Bluegrassrivals

Seniors
DRAKE BRUNS: Highlands; defensive back; 6-foot; 190 pounds

Buzz: Committed to the University of Cincinnati in April. He led Highlands with five interceptions last season, returning three for touchdowns. Was first-team all-state last year.

Quote: "Drake is a complete defensive back: unbelievably dedicated, fast, athletic, skilled, and hits like he is already playing in the NFL." - Coach Dale Mueller

TRAVIS ELLIOTT: Ryle; running back/linebacker; 5-11; 215

Buzz: He has been a productive runner since his freshman year and has a chance to break Shaun Alexander's Northern Kentucky career rushing record of 6,662 yards. Elliott rushed for 2,215 yards and 32 touchdowns last season and has 4,348 yards in his career, leaving him needing 2,315 yards this season to surpass Alexander. He committed to Western Kentucky in May.

Quote: "When he gets hit and tackled, he's back up before the defender every time. It's almost like he says, 'You can knock me down, but you're not going to hurt me, and I'll be right back.' " - Coach Bryson Warner

BRADY HIGHTCHEW: Newport Central Catholic; quarterback/defensive back; 6-0; 170

Buzz: A standout three-sport athlete who led NewCath to the Class 2A state football championship last season. He is beginning his third season as the Thoroughbreds starting quarterback. Rushed for 1,166 yards and 16 touchdowns and passed for 1,654 yards, 13 touchdowns and only four interceptions in 180 attempts last season.

Quote: "Great kid to coach. He listens, does what you ask and never takes a play off. Maybe the most competitive kid I have ever coached, plus he is just really good, thus that combination makes him the total package." - Coach Eddie Eviston

LOGAN MARTIN: NewCath; offensive line/defensive end; 6-2; 210

Buzz: Martin played mostly on defense last season at end and ranked second on the team with 82 total tackles, including 48 solo tackles. He will start at offensive tackle this season, too, and has the potential to be very good.

Quote: "Defensively, he has a great knack for getting to the quarterback. He is a pretty good-size kid who is strong, thus can plug a gap for you, and he also has some quickness in his feet which allows him the athleticism to run around you if need be." - Eviston

JOEY NUSSBAUM: Beechwood; kicker; 6-0; 185

Buzz: In 2010 season he placed 40 of his 89 kickoffs into the end zone for touchbacks, and made 70 of 72 extra points and 4 of 6 field-goal attempts. In mid-June he was named the top punter/kicker combination at the Ray Guy

prokicker.com kicking competition in Dayton, Ohio, and also hit the longest field goal - 55 yards.

Quote: "As talented as our backfield is this year, Joey is still our biggest weapon. ... Joey has the ability to not only kick at the next level, but do it on Sundays as well." - Coach Noel Rash

ZEKE PIKE: Dixie Heights; quarterback; 6-5; 225

Buzz: Last season he threw for 2,144 yards and 17 touchdowns and rushed for 947 yards and 17 more touchdowns and then committed to defending national champion Auburn in April.

Quote: "What makes Zeke such a great quarterback is size, athleticism, understanding of the game, desire to win and confidence in his ability." - Coach Tom Spritzky

AUSTIN SHEEHAN: Highlands; wide receiver; 5-9; 160

Buzz: Diminutive receiver has a knack for making big plays and has been accepted by the University of Kentucky as a preferred walk-on. He caught 29 passes last season for 666 yards (22.9 yards per catch) and four touchdowns.

Quote: "Austin is an explosive athlete who can turn any pass, kick or punt into a touchdown." - Mueller

PATRICK TOWLES: Highlands; quarterback; 6-5; 230

Buzz: After being tossed into the starting lineup late in his sophomore season and leading the Bluebirds to a third straight Class 5A state title, he was the key offensive cog last season as Highlands rolled to a fourth straight title. Towles passed for 2,471 yards and 21 touchdowns with only 11 interceptions in 239 attempts and rushed for 880 yards and 18 touchdowns. He committed to the University of Kentucky in April.

