2010 Class of the Commonwealth bios
Jamon Brown
OL/DL, Fern Creek
Height, weight: 6-3, 310
Credentials: A three-year starter on defense and two-year starter on offense, Brown was Fern Creek's big man up front with his size and strength. He was generally considered the best D-line prospect in the state. Brown, who has committed to Louisville, had 25 tackles for loss in his career, including 12 this year despite a nagging ankle injury.
Jon Combs
QB/DB, Hazard
Height, weight: 6-1, 185
Credentials: As a sophomore, Combs started at free safety and was one of the leading tacklers on the Hazard team that lost to Beechwood in the state finals. As a senior, Combs quarterbacked the Bulldogs to a state runner-up finish to Mayfield. This season, he threw for 3,716 yards and 48 TDs and ran for 659 yards and 10 TDs. In his career, he passed for 6,282 yards and 77 TDs and rushed for 1,273 yards and 18 TDs. He is getting looks from several small colleges.
Branden Cresap
QB, Collins
Height, weight: 6-1, 175
Credentials: Cresap put up impressive passing numbers while playing for Shelby County and Collins, and his production would have been even better if he hadn't missed most of his sophomore season with a knee injury. After moving across town to play for Collins' new program as a senior, he threw for 3,549 yards and 42 TDs this year. In his career, he passed for 7,256 yards and 84 TDs. Collins Coach Jerry Lucas said that Cresap has a couple of offers from small colleges, but that he thinks he could play on the Division I level.
Jon Davis
RB/TE/DL, Eastern
Height, weight: 6-3, 240
Credentials: Eagles Coach Ken Whalen raves about Davis being the epitome of a team player. One of the top tight end prospects in the nation, Davis was content to play mostly running back and wide receiver in high school. "He never complained. He just played his butt off," Whalen said. Davis was a tough matchup — too big for defensive backs to cover, too quick for linebackers. This season, he rushed for 934 yards (averaging 14 yards a carry) and had 24 catches for 334 yards and two TDs. In his career, he ran for 1,742 yards (averaging 9 yards a carry) and had 93 receptions for 1,273 yards and 13 TDs. Davis, who has a 3.4 GPA, orally committed to UK. He also has offers from Louisville, Oregon, Stanford, Illinois, Duke and Cincinnati.
Lamar Dawson
LB/RB/TE, Boyle County
Height, weight: 6-2, 240
Credentials: Dawson was the most highly recruited senior in the state for good reason. He was a wrecking ball on defense for Boyle County's back-to-back undefeated Class 4A champs and a hammer on offense, too. Blessed with size, speed and intelligence, Dawson led the Rebels with 165 tackles (23 for loss) and four interceptions, including two that he returned for TDs. In his career, he had a staggering 502 tackles. He saw spot duty on offense but had a major impact, totaling more than 1,600 yards and 26 TDs rushing and receiving in his career. Dawson has been named Gatorade Player of the Year in Kentucky and was co-winner with Ballard's DeVante Parker of the Paul Hornung Award as the state's best player. He is undecided on college but has narrowed his choices to UK, Louisville, Florida, Tennessee, Oregon, Michigan and Southern California.
Josh forrest
WR/DB, Paducah Tilghman
Height, weight: 6-4, 215
Credentials: Forrest didn't play football until his junior year, but he quickly developed into one of the state's best players. He helped Paducah Tilghman win the 3A state title in 2009 as a receiver (23 catches, 407 yards, seven TDs) and defensive back (seven interceptions, including three in the championship game). This season, he had 54 receptions for 1,074 yards and 16 TDs and had seven more interceptions as the Blue Tornado made it to the state semifinals before falling to eventual champ Central. In that loss, Forrest had eight catches for 219 yards and two TDs. Forrest is also a basketball standout and has helped Tilghman reach the Sweet Sixteen two of the last three years. Forrest has committed to play football at Kentucky.
Luke Guhy
QB, Mayfield
Height, weight: 6-2, 165
Credentials: Smart and successful. That's Guhy. He's scored a 35 on the ACT and would like to play football in the Ivy League. If not, he might walk on at Kentucky or Louisville, where he has full-ride academic scholarships. Guhy put up impressive numbers as Mayfield's quarterback the last three years, capped by a Class A state title this season after a runner-up finish in 2008. He threw for 3,219 yards and 39 TDs this year, pushing his career totals to 7,784 yards and 92 TDs. Guhy also plays basketball and baseball for Mayfield.
