How Kentucky commits performed during 12th week of high school football
The high school football postseason continues across the country. Last week, Kentucky schools opened up the playoffs with first-round action throughout the Bluegrass, but other states are even further into the postseason while some will kick off the run for a state championship this coming week. Regardless, high school seniors are beginning to wind down their final season before heading off to college in the winter or next summer.
For the Kentucky Wildcats and their 21 class of 2024 commitments — which ranks 24th overall in the nation according to On3 — 13 of them are in the midst of playoff campaigns while seven more will get rolling this week. Only one, three-star IOL Jadon Lafontant, has yet to enter the postseason. Among the top performers from last week’s action were four-star CB Terhyon Nichols, four-star LB Elijah Groves, four-star WR Hardley Gilmore, and three-star ATH Quaysheed Scott.
How did they and the rest of the future Wildcats do on the field? Let’s dive in and find out. But first, let’s hear from our weekly sponsor.
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Kentucky commits Week 12 performances
Brian Robinson (EDGE) 6-5, 250 | Westerville North (Austintown, OH)
4-star: No. 129 overall, No. 9 EDGE
- As mentioned during last week’s recap, Brian Robinson was not deemed eligible for the Ohio playoffs due to his late transfer to Westerville North. Without him, the Warriors fell in the second round of the postseason 27-22 to Hilliard Bradley. The following day, Robinson announced on social media that he’ll be enrolling early at Kentucky and will join the program in January.
Cutter Boley (QB) 6-5, 200 | Lexington Christian Academy (Hodgenville, KY)
4-star: No. 166 overall, No. 12 QB
- There was very little first-round playoff drama across the Bluegrass over the weekend. Cutter Boley and No. 6 Lexington Christian Academy destroyed Clinton County on Thursday 63-6 in the Class 2A playoff opener. Boley threw the ball just five times, completing four of them 76 yards and three touchdowns before getting pulled. LCA advances to the second round with the win where they’ll host Monroe County on Friday.
Terhyon Nichols (CB) 5-11, 185 | Withrow (Cincinnati, OH)
4-star: No. 199 overall, No. 22 CB
- Terhyon Nichols and Withrow had some trouble with Winton Woods in round two of the Ohio playoffs, but they moved on with a 16-7 victory. Nichols was credited with a five-yard rushing touchdown that put Withrow ahead 6-0, a big tackle for loss soon after that, and the game-sealing interception with under two minutes left in regulation. Withrow will take on Troy this Friday in the third round of the playoffs.
Jacob Smith (EDGE) 6-4, 230 | Corbin (Corbin, KY)
4-star: No. 223 overall, No. 19 EDGE
Jerod Smith (DL) 6-3, 255 | Corbin (Corbin, KY)
4-star: No. 228 overall, No. 23 DL
- Similar to Boley and LCA, the Smith twins and No. 2 Corbin came away with a dominating Class 4A first-round playoff win, beating Wayne County 63-0 this past Friday. Jacob Smith saw limited action but still recorded four total tackles with three of them solo. Meanwhile, Jerod Smith led the Redhounds in tackles with five, all of them solo. Corbin will now host fellow Kentucky commit Hayes Johnson and Taylor County this Friday in round two.
Elijah Groves (LB) 6-3, 210 | East Robertson (Cross Plains, TN)
4-star: No. 252 overall, No. 22 LB
- Elijah Groves and East Robertson won their playoff opener in dominating fashion, 42-0 over Cascade. Groves was — as usual — all over the place for his squad, recording two rushes for 12 yards and one touchdown and one catch for 53 yards for another touchdown on offense. On defense, Groves recorded four tackles (all solo) with one tackle for loss and one pass deflection. East Robertson will look to stay alive with a showdown against Marion County on Friday.
Hardley Gilmore (WR) 6-1, 165 | Pahokee (Belle Glade, FL)
4-star: No. 304 overall, No. 53 WR
- After having a few weeks off, Hardley Gilmore and Pahokee returned to action this past Friday with a 55-22 win over Glades Central in the regular season finale. Gilmore was the star of the night, hauling in eight catches for 158 yards and three touchdowns, his longest catch being a 44-yarder. He also suited up on defense, finishing with three total tackles (two solo), one sack, and a 60-yard pick-6. Gilmore even returned two punts for 22 total yards. His four-touchdown performance was arguably the best of his season. Pahokee will open the postseason on Friday at home against Dixie County.
Tovani Mizell (RB) 6-1, 195 | Western (Fort Lauderdale, FL)
3-star: No. 551 overall, No. 43 RB
- Once again, Tovani Mizell sat out with an injury for Western (as he has all season), which beat Plantation 34-14 in their final regular season game of the season. But could he be on the way back just in time for the playoffs? Mizell has been more active on social media as of late, even posting a picture of himself with the caption “Back Like I Never Left” last week. Western begins its postseason run on Friday against Cypress Bay.
