If last season taught us anything, it’s that trying to pick Kentucky’s Mr. Football winner in July is a fool’s errand.
Lexington Christian quarterback Cutter Boley — a four-star recruit who already had committed to the University of Kentucky — entered last season as the overwhelming favorite to take home Mr. Football honors.
Boley had a solid season — throwing for 2,187 yards and 24 touchdowns — but was bested for Mr. Football honors by Bell County running back Daniel Thomas, who rushed for a state-record 3,817 yards.
You just never know.
This year’s senior class in Kentucky is filled with high-level recruits and Division I commits. Picking a front-runner seems impossible at this point, but here are 10 players who should be in the hunt for the honor.
The list should not be considered a ranking of the top 10 college prospects in Kentucky. Instead, it should be viewed as a list of the top 10 Mr. Football candidates based on the factors most voters consider at the end of the season.
By the way, don’t blame the media if you disagree with the ultimate winner. The Associated Press discontinued its postseason awards in 2022, leaving the Kentucky Football Coaches Association as the lone organization to name a Mr. Football winner.
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A reminder that only seniors are eligible. Players are listed alphabetically.
Austin Alexander, Cooper tight end/defensive lineman
Austin Alexander (6-foot-3, 245 pounds) earned first-team All-State honors from The Courier Journal last season on defense after leading the Jaguars to the Class 5A title game. He ranked second on the team with 81 tackles (57 solo) and pitched in 19 sacks (No. 2 in the state), eight tackles for loss, two fumble recoveries and one interception. As a tight end, Alexander had 67 catches for 1,138 yards and 19 touchdowns. He has committed to North Carolina.
Brady Atwell, Owensboro Catholic quarterback
Brady Atwell (6-3, 225) beat out several worthy contenders for first-team All-State honors last season after leading the Aces to a 14-1 record and Class 2A runner-up finish. Atwell completed 69.3% of his passes (301 of 434) and led the state in passing yards (4,743) and passing touchdowns (68). Both numbers ranked second in state history behind the record-setting season of Lone Oak’s Corey Robinson in 2007 (5,872 yards, 91 TDs). Atwell also was the Aces’ leading rusher with 695 yards and 17 touchdowns, averaging 10.1 yards per carry. His uncle, Travis Atwell, was Kentucky’s Mr. Football in 1999 as a senior quarterback at Hancock County. Brady Atwell has committed to play baseball at Western Kentucky.
Deuce Bailey, Bowling Green quarterback
Deuce Bailey (6-1, 160) earned third-team All-State honors at quarterback last season after leading the Purples to the Class 5A state championship. He completed 68.8% of his passes (242 of 352) for 3,517 yards (No. 6 in the state) and 43 touchdowns (No. 7 in the state). He also rushed for 205 yards and eight scores. Bailey has committed to Missouri State.
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Javeon Campbell, Western Hills defensive lineman
Javeon Campbell (6-5, 265) has one of the most interesting stories in the state. A top basketball player at Western Hills, Campbell never had played football until being convinced to try the sport last season. He posted 12 ½ sacks and is now ranked by 247Sports.com as the state’s No. 1 prospect in the senior class. He has committed to the University of Kentucky, choosing the Wildcats over offers from Alabama, Auburn and Miami.
Martels Carter, Paducah Tilghman wide receiver/defensive back
One of the state’s top two-way players, Martels Carter (6-1, 190) earned first-team All-State honors at defensive back last season while helping the Blue Tornado reach the Class 4A state semifinals. Carter had 44 tackles (29 solo), three interceptions and two fumble recoveries on defense. On offense, he caught 43 passes for 1,066 yards and finished with 19 touchdowns (10 receiving, five punt returns, three rushing and one kickoff return). Carter, the No. 2-ranked prospect in the state by 247Sports.com, has committed to the University of Kentucky.
Brock Coffman, Sayre wide receiver/defensive back
Don’t overlook Brock Coffman (6-0, 175) simply because he plays for a Class A school. He was a third-team All-State pick last year after posting 67 catches for 1,193 yards and 27 touchdowns (24 receiving, one interception return, one fumble return, one punt return). On defense, he posted 35 tackles (10 solo). Coffman has offers from Akron, Army, Buffalo, Eastern Kentucky, Kent State, Marshall, Maryland, Miami (Ohio), New Hampshire, Ohio, Rice, Tennessee-Martin, Toledo and Western Kentucky.
Connor Hodge, Christian Academy quarterback
As a wide receiver and safety, Connor Hodge (6-1, 160) was one of the state’s top two-way players last season and earned first-team…
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