Talked to Fletcher Long last night and he told me he got a message from a subscriber to our site inquiring as to when our top receivers list will be published. The question, he told me, was a reference to the Top-30 OL and Top-20 DL lists which have been published to Bluegrass Rivals by a guy whose screen name is BoyleCo.
This guy publishes these lists annually, or at least for the last two years. For the last two years, we have been chastised for the order, called into question for every omission, and had it insinuated we were biased for the appearance of some players over others. We tell everyone, every year, it isn’t our list. No one seems to believe us.
On behalf of KPGFootball, and as the “new guy,” I am going to make one, last-ditch effort, to convince readers we only perpetuate the list, we don’t originate it. In nearly 1,100 previous articles, have you ever seen us just publish a list of names without any lead up or sign off or attempt to describe the process used to create the list and the order in which the names appeared? How many other of our pieces of original work have you ever before seen published on the Bluegrass Rivals site, which is our chief competitor and takes down any of our work even shared to its site before the ink has time to dry (Ask them)? Case closed!
So, while we can’t take credit for BoyleCo‘s lists, we find we largely agree with the names included even if our order would have differed. Take the subject of today’s feature, Owen LeMaster.
Owen is a guy on whom we are clearly high at KPGFootball. The 6-1, 250-pounder is on our KPGFreshman All-State football team and plays for one of the finest programs in Kentucky. The Paintsville, Kentucky native is no stranger to post-season accolades.
In addition to making our team, LeMaster was both a Diamond Sports and National Undergraduate Combine All-American. Additionally, he is a former multi-time member of both Team Kentucky Future Stars and Team Kentucky’s FBU Elite team.
In looking over Owen’s highlights, above linked, we love what we see from the rising sophomore who got a lot of varsity run on a State finalist in 2018, though only a freshman at the time. One can’t help but notice LeMaster is a “flat-backer” who fires low out of his stance with excellent drive and leverage. Owen drives, or “runs,” his feet furiously through the whistle (We know Long loves this about him) and is accomplished at covering up both 2nd and even 3rd level defenders.
LeMaster delivers at the point of attack. So many “young bigs” underwhelm when they “arrive,” but not LeMaster. Owen has what we would describe as devastating punch and violent hands which both strike and displace defenders attempting to get off him and make plays. He alters paths with his hands and hips.
Owen is a 275-pound bench presser and a 450-pound squatter, though only coming into this sophomore season. He works hard to insure the guy across from him isn’t anatomically superior, though his is likely to be older. Owen has the power and explosion of a much older player.
Now Owen ranked on the Bluegrass Rivals “unofficial preseason list” as its 26th best offensive lineman in Kentucky, regardless of graduating class. There were only four sophomores on the list and Owen ranked as the top guard. Kiyaunta Goodwin and Anthony Johns, both ranked ahead of LeMaster, are tackles. Matter of fact, Owen was the only interior guy listed among the 2022’s as Landon Nokes plays tackle too, though he may get moved inside at the next level.
It is clear to us there will be a “next-level” for all four of the sophomores included. Not to brag but all four of the linemen from the Class of 2022 selected to the list were KPGFootball, freshman All-Staters. Still doesn’t make us the source of the list though it appears obvious its author may well subscribe.
So, in answer to our initial question, is Owen LeMaster the top guard in Kentucky’s 2022 class of prospects, it would appear so. As we had nothing to do with the list on which he has been singled out on our competitor’s site, it would also appear we aren’t the only ones who feel this way. It presently appears to be some sort of consensus.
This is Coach HB Lyon, reporting for KPGFootball, and we’re JUST CALLING IT LIKE WE SEE IT!
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