Kentucky High School Football Rankings: Preseason

For my first Kentucky high school football rankings of the 2021 season, I expanded the list to 30. After Week 1, we’ll go back to the 25. Here are the top 30 teams in the state and in each class.

1. Male

• 2020 Record:  8-2
• 2020 Playoffs:  Lost to Trinity 28-0 in 6A Finals  
• 2020 Final Ranking:  #4  
• Player to Watch:  DL Selah Brown

2. Johnson Central

• 2020 Record:  10-1
• 2020 Playoffs:  Lost to Franklin County 20-12 in 4A semifinals
• 2020 Final Ranking:  #6  
• Player to Watch:  OL Grant Bingham (UK Commit)

3. South Warren

• 2020 Record:  6-1  
• 2020 Playoffs:  Lost to Bowling Green 41-24 in 5A 2^nd Round  
• 2020 Final Ranking:  #8  
• Player to Watch:  QB Caden Veltkamp

4. Boyle County

• 2020 Record:  11-0  
• 2020 Playoffs:  Defeated Franklin County 31-28 (OT) in 4A finals  
• 2020 Final Ranking:  #2 
• Player to Watch:  QB Jagger Gillis

5. Trinity

• 2020 Record:  10-0  
• 2020 Playoffs:  Defeated Male 28-0 in 6A finals
• 2020 Final Ranking:  #1
• Player to Watch:  RB Armon Tucker

6. Beechwood

• 2020 Record:  10-2
• 2020 Playoffs:  Defeated LCA 24-23 (OT) in 2A finals  
• 2020 Final Ranking:  #10  
• Player to Watch:  QB Cam Hergott

7. Lexington Christian Academy

• 2020 Record:  10-2
• 2020 Playoffs:  Lost to Beechwood 24-23 (OT) in 2A finals
• 2020 Final Ranking:  #11  
• Player to Watch:  RB/WR Xavier Brown 

8. Frederick Douglass

• 2020 Record:  7-2
• 2020 Playoffs:  Lost to Owensboro 28-27 in 5A semifinals
• 2020 Final Ranking:  #13
• Player to Watch:  WR Dane Key

9. Corbin

• 2020 Record:  8-2
• 2020 Playoffs:  Lost to Johnson Central 28-14 in 4A quarterfinals
• 2020 Final Ranking:  #16  
• Player to Watch:  WR/DB Treyveon Longmire (UK Commit)

10. Central

• 2020 Record:  6-1
• 2020 Playoffs:  Lost to Franklin County 42-6 in 4A 2^nd Round
• 2020 Final Ranking:  #23  
• Player to Watch:  RB/LB Malachi Williams

11. Franklin County

• 2020 Record:  9-2
• 2020 Playoffs:  Lost to Boyle County 31-28 (OT) in 4A State Championship
• 2020 Final Ranking:  #5  
• Player to Watch – RB Kaden Moorman

12. Owensboro

• 2020 Record:  12-1
• 2020 Playoffs:  Lost to Bowling Green 17-7 in 5A State Championship
• 2020 Final Ranking:  #12  
• Player to Watch:  QB Gavin Wimsatt

13. St. Xavier

• 2020 Record:  6-3
• 2020 Playoffs:  Lost to Trinity 31-0 in 6A semifinals
• 2020 Final Ranking:  #9
• Player to Watch:  DE Micah Carter 

14. Bowling Green

• 2020 Record:  10-2
• 2020 Playoffs:  Defeated Owensboro 17-7 in 5A State Championship 
• 2020 Final Ranking:  #3
• Player to Watch:  DL Jeremiah Lightfoot

15. Lexington Catholic

• 2020 Record:  5-3
• 2020 Playoffs:  Lost to Boyle Co. 49-41 in 4A 2nd Round
• 2020 Final Ranking:  #15
• Player to Watch:  QB Jack Gohmann

16. Southwestern

• 2020 Record:  10-2
• 2020 Playoffs:  Lost to Douglass 21-20 in 5A 3rd Round
• 2020 Final Ranking:  #22
• Player to Watch:  RB/DB Tanner Wright

