[Bull got out!]

Going into his senior year, Lexington Christian Academy quarterback Cutter Boley has already made a name for himself as the state’s top college recruit and a high-profile commitment to the University of Kentucky. It follows that the 6-foot-5 signal caller would top this year’s edition of the Herald-Leader Hundred, our annual list of some of the best high school football players in Kentucky heading into the 2023 season.

 High school coaches around the state picked our top 10 and Boley’s name came up most, appearing on 50 of the 76 surveys submitted with 30 No. 1 votes. TOP VIDEOS Top Stories 00:08 00:36 ‘Welcome to the 11th Region.’ Two of state’s top teamsdeliver season-opening thriller. A four-star recruit according to 247Sports.com and Rivals.com, Boley led LCA to the Class 2A semifinals last season, throwing for 3,901 yards and 36 touchdowns. The Eagles are a favorite to contend for the 2A championship again this year and, if they do, Boley will be one of the top contenders for Mr. Football, the game’s highest individual accolade. 

Boyle County’s dynamic junior playmaker Montavin Quisenberry ranked second in the coaches’ voting, followed by Frederick Douglass lineman Zuri Madison, an Arkansas commit. All four of UK’s in-state commits made our top 10 with Covington Catholic’s Willie Rodriguez, Simon Kenton’s Aba Selm and Taylor County’s Hayes Johnson joining Boley. Johnson tied Christian Academy-Louisville quarterback Cole Hodge for the 10th spot. 

Three juniors made the top 10 with Bowling Green quarterback Deuce Bailey and Central running back Cortez Stone joining Quisenberry in that category. Also among the top vote-getters were North Hardin wideout Shaun Boykins Jr., a Louisville commit, and Male wide receiver Max Gainey. Corbin fans and others who follow high school football closely will no doubt argue that Jacob Smith and his twin brother, Jerod Smith, should be among our top 10. But word about the four-star Michigan commitments’ arrival in Corbin wasn’t yet reflected in recruiting rankings in late July and similarly did not disseminate to enough coaches in time to make an impact in our survey. However, the Smiths are noted here and are in our top 50.

 The following Herald-Leader Hundred is @HLpreps’ preseason list of some of the best players in the state as put forth by high school head coaches and also selected by sports writer Jared Peck. The top 10 players are presented in order of votes received from the coaches, who were asked to rank the top 10 players in the state regardless of school classification. The next 39 players, in alphabetical order, are among those most often named as part of that survey combined with @HLpreps’ picks based on their career, statistics, recruiting rankings and coaches’ comments. Additionally, 50 additional notable players from Kentucky’s various geographic regions are recognized as players to watch. The online version of this story links to each player’s Hudl.com highlights from their names. Lexington Christian Academy quarterback Cutter Boley passed for 3,901 yards and 36 touchdowns last season. He has committed to play at the University of Kentucky. Brian Simms bsimms@herald-leader.com LCA's Cutter Boley on football title expectations despite tough early schedule Lexington Christian Academy senior quarterback and four-star UK commit says the Eagles have one goal despite tough games in the team's first part of the season: make it to Kroger Field for the KHSAA Class 2A state championship game. 

BY BRIAN SIMMS THE TOP 10

 1. Cutter Boley School: Lexington Christian Height/Weight/Class/Position: 6-5/203/Sr./QB College choice: Kentucky Total points received in survey: 441 (30 No. 1 votes) 

2. Montavin Quisenberry School: Boyle County Height/Weight/Class/Position: 5-9/160/Jr./RB College choice: Undecided Total points received in survey: 267 (4) 

3. Zuri Madison School: Frederick Douglass Height/Weight/Class/Position: 6-5/315/Sr./OL/DL College choice: Arkansas Total points received in survey: 182 (1) 

4. Willie Rodriguez School: Covington Catholic Height/Weight/Class/Position: 6-4/240/Sr./TE College choice: Kentucky Total points received in survey: 165 

5. Aba Selm School: Simon Kenton Height/Weight/Class/Position: 6-4/293/Sr./OT College choice: Kentucky Total points received in survey: 127 (1) 

6. Shaun Boykins Jr. School: North Hardin Height/Weight/Class/Position: 6-1/185/Sr./WR College choice: Louisville Total points received in survey: 122

7. Deuce Bailey School: Bowling Green Height/Weight/Class/Position: 6-0/165/Jr./QB College choice: Undecided Total points received in survey: 112 (5)

8. Max Gainey School: Male Height/Weight/Class/Position: 5-9/150/Sr./ATH College choice: Undecided Total points received in survey: 105 (2) 

9. Cortez Stone School: Central Height/Weight/Class/Position: 5-10/172/Jr./RB College choice: Undecided Total points received in survey: 101 (1) 

10. Cole Hodge (tie) School: Christian Academy-Louisville Height/Weight/Class/Position: 6-2/193/Sr./QB College choice: East Carolina Total points received in survey: 90 (2) 

10. Hayes Johnson (tie) School: Taylor County Height/Weight/Class/Position: 6-5/295/Sr./OT College choice: Kentucky Total points received in survey: 90 (2)

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