’26 QB should find himself in the midst of the “Mr. Football” race in ’25
🎶We'd gain a lot of ground, 'cause we'd both give a little/
There ain't no road too long, when we meet in the middle...🎶
Don Pfrimmer, Chapin Hartford, and Jim Foster, "Diamond Rio," 1993
Marion Litmer is a D-1 skill set with a slight frame. We have seen this prospect listed anywhere from 5’10” to 6’0″ tall. For our purposes, we are much more interested in his nearly 3,000 passing yards, his 33-passing TDs, and his five (5) rushing scores playing top-flight, KHSAA, 5A competition. At the end of the day, we all believe he will be prominently in the “Mr. Football” race. The Bluebirds have a ton of talent returning off a roster which was thought the class of 5A in ’24 for much of the season. Bob Sphire’s Bluebirds won 11-games, made the semis, and that type performance, at most schools, would give a coach a little leverage. However, Coach Sphire doesn’t coach at most schools. He coaches at Fort Thomas Highlands. Twenty-three (23) KHSAA titles will promote a certain amount of “expectations.”
HB Lyon, Scouting Director, “KPGFootball”
Fort Thomas, KY: There is a band of whom we are particularly fond. We love the songs “Norma Jean Riley,” “Meet in the Middle,” and “One More Day.” We particularly love the fact the band’s name reminds us of one of the KHSAA’s finest QBs in the 5A classification.
There are two quintessential questions yearly posed in the offseason. One is, “When is Fort Thomas Highlands going to finally return to its former lustre?” The other is, “Who will win ‘Mr. Football’ this year?”
As for Bob Sphire’s Bluebirds, they went 11-3 a year ago, seemed among the favorites to win the classification, and came up short against the Jaguars from Cooper in the semis. There are those who would claim, “Hey, they’re back, baby!”
Now for a team who has won 23-titles (1960, 61, 64, 68, 70, 75, 77, 81, 82, 89, 92, 96, 98, 99, 00, 04, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 14) but hasn’t won a title since 2014, making the semis is “no big deal.” Let’s leave at The Bluebirds are due and have the talent to take the title on its present roster, particularly at QB.
Now, for question number two, “Who’s favored to win ’25’s ‘Mr. Football?'” For our money, we like the chances of Highland’s Mario “Rio” Litmer.
Semi-finals berths at a school like Highlands doesn’t earn one the type plaudits it may at other places
Friday Night Fletch
That is the 64-dollar question. It takes tremendous ability, production, and publicity to garner a “Mr. Football” award. We know this all to well as we have spearheaded “Mr. Football” campaigns and successful ones.
Every year there are about a dozen kids who have the “chops” or production to win “Mr. Football.” What sets your candidate apart from the others can be the amount of publicity an entity can garner for the candidate.
Let’s suffice it to say, we like “Diamond Rio’s” chances in ’25. The stars still have to align just right, but we are confident he will do his part.
That’s why we call him “Diamond Rio” around our offices. We believe in his ability to lead a team to victory and to find the end-zone at the quintessential times.
If ’24 is an indication, our prognosis is sound. Litmer had a tremendous junior campaign.
Litmer threw 33-TDs, threw for 2,796 yards, and completed 68% of his passing attempts. Litmer posted a QB-rating of 128.1. On top of his passing, Litmer rushed for five (5) scores, and was seventh (7th) on the team in scoring.
Litmer threw 33-TD passes and ran for another five (5) scores
KHSAA statistics
On top of that, he led his team to an 11-win season and gained a semi-finals berth at season’s end. Make no mistake about it, all personal statistics aside, QBs are judged primarily by one statistic…how well his team performs with him at the controls.
We love athletic versatility at KPGFootball. Litmer is 6’0,” weighs 190-pounds, is only 16-years old. Litmer is a stud baseball player on top of what he does in football.
Colleges are noticing. Over the past few months, Litmer has been invited to camp at West Virginia and Samford, among others. Litmer is being monitored and followed by Charlotte and Coastal Carolina.
We believe Litmer possesses a D-1 skill set with a (regrettably), slight frame. That aside, Litmer possesses an ability to overcome his perceived lack of stature with athleticism, production, and marketable, dual-threat ability.
This is a D-1, move the pocket, college QB. He may be a “Mr. Football” too, before the ’25 season comes and ultimately goes.
🎶[You] start walkin' your way, [we'll] start walkin' [ours]
We'll meet in the middle, 'neath that old Georgia pine...🎶
Don Pfrimmer, Chapin Hartford, and Jim Foster, Diamond Rio, 1993
This is Friday Night Fletch, reporting for KPGFootball, reminding you to PLAY THROUGH THE WHISTLE!
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