I8 SUNDAY, AUGUST 24, 2014 /// THE ENQUIRER KENTUCKY

TOP 20 SENIORS
1. Drew Moore, QB (6-3, 180),
Dixie Heights: The dual-threat quar-
terback racked up 1,462 yards through
the air and 1,069 on the ground last
year to go with 21 total touchdowns.
2. Beau Hoge, QB (6-1, 195), High-
lands: The senior signal-caller threw
for 735 yards and 11 touchdowns with
only two interceptions while complet-
ing 64.2 percent of his passes as Drew
Houlistons backup last year.
3. Adam Wagner, QB (6-1, 155),
CovCath: The athletic QB looked like
one of the most promising playmak-
ers in the area before getting injured
in the second game last season.
4. Barry Deaton, LB (6-4, 220),
Simon Kenton: The big linebacker
led a talented Simon Kenton defense
with 92 tackles last season and was
named to the Northern Kentucky
Football Coaches Associations second
team.
5. Branden Johnson, OL/DL (6-3,
295), Dixie: The physical lineman was
named to the NKFCA first team de-
fense last year and has committed to
play at Eastern Michigan next year.
6. Alex Veneman, WR (5-11, 175),
Highlands: The speedy wideout had
some explosive games while compil-
ing 890 yards and 11 touchdowns as a
junior in a crowded Highlands wide
receiver corps. His production should
only increase as the go-to receiver.
7. Mason Compton, RB/LB (5-8,
190), Walton-Verona: The hard-nosed
running back led the team with 1,157
rushing yards last year and 14 touch-
downs. He also had two interceptions
and 29 tackles on defense.
8. Christian Olmstead, OL (6-3,
310), Simon Kenton: The imposing
presence up front for the Pioneers
running game has been receiving
Division-I interest from schools such
as Purdue, Akron, Eastern Kentucky,
Kent State, Miami and Ohio.
9. Griffin Urlage, RB (6-2, 185),
Highlands: The senior led Highlands
secondary with three interceptions
and a fumble recovery last year as a
defensive back, but this year hes
taking his playmaking talents to the
other side of the ball.
10. Logan Winkler, WR (6-1, 175),
Simon Kenton: The vertical threat
racked up 719 yards and 11 touch-
downs on 51 catches to go with a kick-
off return for a touchdown while be-
ing named to the NKFCA second team
last year.
11. Breandon Johnson, OL/DL (6-2,
325), Newport: The massive lineman
is a disruptive force on the offensive
and defensive lines when hes playing
his hardest. Transferred to Newport
from Holmes in the offseason.
12. Brady Murray, LB, Highlands:
The two-year starter at linebacker
flew all around the field on defense
and special teams last year, adding to
his reputation as one of the areas
hardest hitters.
13. Joe Studer, RB/DB (5-8, 160),
Beechwood: The senior does a little
bit of everything on both sides of the
ball and special teams. He had 655
total yards of offense and eight touch-
downs as a junior, plus he returned a
punt for a touchdown.
14. Ryan Woolf, LB/RB, Ryle: The
two-way starter led Ryle with 543
rushing yards and 112 tackles last
year while earning his way onto the
NKFCA first team.
15. Brandon Gray (5-9, 172), WR/
DB, NewCath: The speedy two-way
starter showed toughness and grit by
playing through injury late in his
junior year while finishing second on
the team with 532 receiving yards and
four touchdowns. He had 75 tackles,
two interceptions and two fumble
recoveries on defense.
16. Ethan Harrison,
DB/LB (5-11, 170), Dixie:
The athletic defensive
back led Dixies second-
ary with six intercep-
tions, and was named to
the NKFCA second
team.
17. Dominic Joseph, RB (6-0, 220),
Newport: The power back ran for 668
yards and three touchdowns while
averaging over 5.0 yards per carry
for Newport as a junior.
18. Andrew Abner, DB (5-11, 170),
Highlands: The rangy safety can
make plays in coverage, play in run
support and has the experience of
already starting for Highlands de-
fense.
19. Blake Stephenson, WR/DB
(5-10, 160), Bellevue: The big-play
receiver racked up 1,038 yards and 10
touchdowns in Bellevues Air Raid
spread offense last year. Hes closing
in on Bellevues school record for
receptions and touchdowns.
20. Andrew Hedger, TE (6-5, 255),
Dixie: The physically gifted tight end
turned heads at offseason camps and
drew three college offers before com-
mitting to Austin Peay in early Au-
gust.
TOP 10 JUNIORS/
UNDERCLASSMEN
1. Dillon Powell, RB (5-10, 185),
Simon Kenton: The junior rushed for
738 yards and nine touchdowns as a
sophomore, despite playing just eight
games due to injuries. If healthy,
could be the top running back in
Northern Kentucky this season.
2. Jacob Smith, RB/DB (5-11, 180),
NewCath: The junior led NewCath
with 1,020 rushing yards and 13 touch-
downs on offense, and he recovered
three fumbles on defense as a sopho-
more.
3. Kyle Fieger, QB (5-11, 165),
Beechwood: The junior threw for
2,305 yards and 28 touchdowns while
completing 56.5 percent of his passes
while leading Beechwood to the state
quarterfinals as a sophomore.
4. Ben Dressman, QB/ATH (6-1,
165), CovCath: The junior led Cov-
Cath with 911 rushing yards and 10
touchdowns on the ground to go with
1,730 yards and 19 scores through the
air as a sophomore after taking over
for the injured Adam Wagner in week
two.
5. Ethan Stringer, RB (6-2, 185),
Beechwood: The junior led Beech-
wood with 737 yards and 10 touch-
downs on the ground last year. He also
returned a kickoff 89 yards for a
touchdown. Committed to play base-
ball at Louisville.
6. Cam Pitzer, LB (6-3, 174), Cov-
Cath: The junior emerged and devel-
oped into one of the top defensive
players in the district while leading
CovCath with 70 tackles as a sopho-
more.
7. Isaiah Ebarb, WR/DB (5-11, 191),
Conner: The junior showed some raw
ability and athleticism as a sophomore
while hauling in seven passes for 101
yards and a touchdown. Conner needs
him to step up in a big way this year.
8. Ben Darlington, RB (5-10, 175),
CovCath: The junior ran for 391 yards
and six touchdowns while averaging
5.1 yards per carry in 11 games as a
sophomore.
9. Desean Brumfield, QB (6-0,
175), Holmes: The junior threw for
1,024 yards and 10 scores as a sopho-
more in 10 games. He has a feel for
making the big play, but needs to tone
down the turnovers (13 INTs last
year).
10. Brayden Combs, OL/DE (6-3,
230), Beechwood: The junior has a
unique combination of athleticism and
strength that should allow him to be a
force as as an upperclassmen.
The top players to watch in 2014
By Rick Broering
Enquirer contributor
Dixie Heights quarterback Drew Moore had more than 1,000 yards both through the air and on the ground last season. TONY TRIBBLE FOR THE ENQUIRER
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