Kentucky’s top high school football players: Meet the state’s best defensive backs
By Mitchell Forde
Over the next few weeks, we’ll be taking a position-by-position look at some of the top players in Kentucky high school football. Our next list focuses on the defensive backs.
There are hundreds of standout football players in Kentucky and these lists are not intended to be comprehensive. Let us know about any other defensive backs worthy of fans’ attention in 2022.
Darius Akal, 5-11, 155, sophomore, Harlan
Akal found a niche on both sides of the football as a freshman, playing both receiver and running back on offense and in the defensive backfield. He totaled 30 tackles, forced a fumble and returned a fumble for a touchdown. He could be a breakout candidate as a sophomore.
Tyler Boggs, 5-11, 160, senior, St. Xavier
Boggs is back after racking up 81 tackles, including five for loss, for St. X during its state championship run last season. Boggs also nabbed three interceptions, the biggest of which clinched a victory over Manual in the second round of the playoffs.
Ty Bryant, 6-0, 175, senior, Frederick Douglass
Bryant plans to follow in the footsteps of his father, Cisco Bryant, by playing his college football at Kentucky. Bryant plays all over the field for the Broncos, but his college future appears to be at defensive back, where he earned first team all-state honors as a junior. Last season, he led Frederick Douglass with 68 tackles and snagged a pair of interceptions. He also scored two defensive touchdowns, one on an interception return and the other on a fumble return.
Camden Cardwell, 5-11, 170, senior, Spencer County
In addition to his contributions at running back, Cardwell totaled 72 tackles on the defensive side of the ball last season. He intercepted three passes, returning one for a touchdown, and recovered a fumble, as well.
Zach Clark, 6-2, 185, senior, Owensboro
Clarked earned honorable mention inclusion on the all-state team as a junior. The safety led the Owensboro defense with 101 tackles and also grabbed four interceptions. He returned three for touchdowns.
Cristian Conyer, 6-1, 170, senior, South Warren
Conyer played cornerback for a South Warren defense that held opponents to 11.3 points per game en route to its Class 5A state championship last season. In July, the three-star recruit ranked as the No. 7 prospect in the state by the 247Sports Composite committed to Tennessee.
Deshaun Cooper, 6-0, 160, senior, Male
Cooper led a stingy Male defense with four interceptions last season, including one that he returned for a touchdown. He also logged 24 tackles and forced a fumble.
Ahlyus Durrett, 5-8, 160, senior, Western
Durrett made 44 tackles and had four interceptions a season ago. The senior also sees quite a bit of action on the offensive side of the ball at wide receiver.
Marcus Floyd, 5-10, 160, senior, Bourbon County
Floyd totaled 27.5 tackles, an interception and two fumble recoveries last season. Also a contributor at wide receiver, Floyd recently landed his first Division I scholarship offer from Dayton.
Kaden Gardner, 5-11, 175, senior, Ryle
Gardner not only led Ryle in receiving last season but also finished third on the Raider roster with 53 tackles. He made a pair of interceptions and forced a fumble, as well. Gardner has picked up a few college offers, including from Dayton and Indiana State.
Kenyon Goodin, 6-3, 185, senior, Collins
Goodin started at quarterback and led Collins in rushing as a junior, but it was actually on the defensive side of the ball where he earned second team all-state honors. Goodin made 54 tackles, forced two fumbles, recovered three fumbles and grabbed an interception last season. He has picked up a handful of scholarship offers, including one from Eastern Kentucky.
Terrell Henry, 6-3, 185, senior, Mason County
Henry made 40 tackles, recovered two fumbles and snagged three interceptions as a junior. That was enough to earn him honorable mention on the all-state team.
Terrion Hicks, 5-11, 170, junior, Frederick Douglass
Hicks should take on a much larger role within the talented Broncos defense as a junior. A season ago, he made seven tackles and an interception. But during the offseason, he impressed enough at recruiting camps to pick up scholarship offers from Northwestern, Miami (Ohio) and Western Michigan.
TJ Horton, 6-10, 180, senior, Frederick Douglass
Horton might be better known for his play at running back, where he served as the Broncos’ second-leading rusher last season with 59 carries for 433 yards and 11 touchdowns. But he plays in the defensive backfield, too, and might play cornerback at the next level. Horton has committed to Ball State.
