How Kentucky commits performed during ninth week of high school football

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We’re inching closer and closer to the high school football postseason. Programs across the country are beginning to wind down their regular season schedules as we’re now nine weeks into the 2023 season.

The Kentucky Wildcats currently have 21 class of 2024 commitments (which ranks 24th in the nation) who are looking to make playoff runs before calling Lexington their new home. During this past week’s action, five of them were on byes while one was sidelined with a nagging, season-long injury.

There were still plenty of big-time performances though. The likes of four-star CB Terhyon Nichols, the four-star Smith twins, three-star TE Willie Rodriguez, and three-star K Jacob Kauwe were among the headline-grabbers. You can check out how all of the future Wildcats played below, but first, let’s hear from our weekly sponsor…

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Kentucky commits Week 9 performances

Brian Robinson (EDGE) 6-5, 250 | Westerville North (Austintown, OH)
4-star: No. 124 overall, No. 8 EDGE

Brian Robinson and Westerville North improved to 7-2 this season following a 41-13 win on Friday over Worthington Kilbourne. Unfortunately, statistics were not made available for this outing. Westerville North will play its final regular season game of the season on Friday against Dublin Scioto.

Cutter Boley (QB) 6-5, 200 | Lexington Christian Academy (Hodgenville, KY)
4-star: No. 163 overall, No. 12 QB

For the third straight game, Cutter Boley saw limited action for No. 7 Lexington Christian. The Eagles took care of WEB DuBois 51-0 on Friday as Boley went for 144 yards on 8-13 passing with two touchdowns before getting pulled. LCA has won its last three games by a combined score of 156-0. A showdown against 7-2 Washington County this Friday should provide a tougher challenge for Boley and company.

Terhyon Nichols (CB) 5-11, 185 | Withrow (Cincinnati, OH)
4-star: No. 198 overall, No. 22 CB

Terhyon Nichols and the Withrow Tigers (8-1) won their fifth game in a row with Friday’s 50-7 blowout victory against Hughes. Statistics were not made available, but Nichols did record two receiving touchdowns (one for 50 yards), a 25-yard rush, and a touchdown-saving tackle on defense inside his team’s 10-yard line. Withrow will suit up again on Friday to take on Western Hills.

Jacob Smith (EDGE) 6-4, 230 | Corbin (Corbin, KY)
4-star: No. 223 overall, No. 19 EDGE

Jacob Smith and No. 2-ranked Corbin came away with a 49-0 shutout win over Whitley County this past Friday. Similar to what Boley has gone through with LCA in recent weeks, Corbin rarely has to use their starters for all four quarters. That being said, Jacob Smith still recorded six total tackles, three of them solo.

Jerod Smith (DL) 6-3, 255 | Corbin (Corbin, KY)
4-star: No. 228 overall, No. 22 DL

As for Jerod Smith, he finished with seven total tackles (four solo) for Corbin, including one tackle for loss and two sacks. Jerod ranks top 50 in the state in overall sacks with six. Next up for Corbin is a home game against Perry County Central this Friday.

Elijah Groves (LB) 6-3, 210 | East Robertson (Cross Plains, TN)
4-star: No. 250 overall, No. 22 LB

Bye week for Elijah Groves and East Robertson (8-1). They’ll return to action on Friday as they host White House-Heritage.

Hardley Gilmore (WR) 6-1, 165 | Pahokee (Belle Glade, FL)
4-star: No. 302 overall, No. 53 WR

Hardley Gilmore and Pahokee (4-4) suffered their worst loss of the season so far, losing 35-0 to The Benjamin School on Friday. Gilmore still managed six receptions for 52 yards plus three defensive tackles and two pass deflections, but the Blue Devils were no match for 6-1 Benjamin, which rosters four-star ’25 Kentucky EDGE target Amaree Williams.

Tovani Mizell (RB) 6-1, 195 | Western (Fort Lauderdale, FL)
3-star: No. 550 overall, No. 44 RB

Tovani Mizell and Western (4-4) blew out Cypress Bay 56-0 on Friday, although Mizell was once again sidelined with an injury. The future Wildcat has missed every game this season due to injury and is not expected to return. Western will take the field again on Friday against Miramar.

Jiquavious Marshall (CB) 6-4, 180 | Westside (Macon, GA)
3-star: No. 571 overall, No. 58 ATH

Jiquavious Marshall and Westside improved to 6-1 this season after Thursday’s 29-16 win over Griffin. Marshall finished with one reception for 11 yards on offense to go along with two total tackles on defense. Westside is set to face Spalding at home this Friday.

Devin Smith (LB) 6-1, 215 | Brunswick (Brunswick, GA)
3-star: No. 626 overall, No. 62 LB

Bye week for Devin Smith and Brunswick (4-2). They’ll return to action on Friday for a home showdown against South Effingham.

