryan Station; Sept. 2 vs. Danville; Sept. 16 at Bowling Green; Oct. 7 at Lexington Catholic; Oct. 28 vs. Frederick Douglass.
Franklin County
UK commit: Kaden Moorman, three-star athlete/running back, 5-11/205/Sr.
Best games: Aug. 19 at Scott County; Sept. 9 at Ballard; Sept. 16 vs. Woodford County; Oct. 21 vs. Central.
Frederick Douglass
UK commit: Ty Bryant, three-star athlete, 6-1/185/Sr.
UK offers: Jamarrion Harkless, 6-4/290/Sr./DL; Demeco Kennedy, guard/tackle, 6-2/270/Jr.; Isaiah Kenney, three-star safety, 5-11/178/Sr.;
Best games: Aug. 19 vs. Bryan Station; Sept. 9 vs. Paul Laurence Dunbar; Sept. 23 at Scott County; Oct. 28 at Boyle County.
Great Crossing
UK offer: Oryend Fisher, three-star edge, 6-6/210/Sr.
Best games: Sept. 16 vs. Bourbon County; Sept. 30 at Scott County; Oct. 14 vs. Frederick Douglass; Oct. 28 at Collins.
Knox Central
UK offer: Gavin Chadwell, three-star tight end, 6-5/235/Jr.
Best games: Aug. 26 vs. Bell County; Sept. 16 at Paintsville; Sept. 30 at Bourbon County; Oct. 7 at Corbin; Oct. 28 at Breathitt County.
Lexington Christian
UK offer: Cutter Boley, quarterback, 6-5/200/So.
Best games: Aug. 19 at Madison Central; Sept. 2 vs. Belfry; Sept. 9 vs. Christian Academy-Louisville; Sept. 16 at Lexington Catholic; Sept. 23 at Pikeville.
Madison Central
UK commit: Malachi Wood, three-star offensive tackle, 6-8/280/Sr.
Best games: Aug. 19 vs. Lexington Christian; Aug. 26 vs. Paul Laurence Dunbar; Sept. 30 at Pikeville; Oct. 21 at Bryan Station.
Manual
UK offer: David “Pancake” Pellman, offensive lineman, 6-3/290/Fr.
Best games: Aug. 19 at Central; Sept. 2 at North Hardin; Sept. 23 vs. Ballard; Oct. 7 at St. Xavier; Oct. 28 at Male.
North Hardin
UK offers: Trevon Alexander, offensive tackle, 6-6/340/Sr.; Shaun Boykins Jr., athlete, 6-1/185/Jr.; Darius Wiley, tight end/defensive end, 6-6/235/Jr.
Best games: Aug. 20 vs. Bowling Green at WKU; Sept. 2 vs. Manual; Sept. 23 at Boyle County; Oct. 21 vs. Central Hardin; Oct. 28 at Ballard.
Owensboro
UK offers: Jak Lindsey, three-star offensive tackle, 6-5/280/Jr.
Best games: Aug. 19 at St. Xavier; Sept. 9 at Owensboro Catholic; Oct. 14 vs. Graves County.
Pleasure Ridge Park
UK commit: Jakob Dixon, wide receicer, 6-4/197/Sr.
Best games: Sept. 2 at Bowling Green; Sept. 9 at Lexington Catholic; Oct. 14 at Manual; Oct. 21 at St. Xavier.
Taylor County
UK offer: Hayes Johnson, three-star offensive tackle, 6-5/295/Jr.
Best games: Aug. 20 vs. Louisville Holy Cross at Campbellsville; Sept. 2 at Spencer County; Oct. 14 vs. Glasgow.
West Jessamine
UK offer: Jacob Jones, three-star quarterback, 6-2/200/Sr.
Best games: Aug. 19 vs. Bourbon County; Aug. 26 at Southwestern; Sept. 16 vs. Ashland Blazer; Sept. 23 at East Jessamine; Sep. 30 vs. Woodford County; Oct. 21 vs. Collins.
Woodford County
UK offers: Makhi Smith, athlete, 6-3/175/So.
Best games: Sept. 2 at Paul Laurence Dunbar; Sept. 16 at Franklin County; Sept. 30 at West Jessamine; Oct. 14 at Collins.
This story was originally published August 15, 2022 at 6:30 AM.