Conner Hughes, 5-9, 140, senior, Raceland
Hughes earned honorable mention all-state recognition out of Class 1A by both leading Raceland in receiving and making 70 tackles on defense. Hughes also picked off three passes and recovered a pair of fumbles.
Kristopher Hughes, 5-11, 187, senior, Union County
Hughes could be one of the best wide receivers and defensive backs in the state as a senior. On the defensive side of the ball, he earned honorable mention all-state recognition by totaling 38 tackles and grabbing a whopping nine interceptions, tied for the most in the state. Hughes also recovered three fumbles and returned one for a touchdown. He has received a scholarship offer from Murray State and has drawn interest from a host of other schools, including Kansas State.
Liam Huston, 6-0, 160, senior, North Oldham
Hutson has proven himself to be one of the state’s premier ball hawks. He racked up eight interceptions in 11 games last season, three of which he returned for touchdowns. He then made a pair of picks and returned one to the house in North Oldham’s season-opening win over Carroll County last week.
Lennox Jackson, 5-10, 170, senior, Ballard
Jackson picked off four passes last season to go along with 48 tackles, two of them for loss. The speedster was also a member of Ballard’s state championship-winning 4x100-meter relay on the track.
Avaion Johnson, 5-10, 165, sophomore, Central
Johnson could be in line for a big sophomore campaign after he carved out a starting role as a freshman. He showed a knack for taking the ball away from opponents, recovering four fumbles, forcing two and intercepting two passes. He scored a pair of defensive touchdowns to go along with his 46 tackles.
Max Johnson, 6-0, 170, senior, Hazard
A star in every phase of the game, Johnson started at running back for the Bulldogs last season, scored four times as a return man on special teams and also racked up 83 total tackles, including 4.5 for loss. To top it off, he grabbed eight interceptions, forced two fumbles and also found the end zone on both an interception return and a fumble return. He should have a real chance at all-state honors if he can replicate that production as a senior.
Isaiah Kenney, 5-10, 160, senior, Frederick Douglass
Yet another talented Frederick Douglass defensive back, Kenney made 32 tackles last season, including four for loss. He also intercepted two passes and forced a pair of fumbles. Kenney has received a scholarship offer from Kentucky.
Jeremiah Lowe, 5-11, 170, junior, Frederick Douglass
Lowe played regular snaps as a sophomore and should only see his role expand this season. He led Frederick Douglass with four interceptions last season, one of which he returned for a touchdown. He also totaled 32 tackles. Currently ranked as the fourth-best prospect in the state in the class of 2024, Lowe has picked up scholarship offers from Michigan, Western Michigan and Miami (Ohio).
Daisjuan Mercer, 6-0, 185, senior, Hopkinsville
Mercer has been a star in all three phases for Hopkinsville. A year ago, he racked up more than 1,000 yards as a receiver, scored a touchdown as a punt returner and earned second team all-state honors as a defensive back. Mercer will look to build on a junior campaign that saw him total 51 tackles and make six interceptions, two of which he returned for scores. Mercer has committed to play college football at Miami (Ohio).
Antonio Robinson Jr., 5-10, 180, senior, Beechwood
Robinson moved to Kentucky from Florida during the offseason and should immediately become one of the most talented players on a perennially talented Beechwood squad. Robinson is currently dealing with a hamstring injury that sidelined him for the Tigers’ season opener, but he is ranked as the No. 4 prospect in the state and has committed to play cornerback collegiately at Wake Forest.
Justin Ruffin, 5-9, 160, junior, Christian Academy-Louisville
Ruffin transferred to CAL from Oldham County during the offseason and should immediately contribute at both wide receiver and defensive back. He has fielded scholarship offers from Louisville and South Florida.
Aden Tagaloa-Nelson, 6-1, 185, senior, Woodford County
Tagaloa-Nelson led the Hornets in both receptions on offense and interceptions on defense a season ago. He grabbed four picks to go along with 56 total tackles and three forced fumbles. He has committed to play his college football at Ball State.
Amare Townsed, 6-1, 175, senior, DuPont Manual
Townsend has committed to play college football at Southeast Missouri, but first he will suit up for one more campaign at Manual. Townsend led the Crimsons’ stout defense with four interceptions last season.
