Herald-Leader Watch List: 2022’s top Lexington high school football players

There’s no mistaking the level of talent among high school football players in Lexington. A glance at any recruiting chart over the last few years shows these guys come to play.

Notably, Frederick Douglass has had the University of Kentucky’s top in-state recruits each of the last two seasons. That might not be the case this year, but the Broncos, incredibly, seem to have the broadest base of college-coveted talent, not just in Lexington, but the entire state this year.

Bryan Station is not far behind. The Defenders recently drew notice in a Rivals.com article on their impressive junior class.

Who are the best Lexington players for 2022? Here, in alphabetical order, are 10 Lexington players who will likely make a big impact this year for their respective teams, plus some more to watch for from each school.

Cutter Boley

School: Lexington Christian.

At a glance: Boley, a 6-5, 200-pound sophomore quarterback, made big news in the offseason when he transferred from LaRue County to LCA and made even bigger news when he began getting offers from Power Five programs like Alabama, Mississippi, Michigan, Virginia Tech and Kentucky, of course. Boley had modest numbers last year for the Class 3A Hawks (5-7), throwing for 1,391 yards and 11 TDs to go with 245 yards and five TDs rushing. Now, playing for Class 2A power LCA and one state’s most dynamic offenses over the last several years, those numbers should be looking way, way up.

Ty Bryant

School: Frederick Douglass.

At a glance: Bryant, a 6-1, 185-pound safety who will also see time on offense again this season, is a fifth-year senior and three-star prospect who ended the suspense over his recruitment ahead of last season when he chose the Cats over offers from at least eight other schools, including West Virginia and Tennessee. He led Douglass in tackles with 58, had two interceptions — including a pick-six — and returned a fumble for a TD. Combined with his offensive stats — 280 yards and 11 TDs rushing, 80 yards and one TD receiving — Bryant led Douglass in scoring in 2021.

JT Haskins Jr.

School: Bryan Station.

At a glance: Haskins, a 6-0, 150-pound junior wide receiver/defensive back, ranks as a three-star recruit by both 247Sports.com and Rivals.com and has offers including Louisville, where his father JT Haskins Sr., now a Bryan Station assistant coach, played. Haskins led the Defenders with six interceptions last season to go along with 42 tackles and a fumble recovery. He’ll be running some pass routes, too, this year as a wide receiver.

Walker Hall

School: Lexington Catholic.

At a glance: Hall, a 5-11, 204-pound, senior running back/linebacker, rushed for 1,198 yards and 13 TDs last season while catching for 122 yards and a score. Hall popped for 200 yards and two touchdowns against perennial football power Scott County in a thrilling 41-40 win at home. Those accomplishments have generated interest in seeing him play at the next level from Centre and Kentucky Wesleyan, so far.

Jamarrion Harkless

School: Frederick Douglass.

At a glance: Harkless, a 6-4, 290-pound senior defensive lineman, became a football camp sensation this offseason, generating a slew of offers from Power Five schools, including defending national champion Georgia, Auburn, Michigan and Purdue. Harkless recently decommitted from Illinois and reopened his recruitment. He has at least 20 other suitors, according to 247Sports.com. He had 30 tackles and two sacks for one of the state’s toughest defenses in 2021.

Terrion Hicks

School: Frederick Douglass.

At a glance: Hicks, a 5-11, 170-pound junior defensive back, has drawn college recruiters’ attention after some solid camp performances this year, most notably getting an offer from Northwestern a few weeks ago. Look for a breakout 2023 alongside one of the most talent-laden secondaries in the state. Douglass has four DBs with Division I offers (Hicks, Bryant, Jeremiah Lowe and Isaiah Kenney).

Jason Hocker

School: Bryan Station.

At a glance: Hocker, a 6-1, 235-pound junior linebacker, led the Defenders with a whopping 109 tackles to go along with a pair of sacks last season. Hocker has been a big part of Bryan Station’s resurgence under Coach Phillip Hawkins and also led the team in tackles as a freshman with 78. College scouts have begun to take notice. Hocker has offers including Akron, Eastern Kentucky and Tennessee Tech.

