Ballard just another in a long line of Wolverine football stars @Zach_Ballard54 @CoachYong41 @WHHS_Football @CoachVanderpool @minguabeefjerky @1776Bank @840WHAS

Western Hills has had quite a few stars matriculate through its program

’25 DE/DT led the team in tackles, last season, in only nine games

Zach Ballard plays football at a school which has produced way more than its fair share of college ready talent. Remember Wan’Dale Robinson? He won “Mr. Football” and then ended up starring for UK’s Wildcats after a stop over in Nebraska. Last year, Ballard left the team in tackles, tackles for loss, and QB-sacks. Around a third of his stops occurred behind the enemy line meaning he was a hard charger offenses had trouble stemming. He will be a big factor in ’24 too.

HB Lyon, Scouting Director, KPGFootball

X-Account

Hudl Highlights

KHSAA Statistical Website

Zach Ballard only got nine (9) days for burn in ’23. In spite of that, the 6’5,” 225-pound DE/DT led the team in tackles, TFLs, and QB-sacks.

All told, it was an impressive year. Ballard had 30-stops, three (3)-TFLs, four and a half (4.5)-QB sacks, two (2)-FFs, and a FR. That is quite a bit of production. Causing the two (2) FFs means he’s laying the wood once he arrives.

The Western Hills football team is accustomed to running some fine talent through its program. Wan’Dale Robinson won Mr. Football in Kentucky before signing with Nebraska and then transferring home to UK where he was a Wildcat favorite and star.

Robinson plays for the NFL’s New York Giants now. At only 5’8″ he’s found a way to overcome the measuring tape.

Adult wolverines have few natural predators

Wikipedia

Now the Western Hills HS in Frankfort, Kentucky lays claim to “Wolverines” for a mascot. Here are a few facts about Wolverines you may or may not know: While wolverines look like a bear and smell like a skunk, they are the largest living members of the weasel family.

Adult wolverines have few natural predators. A wolverine may fall victim to wolves, bears, and mountain lions, but little else.

Zach Ballard is as slippery rushing upfield as a weasel at times. The positions on the down and distance marker Ballard leaves offenses often “stinks.”

Ballard is in high demand among colleges in and around the commonwealth. We have seen some small schools lurking and he has a frame which would certainly recommend him to schools competing at either the FCS or FBS (Mid-Major) range.

Western Hills was 3-7 a year ago and missed out on the playoffs. The Wolverines are in the same district with Franklin and Shelby County.

Those are some fairly fierce predators the Wolverines will face on a yearly basis. They will need everything Ballard can give them to keep up with the stiff competition. Hey, it’s a dog eat wolverine world out there, folks!

This is Friday Night Fletch, reporting for KPGFootball, reminding you to PLAY THROUGH THE WHISTLE!

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About Fletcher Long 1631 Articles
Two-time winner of Kentucky Press Association awards for excellence in writing and reporting news stories while Managing Editor of the Jackson (KY) Times-Voice

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