John Luke Minner, the KHSAA’s ‘premier edge rusher,’ has committed to the Ivy League and Brown University @john_minner13, @ChadPennington, @lexsayrefb, @KYHighFootball, @minguabeefjerky, @bigassfans

’26 Rush End commits to the Bears over several other D-1s

John Luke Minner made the Big Ass Fans, Small School, All-State Defense a year ago as a junior. Minner is 6’3,” 230-pound dynamic edge threat who has been rated the top edge rusher in the KHSAA ’26 class by 247Sports.com and several other notable, national ranking services. You may add another distinction to his burgeoning list of accomplishments. Minner is headed to Brown University to play collegiate football at the Division I, Ivy League level.

HB Lyon, Scouting Director, “KPGFootball”

Lexington, KY: There was a time when I used to help scout and recruit players to a very prestigious and sought after academic institution which had a fine football program. I remember that this particular school, which was a “Near Ivy,” and not an Ivy League member, had put 19-players in the NFL over its long history.

That being said, you didn’t attend this school to “play in the league.” You played at this school to get a degree with the school’s name at the top of the sheep skin and benefit from its contacts and connections.

The same can be said of any school in the Ivy League; perhaps, even more so. Some schools have prestigious pedigrees extending well beyond the gridiron.

I used to say of this school, “It may not put you in the NFL. However, your chances of getting elected Governor of your state or commonwealth, or elected to the US Senate or Congress, have gone up, exponentially, upon pledging your commitment.”

So, there is that. It was a good pitch.

Lots of families relished that pitch. It was successful more times than it wasn’t. Brown’s pitch may be even more convincing.

In total, 76 former Brown University alumni have played football professionally, 31 of those were drafted into the NFL or AFL, and 52 of the 76 were on NFL active rosters, according to information put out by the University. Brown’s alumni have had an impact on the league, both on the field and in the executive board room.

It isn’t like Ivy Leaguers can’t hit it big-time in the NFL either. Ever heard of Calvin Hill, Sid Luckman, and Chuck “Concrete Charlie” Bednarik? All three enjoyed NFL Hall of Fame careers. All three played Ivy League football in college.

Bednarik may be the finest offensive center the professional game has ever known and among its finer linebackers on defense. Bednarik was the first overall selection in the 1949 NFL draft.

In truth, the list of famous Brown alumni is too numerous to include here verbatim. Here is a link.

Movie stars, television stars, captains of industry, billionaires, leading politicians, Supreme Court justices, and Nobel Laureates have all attended Brown University. Now, a young man from Lexington, KY, playing 1A football in the KHSAA has pledge his commitment there. Look out super genius and the elite of the elite, here comes John Luke Minner from Sayre High.

In pledging his commitment to Brown University, Minner respectfully spurned interest from the likes of Marshall, Georgia State, Georgetown University, and Coastal Carolina. You don’t see 1A football players in the KHSAA matriculate to play Division I football everyday. It is significant when you do see it.

You don’t see kids heading off to get Ivy League degrees everyday either. It is likewise significant when you do see it.

Minner isn’t headed to Brown because he won the science fair. This kid a big time, Division I football recruit with all the “bells and whistles.” Let’s not get that twisted. Big Ass Fans didn’t select him first-team All-State because he’s a genius.

Minner has a few things going his way in the football department. One, he is the top-ranked Edge Rusher in the commonwealth of Kentucky according to most nationally prominent recruiting services. Secondly, he was instrumental in helping lead his HS football program (Sayre Spartans in Lexington, KY) to a 15-0 finish and 1A KHSAA football title.

We were able to obtain a comment from Minner about his commitment.

“Brown is the perfect fit for me, both academically and athletically,” said Minner according to a release forwarded to KPGFootball. “The coaching staff believed in me from day one, and I’m excited to be a part of a program that values excellence on and off the field.”

“We’re incredibly proud of John Luke [Minner],” said his high school head coach Chad Pennington. “He’s worked hard to be in this position and Brown is getting a playmaker and that will be a great fit.”

For now, Minner has another title to chase for his beloved Sayre Spartans’s program. For now, Minner has to find a way to follow up an incredible junior year which would see him register 10-QB sacks playing against some of the stiffest competition the commonwealth can muster.

Minner is 6’3,” and weighs in the 230-range. Minner is a dynamic athlete with superior twitch, leg kick, and upfield penetration making him adept at the outside technique or crossing up and under, getting past a flayed out OT before he can get the barn door closed.

Minner is special. Minner is headed where the special thrive and may often be found.

Minner will be a senior at Sayre. Minner wants to study Economics at Brown and will enroll in the fall of 2026.

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

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