2016 All-State Football
Seven players who led their teams to state championships earlier this month highlight the first-team selections on The Courier-Journal’s 93rd Annual All-State Football Team.
KHSAA Class 5-A champion Bowling Green and Class 3-A winner Belfry both had three first-team selections. Class 6-A titlist Trinity had one first-team pick.
Offensive linemen Cole Bentley and Austin Dotson and defensive lineman Rayquan Horton led Belfry’s selections. Running back Jamale Carothers, defensive lineman Dalan Cofer and linebacker Justice Dingle were selected from Bowling Green. Sophomore defensive lineman Stephen Herron was Trinity’s pick.
A total of 105 ballots were returned from coaches around the state.
Included among the 26 first-team selections are 14 who have committed to NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision or Football Championship Subdivision schools.
That group includes seven players who have committed to Kentucky schools – Christian County’s Keyron Catlett and Kenneth Major and Lexington Catholic’s Woodford Lankford with Western Kentucky; Lafayette’s Walker Wood and Belfry’s Dotson with Kentucky; Belfry’s Bentley with Louisville; and Madison Central’s Landon White with Eastern Kentucky.
Here’s the full list of all-state selections. Click a first-team player’s name for a brief bio.
OFFENSE
FIRST TEAM
6-0 190 Senior
RB – Jamale Carothers, Bowling Green
5-9 187 Senior
5-7 170 Senior
6-2 170 Senior
WR – Jake Johnson, Pulaski County
6-1 182 Senior
WR – Keyron Catlett, Christian County
5-10 180 Senior
6-5 318 Senior
OL – Colby McKee, Scott County
6-4 250 Senior
6-5 305 Senior
6-7 320 Senior
OL – Woodford Lankford, Lexington Catholic
6-4 275 Senior
K – Landon White, Madison Central
6-0 175 Senior
SECOND TEAM
QB – Spencer Blackburn, Trinity
6-2 180 Senior
RB – Kyree Hawkins, Fern Creek
6-0 202 Senior
RB – Darius Barber, Central Hardin
5-11 180 Senior
RB – Branden Leff, Spencer County
5-11 176 Senior
WR – Milton Wright, Christian Academy
6-3 185 Sophomore
WR – C.J. Hayes, South Warren
6-3 200 Senior
OL – Cole Spencer, Trinity
6-5 285 Senior
OL – Will Bramel, Boyle County
6-6 260 Junior
OL – Chazz Tooley, Bowling Green
6-2 257 Senior
OL – Cole Kirby, Franklin-Simpson
6-4 286 Senior
OL – D’Avian Phillips, Trigg County
6-2 305 Senior
K – Rodrigo Garcia, Graves County
5-11 165 Senior
THIRD TEAM
QB – Tanner Morgan, Ryle
6-2 204 Senior
RB – Sam Taylor, St. Xavier
5-10 190 Senior
RB – Kent Phelps, Paintsville
6-0 180 Senior
RB – Landon Board, Owensboro
5-7 180 Senior
WR – Jordan Gunter, Ballard
6-0 190 Senior
WR – DeAngelo Wilson, Bowling Green
5-10 165 Senior
OL – Graham Ashkettle, South Oldham
6-6 270 Senior
OL – Ross Whipple, Christian County
6-1 288 Senior
OL – Charles Allen, Doss
6-4 305 Junior
OL – Hunter Ziegelmeyer, Covington Catholic
6-6 270 Senior
OL – Tyler Patrick, Johnson Central
6-0 196 Senior
K – Austin Steurer, Gallatin County
6-1 160 Senior
HONORABLE MENTION
Quarterbacks
Landon Arnett, Mayfield; Zach Dampier, Danville; Larry Harper III, Waggener; Breece Hayes, Casey County; Jerod Lonaker, Cooper; J.R. Lucas, Collins; Tanner McAnich, Lincoln County; Clark Payne, Bowling Green; Cameron Racke, Simon Kenton; Desmond Ridder, St. Xavier; Tucker Woolum, Pineville.
Running backs
Daniel Caudill, Edmonson County; Jake Chisholm, Ryle; Jordan Doan, Somerset; Jacob Foley, Garrard County; Dalton Garner, Wayne County; Mason Green, Marshall County; Kendrick Hamilton, Scott County; Armand Jackson, Conner; Joe Jackson, Johnson Central; Brody Johnson, East Ridge; Corey Johnson, Central; Aiden Justice, Beechwood; Cameron Morgan, Lafayette; Hunter Perdue, Bullitt East; WanDale Robinson, Western Hills; Cory Smith, Hazard; Dontae Smith, Union County; Brandon Troxell, McCreary Central; Dillon Wheatley, Lexington Christian; Vonn Williams, Owensboro Catholic.
Wide receivers
Jackson Beerman, Tates Creek; Quinton Brown, Lafayette; Jaelin Carter, Manual; Jared Frank, Kentucky Country Day; Jason Johnson, Hazard; Cameron Lasley, Adair County; Anton Lumson, Mayfield; Dalton Maggard, Collins; Montae Robinson, Pleasure Ridge Park; Tyrese Simmons, Harlan County; B.K. Smith, Male; Marquel Tinsley, Daviess County; D’Mauriae VanCleave, Danville; J.P. Vaught, Southwestern; Jack Ward, Allen County-Scottsville.