Quote: "Patrick has a great arm and can throw deep and accurately. He reads defenses well, makes excellent decisions and is fast and athletic." - Mueller

BRADLEY WAY: Covington Catholic; offensive and defensive line; 6-3; 275

Buzz: Was the key cog on an offensive line that helped CovCath average 30 points and 357 yards per game. Also played on defense, recording 19 tackles in eight games.

Quote: "Bradley has an incredible combination of size, strength and athleticism that is not often found in a young kid. He is quick as a cat, mean as a rattlesnake and the strongest kid to play at CovCath in a decade." - Coach Dave Wirth

CAMERON VOCKE: Beechwood; running back/defensive back; 5-10; 175

Buzz: After rushing for 587 yards on only 85 carries as a sophomore in 2009 for a team that had two 1,000-yard rushers, he became the offensive focal point last season and had a breakout year with 1,883 yards rushing on only 164 carries (11.6 yards per carry) and 32 rushing touchdowns.

Quote: "What makes him such a great back is vision, lower body strength and balance. Just when you think he can't top that last great play, he does something more amazing. ... If you gave me some pom-poms I would cheer for him." - Rash

Juniors
BLAKE BIR: Covington Catholic; quarterback; 6-1; 190

Buzz: After an outstanding sophomore season in which he passed for 2,285 yards, 22 touchdowns and only 11 interceptions in 304 attempts, Bir is receiving interest from several Division I colleges, including Wake Forest, Duke, Northwestern and numerous Ivy League programs.

Quote: "The easy answer when talking about a QB is to say that he makes all the throws, that he is athletic too, etc., etc., etc. Well, Blake does and is. However, when it comes to Blake, the single most impressive trait is his toughness." - Wirth

NATHAN DAVIS: Ryle; quarterback; 5-11; 180

Buzz: The Grant County transfer has already started for two seasons and while his statistics haven't been much (six interceptions, no touchdowns and under 1,000 yards passing last season), he was impressive in a summer combine and goes from a team that won just five games over the past two seasons to one of the top Class 6A programs in the state.

Quote: "He is just a competitor. He and (three-year starter) Conner (Hempel, who graduated after last season) are on the same level as far as that. Being around his dad (Mike, who is an assistant coach at Ryle and former head coach at Grant County) and around football he understands coverages and the plays we're calling." - Warner

DYLAN HAYES: NewCath; running back/defensive back; 5-9; 180

Buzz: Was basically a blocking back last season for standout Chris Kelly, but will likely get a chance to carry the ball quite often this season. He rushed for 283 yards and six touchdowns on only 34 carries (8.3 yards per carry).

Quote: "The biggest thing I've seen thus far is his attitude towards blocking which some running backs tend to disregard at times. We know he is going to do special things when he gets the ball in his hands, but it's the little things like blocking and tackling that will make him a complete player, and he has shown great interest and coachability in those areas." - Eviston

CAMERON FOGLE: Conner; wide receiver/defensive back/punter; 5-11; 190

Buzz: He rarely came off the field last season as a sophomore, catching 53 passes for 652 yards and four touchdowns, ran for 109 yards and a TD, had an interception and was a an honorable mention Enquirer all-star as a punter.

Quote: "He's really a knowledgeable football player. His dad is a coach and he's just been around the game for so long. He does have speed, quickness and strength, but his understanding of the game is just phenomenal." - Coach David Trosper

MAX NUSSBAUM: Beechwood; linebacker/fullback; 6-1; 185

Buzz: Best position is linebacker, but was also very productive at fullback. He not only helped pave the way for Cameron Vocke rushing for almost 2,000 yards, but also rushed for 378 yards (7.3 yards per carry) and seven touchdowns and had a team-high 30 receptions.

Quote: "He is one of the toughest kids I have coached in 23 years. You couple that with explosive speed, great hands and innate ability to uncoil your hips on contact and you have one great football player. He has Dick Butkus toughness with 21st-century athleticism." - Rash
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