Darius Akal, Senior, Harlan
Akal carried the ball 186 times for 960 yards and 10 rushing touchdowns in 2023. On defense, he finished with 25 tackles (two went for a loss), while forcing a fumble.
Blake Burnett, Junior, Bell County
Burnett completed 46-of-77 pass attempted for 931 yards and 12 touchdowns. He also carries the ball 58 times for 491 yards and six touchdowns. Burnett led the 13th Region with nine interceptions on defense while returning one of those for a touchdown. He finished with 55 tackles, three forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and one tackle for a loss.
Noah Cima, Senior, Corbin
Cima established himself as the best kicker in the 13th Region. He connected on 60-of-61 PATs while hitting all three field goal attempts. Cima also had six receptions for 114 yards while recording two tackles on defense
Ashton Clemons, Junior, Jackson County
Clemons ran for 585 yards on only 64 carries last season while finding pay dirt seven times. He also had three receptions for 144 yards and three TDs. Defensively, Clemons finished with 21 tackles, one sack, five interceptions and two fumble recoveries.
Hayden Dameron, Senior, Bell County
Dameron dominated defensively, recording 104 tackles (15 for a loss), and seven sacks. He also had two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery. On offense, Dameron finished with nine catches for 208 yards and four touchdowns.
Kade Elam, Senior, Corbin
Elam completed 149 of 210 pass attempts for 27 touchdowns and 2,443 yards. He also carried the ball 51 times for 267 rushing yards and nine touchdowns.
Cam Estep, Junior, Corbin
Estep carried the ball 22 times for 242 yards and four touchdowns while pulling down 37 receptions for 483 yards and six touchdowns. He also connected on 2-of-4 pass attempts for 35 yards.
Blake Evans, Senior, Bell County
Evans led the Bobcats with 138 tackles with four going for a loss. One hundered and four of those tackles were solos. He also had an interception. Offensively, Evans carries the ball 43 times for 215 yards and three touchdowns. He also finished with four catches for 54 yards and one touchdown.
Nate Goodin, Senior, Williamsburg
Goodin completed 80-of-177 pass attempts for 1,066 yards and eight touchdowns. He led Williamsburg with 132 rush attempts, and 1,319 rushing yards and while recording 18 rushing touchdowns. He also had six tackles on defense.
Jace Hatfield, Senior, Corbin
Hatfield established himself as one of the best linemen in the state. Defensively, he recorded 53 tackles last season with three going for a loss. Hatfield also finished with two sacks.
Zyler Housekeeper, Junior, Williamsburg
Housekeeper had 35 tackles and a team-best five interceptions with two of those resulting in touchdowns. He also had a fumble recovery. On offense, Housekeeper had one catch for 20 yards.
Jude McWhorter, Sophomore, North Laurel
Last season’s Newcomer of the Year did it all. He completed all three of his pass attempts for 20 yards and a touchdown while carrying the ball 19 times for 134 yards. McWhorter also had 14 receptions for 181 yards and a touchdown. Defensively, he dominated, recording 111 tackles and two interceptions. McWhorter also forced five fumbles and had one fumble recovery.
Hunter Napier, Junior, Harlan County
In only eight games last season, Napier established himself as a top defensive player, finishing with 71 tackles (one went for a loss).
Joshua Owens, Junior, Bell County
Owens was one of the best defensive players in the 13th Region last season, recording 91 tackles with four of those going for a loss. He also forced a fumble.
Dee Parker, Junior, Whitley County
Parker could very well be the best running back in the 13th Region. He ran the ball 230 times last season for 1,644 yards and 16 touchdowns. He also had 12 receptions for 217 yards and two TDs. Defensively, he finished with 37 tackles and two interceptions.
Deacon Partin, Sophomore, Middlesboro
As a freshman, Partin completed 83 of 169 pass attempts for 14 touchdowns and 1,449 yards. He also added 47 rushing yards on 25 carries, and two tackles on defense.
Eli Pietrowski, Junior, Corbin
Pietrowski turned heads last season and has been on many Division I schools’ radar since. He had 12 catches for 272 yards and three touchdowns last season.
Cooper Prewitt, Senior, Williamsburg
Prewitt led Williamsburg with 25 catches for 344 yards and three touchdowns. Defensively, he had 17 tackles, two interceptions, and a sack.
Landon Robbins, Junior, Pineville
Robbins led Pineville last season with 779 rushing yards on 113 carries. He also recorded five rushing touchdowns. Robbins led the Mountain Lions with 37 receptions, 669 receiving yards and five touchdowns. On defense, Robbins recorded 64 tackles (four for a loss), and two sacks. He also had two fumble recoveries and an interception he took back for a score.
Cooper Robinson, Junior, North Laurel
Robinson made a name for himself last season on defense, recording 106 tackles (three for a loss), and one sack while forcing two fumbles and recording one fumble recovery. He also had an interception.
Robinson carried the ball 17 times for 113 yards and scored one touchdown. He also had one reception for a yard.
Noah Smith, Senior, South Laurel
Smith led South Laurel with 106 tackles (16 for a loss), and three sacks. He also forced a fumble and recorded an interception. Offensively, Smith had 13 receptions for 144 yards and one touchdown.
Vincent Smith, Senior, Middlesboro
Washington and force on both sides of the ball last season.
Smith led Middlesboro with 108 tackles with 10 of those resulting in negative yards. He also had a sack, one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries. Offensively, carried the ball 69 times for 597 rushing yards and seven rushing touchdowns. He also had three receptions for eight yards.
Payton Tye, Senior, Williamsburg
Tye led Williamsburg with 95 tackles (eight for a loss), a sack, and four forced fumbles. On offense, he had two catches for 45 yards.
Aiden Wagers, Junior, Clay County
Wagers was one of the best offensive players in the 13th Region last season, totaling 41 receptions for 593 yards and 14 touchdowns. He also carried the ball 22 times for 114 yards and three touchdowns. Defensively, Wagers had 28 tackles with two going for a loss. He also had a sack.
Jayden Woods, Junior, Clay County
Woods established himself as one of the top receivers in the 13th Region last season with 51 receptions, 643 yards and eight touchdowns. In defense, Woods had 28 tackles, one interception and one fumble recovery.
