’29 QB coming off impressive freshman year
Tyler Stutler is an impressive young man at the QB-slot. The rising sophomore at Paul Blazer High in Ashland, KY got nine (9) games of run as a freshman for one of the better 4As across the commonwealth. Sure, the Tomcats were 7-5 in 2025 but they were a three (3) point loss to a 12-2, state 1A finalist (Raceland) and a three (3) point loss to a top-flight, 3A ball club which finished 11-2 (Lawrence County) from a 9-3 finish and a vastly different storyline. Coach Tackett’s boys are tough, determined, and always up for the competition regardless of whom that competition happens to be. Enjoy this look at a kid who is going to turn some heads and really, really soon.
HB Lyon, Scouting Director, “KPGFootball”
Photo: Matt Anderson
Ashland, KY: There are misses on any all-state football team. We aren’t saying not recognizing Tanner Stutler in ’25 was a miss necessarily. However, if we were still doing a freshman team, like in the old days, he likely would have been on it.
Don’t be surprised if Stutler starts showing up on All-State football teams as early as next year. He has the skills.
Stutler plays for one of Kentucky’s more storied programs. We wrote about the Tomcats in an article which espoused its “championship pedigree” post the championship it won in the pandemic shortened 2020-season. Here is that article.
Point is, they know the type of program required to win at a very high rate. The Tomcats also know the type of personnel required.
Tanner Stutler played in nine (9) varsity games as a freshman. Stutler threw for 615-yards and six (6) TDs and run for 46-yards and another score.
These numbers aren’t going to blow off any barn doors. However, solid numbers for a young man thrust into the job for a ball club with annual championship expectations and aspirations.
Stutler is 5’10,” and weighs 170-pounds. Stutler presses 225-lbs., squats 385-lbs., runs the 40 in 4.7-seconds and the pro agility “short” shuttle (5-10-5) in 4.57-seconds. Stutler has before recorded a 30-inch vertical.
Stutler is either “right on track” or “modestly ahead” of where he should be (physically)…
Friday Night Fletch
The point is simply this; for a young man at his stage of development, Stutler is either right on track or modestly ahead of where he should be. In other words, how this frame finishes developing will have everything to do with his next level recruitment.
Stutler is catching the eye of some national recruiting services right now. Prep RedZone has ranked Stutler number six (6) among in-KY, 2029 QBs and the 35th overall ranked prospect regardless of position.
That is some mighty tall cotton.
QBs will always be ultimately judged by wins-losses. Stutler helped lead the team to a 7-5 finish that was a few scores from 9-3.
Paul Blazer lost its opener to a 1A finalist (Raceland, 12-2) by three. The Tomcats lost a game to an 11-2, 3A contender (Lawrence County) also by three.
Tackett’s Tomcats are always going to play that type schedule. Blazer will play 5A Montgomery County, Raceland, Lawrence County, 6A Tates Creek (Lex.), as well as 4A powerhouses, Johnson Central and Lexington Catholic, in 2026. Blazer will not only play these teams; but, will expect to beat a good many (if not all) of them by the Tomcat faithful.
Their are no excuses for failure in Ashland, KY my friends. It comes with the territory playing for such a storied program.
Stutler should solidify himself under center this coming season. Paul Blazer should solidify itself at the top of the 4A standings and the 4A title chase.
Getting and developing roster talent like Tanner Stutler…well, that is just par for the course around these parts. See you in the Fall.
This is Friday Night Fletch, reporting for KPGFootball, reminding you to PLAY THROUGH THE WHISTLE!
If you enjoyed this article and wish to gain full-access to the site, then subscribe monthly to Kentucky Prep Gridiron by following the prompts!
© The information contained on this site is the copyrighted intellectual property of KPGFootball. Any unauthorized dissemination of this material without the author’s express written consent is strictly prohibited!
Leave a Reply