Jeremiah Lowe

School: Frederick Douglass.

At a glance: Lowe, a 5-11, 170-pound junior cornerback, led the Broncos with four interceptions last season, including a pick-six, and had 32 tackles and a sack. He’s rated as a three-star recruit by 247Sports.com and recently picked up an offer from Michigan, his most impressive one to date. A multi-sport athlete like teammates Ty Bryant, Cam Dunn and Thomas Howard, Lowe led the Douglass baseball team with a .387 average last spring.

Kyan Miller

School: Henry Clay.

At a glance: Miller, a 6-3, 230-pound senior defensive end/linebacker, had 48 tackles and two sacks last season, making him the Blue Devils’ top returning tackler for 2022. He recently committed to continuing his football career at Austin Peay. The son of Henry Clay’s 1984 Mr. Basketball, Steve Miller, Kyan Miller played a key role in Henry Clay’s 11th Region basketball championship last season, grabbing a pair of offensive rebounds and making some clutch free throws in the final seconds.

Drew Nieves

School: Lexington Christian.

At a glance: Nieves, a 5-11, 175-pound wideout/safety, makes the switch from quarterback to multi-purpose threat for his senior year with LCA’s addition of Cutter Boley at quarterback. Nieves shepherded the Eagles to back-to-back state finals appearances as a dual-threat QB and his athleticism is sure to be put to good use as a target for Boley’s passes and as a defender. Nieves rushed for 466 yards and six touchdowns in 2020 and 234 yards and four TDs last season, a year in which he was out four games due to injury.

Others to watch

Bryan Station: Trenton Cutwright, 6-0/160/Jr./QB; Dahvon Frazier, 6-2/215/Jr./DE; Jahvon Frazier, 6-2/200/Jr./DE; Damin Green, 5-10/190/Sr./ATH.

Frederick Douglass: Cameron Dunn, 5-10/175/Sr./WR; Jalen Hand, 6-3/280/Sr./DL; TJ Horton, 5-10/180/Sr./RB; Thomas Howard, 6-3/215/Sr./ATH/TE; Demeco Kennedy, 6-2/270/Jr./G/T; Isaiah Kenney, 5-11/178/Sr./S; Zuri Madison, 6-5/277/Jr./OL/DL; Cooper Ranvier, 6-3/190/Jr./K/P; Tylon Webb, 6-3/183/Sr./WR/ATH.

Henry Clay: Blake VanHorn, 6-2/180/Sr./QB; Grady Phillips, 6-4/300/Sr./OT/DE.

Lafayette: Dez Hanley, 5-9/150/Jr./LB; Pharell Thurman, 5-7/Sr./WR/DB.

Lexington Catholic: Samuel Clements, 5-10/140/Jr./DB; Max Degraff, 5-9/141/Sr./WR/DB/K/P; Hunter Foster, 6-2/170/Sr./WR/DB; Tanner Pedroche, 6-2/200/Jr./WR/DB.

Lexington Christian: Parker Chaney, 6-0/180/Jr./WR/DB; Chase Couch, 6-4/225/Jr./DE/TE; J’Veontae Emerson, 6-1/225/Sr./RB/LB; Carter Gillaspie, 6-0/265/Sr./OL.

Paul Laurence Dunbar: Traevon Berry, 6-3/185/Jr./WR; Jakobe Biggerstaff, 6-2/175/Sr./WR/CB; Cole Colony, 6-2/180/Sr./QB/DB; Jaden Commodore, 5-9/150/Sr./ATH; Mason Hayslett, 6-3/200/Sr./LB/FB.

Sayre: Luke Pennington, 5-11/170/So./QB/DB; Charlie Slabaugh, 6-1/185/So./WR/LB; Brock Coffman, 6-0/160/So./WR/DB.

Tates Creek: Andrew Witherington, 5-10/170/Jr./QB; Ke’shon Douthitt, 5-8/160/Sr./WR; Logan \u0009Julian, 5-11/210/Jr./LB; Kobe Middleton, 5-9/165/Sr./S/CB; MarQuevion Smith, 5-7/165/Jr./WR.