Three northern Kentucky high school football players put ink to paper on National Signing Day on Wednesday, the first day for football players to sign their National Letter of Intent to their respective schools in Division I.
Ryle’s Dillon Smith is staying in-state, heading to the University of Louisville, Cooper’s Isaac Brown is going west to Southeast Missouri State University and Beechwood’s Mattox Kelly is headed to Illinois State University. All three are playing for state titles this weekend.
Smith is a game-wrecker at defensive end for the Raiders. As a four-year member of the varsity team, Smith totaled 166 tackles, 45 tackles for a loss, 23.5 sacks, three interceptions and one pick-six. He’s helped lead the Raiders to 35 wins over the past four seasons, including a senior season where the team is currently 12-2 and in the Class 6A State Championship on Saturday against Trinity. Smith leads the Raiders with 8.5 sacks this season.
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Brown first saw the field as a freshman, eventually playing in 40 total games across his four year career. Brown’s frame at cornerback makes him a lockdown defender, proof with nine interceptions in his high school career. He’s also forced one fumble, collected two fumble recoveries, made 63 tackles, two of them for a loss and one pick-six. In his junior and senior seasons, Brown helped the team go 26-3, including two Class 5A State Championship appearances and one runner-up finish. He’s second on the team this season with five interceptions.
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Kelly managed both the offensive and defensive lines for the Tigers. In three seasons as a member of the team, Kelly has played in 34 games as the Tigers have two Class 2A state championship appearances and a state semifinalist showing. Kelly leads the team in tackles for loss this season with 12.5 and sacks with 7.5. His 52 tackles are fourth on the team.
*Of note, Cooper’s Austin Alexander is committed to the University of North Carolina, but did not sign yesterday. The Tarheels let go of their head coach Mack Brown, but Alexander is still currently committed to the Tarheels.