17. Pulaski County

• 2020 Record:  8-2
• 2020 Playoffs:  Lost to Southwestern 35-14 in 5A 2nd Round
• 2020 Final Ranking:  #16
• Player to Watch:  WR/DB Barek Williams

18. Scott County

• 2020 Record:  7-1
• 2020 Playoffs:  Lost to Douglass 39-21 in 5A 2nd Round  
• 2020 Final Ranking:  #21
• Player to Watch:  RB/DB Campton Martin

19. Dupont Manual

• 2020 Record:  3-2
• 2020 Playoffs:  Lost to St. Xavier 10-6 in 6A 2nd Round
• 2020 Final Ranking:  #19
• Player to Watch:  RB JaWaun Northington

20. Bryan Station 

• 2020 Record: 10-2
• 2020 Playoffs:  Lost to Dunbar 21-16 in 6A 3rd Round
• 2020 Final Ranking:  Not Ranked
• Player to Watch:  RB Joey Bond

21. Dixie Heights

• 2020 Record:  6-4
• 2020 Playoffs:  Lost to Trinity 56-0 in 6A 3rd round
• 2020 Final Ranking:  Not ranked
• Player to Watch:  DB Kel Hawkins

22. North Hardin

• 2020 Record:  9-1
• 2020 Playoffs:  Lost to St. X 16-9 in 6A 3rd round
• 2020 Final Ranking:  #14
• Player to Watch:  OL Trey Alexander

23. Henderson County

• 2020 Record:  7-2
• 2020 Playoffs:  Covid cancellation 6A 2nd round
• 2020 Final Ranking:  Not Ranked
• Player to Watch:  DL Saadiq Clements

24. Belfry 

• 2020 Record:  8-4
• 2020 Playoffs:  Lost to Ashland 10-3 in 3A semis
• 2020 Final Ranking:  #18
• Player to Watch:  QB/RB Isaac Dixon

25. McCracken County

• 2020 Record:  6-3
• 2020 Playoffs:  Lost to Male 40-13 in 6A 3rd round
• 2020 Final Ranking:  Not Ranked
• Player to Watch:  DL LeAndre Bolen

26. Mercer County

• 2020 Record:  7-2
• 2020 Playoffs:  Lost to CAL 23-7 in 3A 2nd round
• 2020 Final Ranking:  Not Ranked
• Player to Watch:  RB/LB Brayden Dunn

27. Mayfield 

• 2020 Record:  7-2
• 2020 Playoffs:  Lost to Murray 28-21 (3OT) in 2A 2nd round
• 2020 Final Ranking:  Not Ranked
• Player to Watch:  WR/S Daniel Coles

28. Somerset 

• 2020 Record:  6-3
• 2020 Playoffs:  Lost to LCA 42-35 in 2A 2nd round
• 2020 Final Ranking:  #24
• Player to Watch:  TE Michael Hawkins

29. Pikeville 

• 2020 Record:  6-3
• 2020 Playoffs:  Lost to Hazard 21-12 in A 2nd round
• 2020 Final Ranking:  Not Ranked
• Player to Watch:  WR Zac Lockhart

30. Covington Catholic

• 2020 Record:  10-2
• 2020 Playoffs:  Lost to Bowling Green 20-0 in 5A semis
• 2020 Final Ranking:  #17  
• Player to Watch:  LB Aiden Jones

Kentucky High School Football Rankings By Class

CLASS A

1. Pikeville
2. Raceland
3. Bethlehem
4. Kentucky County Day
5. Paintsville

CLASS 2A

1. Beechwood
2. Lexington Christian Academy
3. Mayfield
4. Somerset
5. Owensboro Catholic

CLASS 3A

1. Belfry
2. Mercer County
3. Paducah Tilghman
4. Ashland
5. Bardstown

CLASS 4A

1. Johnson Central
2. Boyle County
3. Corbin
4. Central
5. Franklin County

CLASS 5A

1. South Warren
2. Frederick Douglass
3. Owensboro
4. Bowling Green
5. Southwestern

CLASS 6A

1. Male
2. Trinity
3. St. Xavier
4. Manual
5. Bryan Station