It’s time for the former Kentucky Future Star to step into the limelight and show what he can do!
Finding a quality PK is so important for a title run that KPGFootball spotlights the position in every preseason ranking we publish for all six of Kentucky’s classifications. In a game of inches between equally matched opponents the winner of the third phase of football, special teams, often wins the pivotal game. It is the difference between advancing and basketball season for many schools.
Fletcher W. Long, KPGFootball’s Senior Scout
Andrew Herron is a prospect people around Hebron, Kentucky have been closely monitoring. Herron made the Kentucky Future Stars team so his promise and skill set both appear unquestioned.
Is he ready to step into the limelight and take the weight of the team on his shoulders at pivotal moments under the bright glare of the “Friday Night Lights?” We’re all wondering it. We’re all about to learn the truth this coming Fall.
Conner is a 5A, 5th-District ball club coming off a 7-5 record in ’21. Do you know what else the team had in ’21? How about a senior place-kicker (PK)!
Last year, Nicholas Keller (’22), graduated after converting 34 of his 37 PATs. That is a conversion rate of 91.9% and made him the ball club’s third leading offensive scorer a season ago.
Okay, we admit his FG conversion rate could have been better. One for eight is not ideal. However, PATs have to be pretty automatic for the offense to fire on all cylinders and Keller was “money” from that standpoint.
Like we said, Keller is gone. In steps rising sophomore Andrew Herron.
Herron, a ’25er, was among the commonwealth’s finest at the MS level. That is what being selected to the Kentucky Future Stars‘ team signifies.
If a middle school player can make the Future Stars roster, his stardom at the high school level is thought virtually assured. Does that mean Herron steps into Keller’s shoes and makes the Cougar fans forget about last year’s place-kicker? Might be premature for such a prediction.
Does his being a former Future Star bode well for his ability to take the reins of the all important position? Yes, we feel confident it does.
How important are kickers? Well no other than General Robert R. Neyland, for whom the University of Tennessee’s football stadium is named, believed kickers critical to a team’s success.
Press the kicking game. Here is where the breaks are made.
General Robert R. Neyland, former HFC, University of Tennessee (Knoxville)
In what became known as the “Seven Maxims.” Neyland once was quoted as saying the following in the 6th maxim…”Press the kicking game. Here is where the breaks are made.” Perhaps to further accentuate the importance he also said in the fourth maxim…”Protect our kickers, our QB, our lead and our ball game.”
The third phase would have to have been considered by Neyland quite critical to garner two maxims among his seven. A tremendous emphasis from a coach Bear Bryant once said taught the Bear everything the Bear knew about football.
Herron is poised to win the third phase for his Conner Cougars. We believe he trots out with the first team on special teams this Fall.
Look for Herron to have a huge year. That is our take anyway.
This is Coach HB Lyon, reporting for KPGFootball, and we’re JUST CALLING IT LIKE WE SEE IT!
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