Offensive linemen
Justin Brown, Woodford County; Logan Coffey, Rockcastle County; Zach Ferris, Pulaski County; Caleb Hardison, Russellville; Bryan Hudson, Scott County; Devin Jeffries, Mayfield; Max Maloney, Owensboro Catholic; Chris Mink, Monroe County; Thomas Morgan, Harlan; Levi Nesler, Graves County; Donnie Noble, Perry County Central; Blake Price, Meade County; Spencer Robinson, Hazard; Sander Roksvag, Cooper; Jordan Scott, Belfry; Hayden Tedford, Shelby County; Cameron Thurman, Marshall County; D.J. Washington, Ballard; Jacob Wilson, Casey County; Raymond Wingate, Fern Creek.
Kickers
D.C. Bowlin, Williamsburg; Owen Johnson, St. Xavier; Parker Klehr, South Oldham; Mason Molique, Ryle; Zach Williams, Trinity; Jakson Wine, North Oldham; Austin Woolum, Belfry.
DEFENSE
FIRST TEAM
6-2 316 Senior
DL – Dalan Cofer, Bowling Green
6-1 201 Senior
6-4 220 Sophomore
DL – Zach Haynes, South Warren
6-3 255 Senior
6-1 230 Senior
LB – Justice Dingle, Bowling Green
6-2 230 Junior
LB – Derrick Barnes, Covington Holy Cross
6-3 235 Senior
6-0 170 Senior
5-10 195 Junior
DB – Kenneth Major, Christian County
6-0 190 Senior
5-11 170 Senior
P – Devonta Guillory, John Hardin
6-3 165 Senior
SECOND TEAM
DL – Jake Paulson, Christian Academy
6-5 245 Senior
DL – Jacob Lacey, South Warren
6-2 290 Sophomore
DL – Sean Cleasant, Manual
6-2 275 Senior
DL – Austin Daulton, Southwestern
6-3 329 Senior
LB – Kincer Arnett, Mayfield
5-11 190 Senior
LB – Brian Carter, Simon Kenton
6-2 210 Senior
LB – Jaxon Janes, Hopkinsville
6-1 215 Senior
DB – Geordan Blanton, Johnson Central
6-0 180 Senior
DB – Donald Smith, Mercer County
5-6 160 Senior
DB – Trel Riley Caldwell County
6-1 175 Sophomore
DB – Chayse McClure, Rockcastle County
5-10 175 Senior
P – Josh Edwards, Shelby County
6-6 200 Senior
THIRD TEAM
DL – Mitchell Paycheck, Boyle County
6-0 235 Junior
DL – Treyvon Wright, John Hardin
6-1 255 Senior
DL – Tahj Rice, Waggener
6-3 285 Junior
DL – R.J. Wilson, Hopkinsville
6-2 247 Senior
LB – Chance Orr, Paducah Tilghman
6-0 240 Senior
LB – Dylan Brock, Corbin
6-1 200 Senior
LB – Matt Sizemore, North Laurel
5-9 188 Junior
DB – Jack Fagot, Lexington Catholic
6-1 186 Senior
DB – Kadin Smith, Spencer County
6-0 185 Junior
DB – Johnny Drumgole, Russellville
5-10 168 Senior
DB – Brandon Davis, Shelby County
5-11 180 Senior
P – Micqael Branch, Central
6-2 190 Senior
HONORABLE MENTION
Defensive linemen
Peyton Blackburn, Shelby Valley; Micah Brimer, Mayfield; Hunter Conway, Frankfort; Josh Ervin, Johnson Central; Jermaine Jackson, Trinity; Payton Leneave, Christian County; Trey Livingood, Madison Southern; Drew Mack, Shelby County; Dale Owens, Knox Central; Dion Pearson, Franklin-Simpson; Tyus Short, Mercer County; J.T. Smith, Russell County; Max Willinger, St. Xavier; Bryce Woosley, Central Hardin.
Linebackers
Drew Baetens, South Oldham; Grayson Blevins, Mercer County; Jon Board, Ballard; Luke Bowman, Central; Blake Charles, Pikeville; Jack Daly, St. Xavier; Nick Eades, Collins; Quinten Floyd, Bryan Station; Steven Franklin, Glasgow; Donlevy Harris, Danville; Cade Harvey, Franklin-Simpson; David Kennison, Pleasure Ridge Park; Bryndon Labhart, Anderson County; Miguel Luna, North Hardin; Isaac Martin, Trinity; Stephon Mayes, Male; Jackson Mobley, Pulaski County; Malik Mundy, Owensboro; Ean Shaw, Lafayette; Carter Smith, Madison Southern; Hunter VanHooser, Caldwell County; Derek Wellman, Belfry; Nathaniel Wilcox, Johnson Central.
Defensive backs
Zyan Bethel, Trinity; Shannon Bishop, Pleasure Ridge Park; Devyn Bledsoe, Ballard Memorial; Alec Brothers, DeSales; Cameron Catron, Belfry; Trevon Faulkner, Mercer County; Kyle Gann, East Jessamine; Lonnie Grant, Adair County; Keanan John, South Oldham; Malcolm Johnson, Greenwood; Trent Kincaid, Simon Kenton; Cole McWhorter, North Laurel; Jake New, Pulaski County; Donterius Parker, Hopkinsville; Cooper Robb, Scott County; Josiah Robey, Franklin-Simpson; Reese Smith, Boyle County; Vito Tisdale, Bowling Green; Cory Trice, Christian County.
Punters
Zac Collins, St. Xavier; Parker Eads, Pike County Central; Thomas Janiszewski, North Hardin; Bryce Webb, North Oldham; Trent Wrobleski, Newport Central Catholic.