Daylen Hall
DB, St. Xavier
Height, weight: 5-10, 185
Credentials: As one of his team's leading defenders the last three years, Hall helped the Tigers to 36 wins, including a Class 6A title in 2009, when he had seven interceptions and 75 solo tackles and scored six TDs on special teams. In his career, Hall had more than 170 solo tackles and 14 interceptions, returning four of the picks for TDs. Coach Mike Glaser described him as one of the most aggressive players he's ever coached. Hall has committed to Kentucky.
Flo Hardin
DB, Ballard
Height, weight: 6-0, 180
Credentials: While DeVante Parker was Ballard's star on offense, Hardin was the catalyst on defense. He led the Bruins in tackles the last two years. "He was basically like a quarterback on defense," Coach Mike Jackson said. Ballard tried to limit Hardin's offensive snaps because he was so valuable on defense, but he still ran the ball 54 times for 351 yards and four TDs and had 24 catches for 297 yards and two TDs. "A scary player to have to go against — whether he was tackling you or running the ball over you," Jackson said. Hardin, who committed to Indiana, also plays basketball for Ballard and was part of its Sweet Sixteen runner-up team last season.
Conner Hempel
QB, Ryle
Height, weight: 6-3, 190
Credentials: On the same day he quarterbacked Ryle to an upset of Highlands (ending the Bluebirds 37-game winning streak), Hempel committed to Harvard. Hempel didn't have out-the-roof passing stats, but he didn't have to in Ryle's balanced attack. He still threw for 4,593 yards and 44 TDs in his career and rushed for 1,546 yards and 16 TDs, including 1,002 yards and 11 scores this year. Ryle gave eventual 6A champ Trinity one of its closest games of the season in the state semifinals, losing 28-9.
Mitchell Henry
TE/DE, Elizabethtown
Height, weight: 6-5, 250
Credentials: One of the most productive tight ends in state history, Henry had 151 career catches for 2,293 yards and 25 TDs. This season, he had 71 receptions for 1,176 yards (including a state-record-tying 325 in a game against Glasgow) and 14 TDs. Elizabethtown Coach Brad Todd said Henry ramped up his skills this year, everything from "running routes, getting separation and blocking." Henry committed to Western Kentucky last wee kend. He also had offers from Bowling Green and Memphis and got a serious look from Mississippi. Henry is also one of the top basketball players in the 5th Region.
John Dudley Hilton
TE/LB, Bell County
Height, weight: 6-0, 225
Credentials: John Dudley, son of Bell County Coach Dudley Hilton, had a memorable four-year career during which the Bobcats went 52-4, including an undefeated state championship in 2008. The four teams that beat them went on to win state titles. Hilton had more than 100 solo tackles each of the last three years. He rushed for more than 500 yards the last two seasons and handled place-kicking duties. He was a hero in Bell County's state title victory over Bullitt East, making a key interception and catching the decisive TD pass. Hilton will play for his father, the new coach at Pikeville College.
Chris Kelly
RB/LB, Newport Central Catholic
Height, weight: 5-11, 180
Credentials: The bottom line on Kelly is that he helped NewCath reach the state finals three times and, after runner-up finishes in his freshman and sophomore years, he led the Thoroughbreds into the winner's circle as a senior. Kelly starred on both sides of the ball. He rushed for 1,870 yards and 32 TDs this season. In NewCath's state championship rout of Owensboro Catholic, Kelly ran for 165 yards and two TDs, giving him a school-record 65 TDs in his career. Kelly ran for more than 3,100 yards in the last three years. Kelly also led NewCath's defense in tackles the last two years and was one of the top tacklers as a sophomore.
Chad Lawrence
QB, Simon Kenton
Height, weight: 6-1, 175
Credentials: The Pioneers' rise to a 6A power can be partially attributed to Lawrence. Simon Kenton lost to Trinity in the 2008 finals and to eventual champ St. Xavier in the 2009 semifinals. Lawrence was a dual-threat QB, passing for more than 2,000 yards and rushing for more than 1,000 yards this season. In his career, he threw for 4,831 yards and 52 TDs and ran for 2,750 yards and 28 TDs. He holds almost every school record for quarterbacks. Lawrence has drawn interest from Richmond, Robert Morris and several NAIA and Division II schools.
Darrian Miller
OL/DL, Bryan Station
Height, weight: 6-6, 295
Credentials: The Defenders' big man, who committed to Kentucky a year ago this week, is considered one of the state's top line prospects. Former Bryan Station Coach Oliver Lucas said Miller's best assets are "great feet and great tenacity. He's got one motor — go-go-go." Kenny Turner, who succeeded Lucas as the Defenders coach this past season, said Miller compared favorably with UK lineman Larry Warford, whom Turner coached at Madison Central. "They've both got great feet and are athletic for their size." Miller said UK recruited him as an O-lineman, but he could end up on defense.
