Kentucky’s top high school football players: Meet the state’s best specialists
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 punters and kickers.
There are hundreds of standout football players in Kentucky and these lists are not intended to be comprehensive. Let us know about any other specialists worthy of fans’ attention in 2022.
Brady Atkins, senior, Sayre
Atkins should once again provide a reliable presence at placekicker for Sayre as a senior. He made 39 of 40 extra points last season as well as two of five field goal attempts.
Jacob Baker, 6-3, 200, senior, Corbin
Baker earned honorable mention inclusion on the all-state team last season after he drilled 66 of 67 extra point attempts as well as nine of 13 field goals. Baker, who also punts, has drawn interest from several Division I schools, including receiving an offer from Eastern Kentucky.
Will Boehm, 6-2, 180, senior, Ballard
Boehm booted 39 of 41 extra points and six of seven field goals through the uprights last season. Rated as a 4.5-star kicker by Kohl’s, Boehm has picked up some Division II college attention with offers coming from Hanover, Mount St. Joseph and Thomas More.
Aaron Chang, junior, Pikeville
Chang made both of his field goal attempts last season, the biggest coming when he split the uprights with a 23-yard kick just before halftime of the Class A state title game. Pikeville wound up beating Russellville by three points. Chang also made 41 of 46 extra point attempts.
Sawyer Crum, senior, Johnson Central
Crum didn’t attempt a field goal last season, but he provided a steady presence after touchdowns, making 55 of 59 PAT attempts.
Zavier Cruse, Henderson County
Cruse made an impressive eight field goals last season on 10 attempts. He also made 23 of 25 extra points. The performance earned him honorable mention all-state honors.
Ben Davis, 6-1, 185, senior, Murray
Davis is back for his senior year after knocking 42 of his 50 extra point attempts through the uprights last season.
Max DeGraff, 5-11, 155, senior, Lexington Catholic
DeGraff made eight of 11 field goal attempts and 43 of 45 extra points last season. He also threw a touchdown and caught for a touchdown. Rated as a 4.5-star kicker and a 4-star punter by Kohl’s, DeGraff should have some options to kick in college.
Colin Fratus, 5-10, 195, senior, Bowling Green
Fratus made all 24 extra point attempts and eight of 14 field goals as a junior. He also punts and handles kickoff duties. He has picked up a handful of Division II offers so far on the recruiting trail.
Mattia Giubilato, 6-1, 185, senior, Logan County
A foreign exchange student who came to Logan County from Italy, Giubilato has found a home on the football field as a punter and kicker. He converted 45 of 48 extra point attempts and six of 14 field goals last season.
Lance Gossett, 6-1, 205, senior, Male
Gossett got plenty of scoring opportunities as a part of Male’s high-powered offense and he took advantage, making all five of his field goal attempts and 64 of 71 extra points last season.
Tyler Gregory, 5-10, 190, senior, Atherton
Gregory made the Class 5A, District 4 all-district team last season when he made two of three field goals and 23 of 27 extra points.
Sean Higgs, 5-8, 135, senior, Daviess County
An all-state soccer player, Higgs was solid on the gridiron, too. He made 58 of 60 PATs and two of three field goal tries last fall.
Andrew Lanz, 5-11, 165, senior, Owensboro
Lanz led the state in extra points made last season, knocking 84 of 86 attempts through the uprights. He also made both field goals he tried.
Kellan McLaughlin, 5-9, 145, senior, Trinity
McLaughlin might be the best returning kicker in the state. He led all Kentucky kickers by making 15 field goals on 19 attempts last season. He also converted 46 of 48 extra points. That performance earned him second team all-state honors. McLaughlin is rated a 4.5-star kicker by Kohl’s and has drawn some interest from Power Five college programs.
Caleb Moore, 6-0, 175, senior, Southwestern
Moore is back for his senior year after making 49 of 58 extra points and one field goal last season.
Jake Owens, senior, John Hardin
Owens made 36 of 41 extra points as well as a field goal last fall.
Andrew Petty, junior, Simon Kenton
Petty knocked all five of his field goal attempts last season through the uprights and also made 33 of 38 extra points.
Easton Powell, sophomore, Franklin County
Powell certainly wasn’t intimidated by the varsity stage as a freshman last season. He was nearly perfect, making 62 of 63 extra points and three of four field goal attempts on the year.
Cooper Ranvier, 6-3, 195, junior, Frederick Douglass
Ranvier is rated as a five-star prospect and the No. 4 kicker nationally in the class of 2024 by Kohl’s. He has already picked up a scholarship offer from Eastern Kentucky and has visited a few Power Five schools. He will look to have another productive season after making 53 of 56 extra points and two of three field goals last year.
Carter Schwartz, 5-8, 160, senior, Trinity
Schwartz handles the punting duties for Trinity and earned all-district honors in Class 6A, District Five last season.
Lucas Silverthorn, 5-9, 160, senior, North Oldham
In addition to playing wide receiver and cornerback for the Mustangs, Silverthorn handles punting and kicking duties. He made 11 of 12 extra point attempts and three of four field goals last season and was also named the Class 4A, District 4 all-district punter.
Conner Thomas, 5-8, 135, senior, Graves County
Thomas was just about automatic as a junior, putting 60 of 62 PATs and both of his field goal attempts through the uprights.
Nathan Totten, 6-2, 185, senior, Russell
Totten converted 34 of 35 extra point attempts and five of seven field goals en route to earning all-state honorable mention recognition as a junior. He has visited several Division I schools and picked up a scholarship offer from Marshall earlier this summer.
JT Wilcoxson, senior, Trimble County
Wilcoxson became Trimble County’s first ever first team all-state selection last fall when he earned the honor as a punter. Wilcoxson also starts at quarterback for the Raiders and led the team in rushing last season.
Adam Winkenhover, 5-8, 175, senior, Bethlehem
Winkenhover led Class 1A by a wide margin by making 75 extra points last season on 79 attempts. He also made one of two field goals.
Nolan Wolford, 6-4, 230, senior, St. Xavier
Wolford helped lead St. X to the Class 6A state title last season when he made 61 of 64 extra points and five of six field goal attempts. Wolford received invites to prospect camps at several local Division I schools over the summer.