Jiquavious Marshall (CB) 6-4, 180 | Westside (Macon, GA)
3-star: No. 573 overall, No. 57 ATH
- Jiquavious Marshall and Westside closed out the regular season with a 27-21 win over Howard this past Friday. It was a quiet performance for Marshall, who finished with just two receptions for 22 yards while also chipping in two assisted tackles on defense. Westside will begin its postseason campaign on Friday against New Hampstead.
Devin Smith (LB) 6-1, 215 | Brunswick (Brunswick, GA)
3-star: No. 626 overall, No. 61 LB
- Devin Smith and Brunswick closed out the 2023 regular season on a sour note, losing to Effingham County 31-28. Effingham County won it with a 25-yard field goal as time expired to win the regional championship. Individual statistics were not made available. Brunswick begins its playoff run on Friday against Mundy’s Mill on the road.
Aba Selm (IOL) 6-4, 295 | Simon Kenton (Independence, KY)
3-star: No. 633 overall, No. 51 IOL
- Aba Selm and Simon Kenton saw their season come to an end this past Friday with a heartbreaking 36-32 playoff loss to Fern Creek. In spite of the defeat, Selm helped the Pioneers rush for 173 yards and four touchdowns while also recording six total tackles on defense (two solo) and one sack.
David Washington Jr. (WR) 5-10, 180 | St. Joseph’s Prep School (Philadelphia, PA)
3-star: No. 825 overall, No. 126 WR
- David Washington Jr. and St. Joseph’s Prep School (8-1) were off last week as they look ahead to the first round of the playoffs this Friday. They’ll head to La Salle College, a team they beat 42-6 during the regular season.
Caleb Redd (EDGE) 6-4, 220 | De Smet (Saint Louis)
3-star: No. 853 overall, No. 70 EDGE
- Caleb Redd and De Smet won their postseason opener with a 45-6 beatdown of Hazelwood Central this past Friday. Individual statistics were not made available. De Smet will take on St. Louis University this Friday in the second round of the playoffs.
Wille Rodriguez (TE) 6-4, 225 | Covington Catholic (Covington, KY)
3-star: No. 916 overall, No. 50 TE
- Continuing the blowout trend, Willie Rodriguez and No. 4 Covington Catholic (11-0) had no issue with Greenup County, winning 49-12 in the Class 4A opening round. Rodriguez played limited snaps, finishing with just one catch for nine yards on offense along with three tackles (two solo) on defense. Covington Catholic will face a real challenge this Friday when they host No. 23 Ashland Blazer.
Antwan Smith (LB) 6-3, 195 | Westlake (Atlanta, GA)
3-star: No. 949 overall, No. 88 LB
- Antwan Smith and Westlake closed out the regular season slate in style with a 35-0 shutout over Campbell. Smith sat out the blowout but will return for Westlake’s first-round playoff matchup against Marietta on Friday.
Quaysheed Scott (ATH) 6-0, 185 | Marion (Marion, SC)
3-star: No. 952 overall, No. 42 ATH
- Quaysheed Scott and Marion kicked off the playoffs with a 48-0 slaughtering of Central. Individual statistics were not made available, but Scott recorded a 50-yard run for a touchdown and rattled off another 50-yard gain off a catch. Marion will look to keep its season alive on Friday against Barnwell.
Steven Soles (LB) 6-2, 215 | Powell (Powell, TN)
3-star: No. 957 overall, No. 89 LB
- After losing the regular season finale in overtime the week before, Steven Soles and Powell bounced back in the playoff opener with a 42-14 win over Tennessee High. Individual statistics were not made available. Powell will take on Sevier County in round two of the postseason on Friday.
Lorenzo Cowan (EDGE) 6-3, 215 | Jenkins (Savannah, GA)
3-star: No. 1,103 overall, No. 89 EDGE
- Lorenzo Cowan and Jenkins saw their season come to an end this past Friday with a 35-0 loss to Statesboro. Cowan was credited with seven total tackles (three solo) along with one tackle for loss, one sack, two quarterback hurries, and one pass deflection in his final high school game.
Hayes Johnson (IOL) 6-3, 295 | Taylor County (Campbellsville, KY)
3-star: No. 1,125 overall, No. 104 IOL
- Hayes Johnson and Taylor County won their sixth game in a row with a 50-13 drumming of Letcher County Central in the opening round of the Class 4A playoffs. Johnson helped the Cardinals rush for 260 yards and four touchdowns while also recording a tackle on defense. His reward? A date with No. 2-ranked Corbin on Friday.
Jadon Lafontant (IOL) 6-3, 315 | Brunswick School (Greenwich, CT)
3-star: No. 1,304 overall, No. 117 IOL
- Jadon Lafontant and Brunswick School improved their record to 4-4 following a 24-0 win over Trinity-Pawling School this past Saturday. Individual statistics were not made available. Brunswick School returns to regular season action this Saturday at home against Williston Northampton.
Jacob Kauwe (K) 6-2, 200 | Billings West (Billings, MT)
3-star: No. 2,128 overall, No. 8 K
- Jacob Kauwe and Billings West were knocked out of the playoffs this past Friday following a second-round loss to Capital, 28-6. Kauwe missed a pair of field goals in the opening half as his high school career came to an end.
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