Jerrell Moore
RB/WR/ATH, Fern Creek
Height, weight: 5-11, 170
Credentials: Moore used his 4.4 speed and athletic ability to pile up yards and TDs in a variety of ways the last three years for Fern Creek. In his career, he ran for 2,130 yards and 27 TDs had 86 catches for 1,633 yards and 21 TDs, 45 kickoff returns for 1,731 yards and eight TDs, and 5,719 all-purpose yards. Moore also played some at defensive back.
DeVante Parker
WR, Ballard
Height, weight: 6-3, 180
Credentials: The most electrifying player in the state, Parker did his thing against top-level competition that included Trinity, St. Xavier and Male. Parker had 68 catches for 1,793 yards (fourth most in state history) and 19 TDs. In his career, he had 3,274 yards (fifth-most all-time). Ballard Coach Mike Jackson said Parker, who has committed to Louisville, is the "least prima donna" star he's ever been around. Parker and Boyle County's Lamar Dawson were co-winners of the Paul Hornung Award as the state's top players. Parker also plays basketball for Ballard and was a key member of the Bruins' 2010 Sweet Sixteen runners-up.
Neal Pawsat
QB/DB, Mason County
Height, weight: 6-3, 215
Credentials: A winner on the football field and basketball court, Pawsat has had to deal with some tough luck. He suffered knee injuries late in his junior and senior football seasons that might have prevented Mason County from challenging for a state title. Pawsat's numbers reflected his talent and leadership. In his career, he passed for 5,209 yards and 52 TDs, and the Royals had a record of 29-4 with him as their starting QB. Pawsat has also played on Mason County's basketball teams that have reached the Sweet Sixteen three years in a row. He's undecided on college as he rehabs his knee.
Landon Savoy
RB/KR, John Hardin
Height, weight: 5-7, 165
Credentials: Little big man. That's Savoy, who helped John Hardin go 39-4 the last three years, highlighted by a Class 5A runner-up finish in 2009. Coach Mark Brown called Savoy's cutting ability "amazing" and described him as "one of the best punt returners you'll find." Savoy ran for more than 1,000 yards each of the last three years and averaged almost 12 yards a carry this season. He totaled more than 4,600 yards rushing and receiving and 358 points in his career. Brown said Savoy's size has kept big schools from recruiting him, but several small colleges are after him.
DaMarcus Smith
QB, Seneca
Height, weight: 6-2, 190
Credentials: Despite missing his junior season because of an injury, Smith threw for almost 8,000 yards and 75 TDs in his career. He made a splash as a sophomore when he passed for 3,227 yards and 32 TDs. After committing to Louisville the following summer, he tore up his knee, had surgery and sat out the 2009 season. He came back strong as a senior, however, and threw for 3,150 yards and 30 TDs.
Marcoreyon 'Bubba' Tandy
WR/DB, Christian County
Height, weight: 6-1, 185
Credentials: Tandy was one of the main reasons the Colonels made it to the 5A finals two of the last three years. He used his speed and athleticism to star at several positions, including receiver, running back, defensive back and kick returner. In the last three years he totaled 102 receptions for 1,615 yards and 14 TDs. He also ran for almost 1,000 yards and 14 scores. He ran back six punts for TDs, including a state-record tying four in one game against Ohio County this year. On defense, he was one of Christian County's leading tacklers and had six interceptions this year. Tandy has scholarship offers from UK, Middle Tennessee, Ohio and WKU and is getting interest from Mississippi State. Tandy also plays for the Colonels' two-time defending region basketball champs.
Zach West
OL, Lexington Christian
Height, weight: 6-5, 285
Credentials: After helping LCA to the Class A state title in 2009, West was among the most recruited linemen in the state. He got offers from Kentucky, Louisville, Penn State and Tennessee, among others. He wound up picking UK over Penn State, choosing to stay close to home. LCA Coach Ray Graham said West has "everything college coaches are looking for. He's a massive guy coming off the ball, he's got great feet, he's very intelligent, has a great attitude, and he's going to get stronger." In his four years at LCA, the Eagles won 45 games and a state title and were state runners-up.
This story was originally published December 19, 2010 at 12:00 AM with the headline "2010 Class of the Commonwealth bios."