Aba Selm (IOL) 6-4, 295 | Simon Kenton (Independence, KY)
3-star: No. 634 overall, No. 51 IOL

Aba Selm and Simon Kenton (5-2) won its fourth game in a row on Friday with a tight 27-21 victory over Campbell County. With Selm holding down the offensive line, Simon Kenton ran for 244 total yards and two touchdowns. On defense, he registered six total tackles (two solo) with one tackle for loss and one sack. The Pioneers will hit the road this Friday for a matchup against Ryle.

David Washington Jr. (WR) 5-10, 180 | St. Joseph’s Prep School (Philadelphia, PA)
3-star: No. 823 overall, No. 127 WR

David Washington and St. Joseph’s Prep School (6-1) have not lost this season since falling in the opener to IMG Academy (FL). On Friday, they whooped up on Father Judge, winning by a final score of 55-19. Unfortunately, as has been the case all season, statistics for St. Joseph were hard to come by. St. Joseph will take on Archbishop Spalding this Friday.

Caleb Redd (EDGE) 6-4, 220 | De Smet (Saint Louis)
3-star: No. 851 overall, No. 68 EDGE

Bye week for Caleb Redd and undefeated De Smet (7-0). They’ll take the field again on Friday for a high-profile showdown at home against Edwardsville (7-1).

Wille Rodriguez (TE) 6-4, 225 | Covington Catholic (Covington, KY)
3-star: No. 914 overall, No. 51 TE

In the Kroger KSR Game of the Week, Willie Rodriguez and No. 5 Covington Catholic had no problem dealing with Harrison County, winning 56-6 on Friday. Rodriguez only played the first half but still managed to haul in two catches for 30 yards and two touchdowns. He had missed the previous two games due to injury but looked like his usual self during his return. Covington Catholic will face Mason County this Friday.

Antwan Smith (LB) 6-3, 195 | Westlake (Atlanta, GA)
3-star: No. 947 overall, No. 89 LB

Bye week for Antwan Smith and Westlake (6-1). They’ll return to action on Friday for a road game against Carrollton.

Quaysheed Scott (ATH) 6-0, 185 | Marion (Marion, SC)
3-star: No. 950 overall, No. 41 ATH

Quaysheed Scott and Marion (8-1) continued their impressive run through the regular season with a 34-6 win over Lee Central on Friday. It’s been a breakout year for Scott, who rose over 150 spots in the On3 Industry Ranking since last week. Statistics were not made available for his most recent game, but you can check out full highlights from his performance through Hudl below.

Steven Soles (LB) 6-2, 215 | Powell (Powell, TN)
3-star: No. 955 overall, No. 90 LB

Bye week for Steven Soles and Powell (6-2). They’ll hit the field this Friday for a home matchup against McMinn County.

Lorenzo Cowan (EDGE) 6-3, 215 | Jenkins (Savannah, GA)
3-star: No. 1,110 overall, No. 88 EDGE

It hasn’t been a great season for Lorenzo Cowan and Jenkins (2-5) so far, but they picked up their second win of the season on Friday with a 24-0 victory over winless Greenbrier. Statistics were not made available. Jenkins will hit the road this Friday to take on Coffee.

Hayes Johnson (IOL) 6-3, 295 | Taylor County (Campbellsville, KY)
3-star: No. 1,121 overall, No. 104 IOL

Hayes Johnson and Taylor County (6-2) won their third game in a row with a 21-10 victory over North Laurel on Friday. With Johnson leading the offensive line, Taylor County rattled off 199 yards and three touchdowns on the ground. The Cardinals return to action on Friday for a road game against Lincoln County.

Jadon Lafontant (IOL) 6-3, 315 | Brunswick School (Greenwich, CT)
3-star: No. 1,299 overall, No. 116 IOL

Jadon Lafontant and Brunswick School ended a two-game losing skid on Saturday with a 31-18 win over Suffield Academy. Statistics were not made available. Brunswick School returns to action on Saturday for a matchup with Phillips Academy.

Jacob Kauwe (K) 6-2, 200 | Billings West (Billings, MT)
3-star: No. 2,108 overall, No. 8 K

Jacob Kauwe and Billings West (4-4) lost on the road to Gallatin this past Friday by a score of 27-6. Kauwe made two field goal attempts for his team’s only points, one of them needing four attempts due to three different stoppages in play. He hit all three of the field goals that did not count, as well. Kauwe also drilled a 44-yarder in this game. Billings West will return home this Thursday to host 0-8 Belgrade.

Timeout, false start, encroachment, BANG 4/4 in a row into some pretty intense wind🥶 also had a 44 yarder pic.twitter.com/zoZcJ3hily
— Jacob Kauwe (@JacobKauwe16) October 14, 2023