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TSF 2022 Kentucky DPOY Finalists

Beechwood OL/DL Xavier Campbell (photo by Greg Shoemaker/TriStateFootball.com)

There are seven finalists for the 2022 TriState Football Kentucky Defensive Player of the Year. Four of them are seniors, two are juniors and is a sophomore. This is the second finalist nomination for Xavier Campbell and Byron May.

The members of the All-TSF Teams, the TSF Teams of the Year, Players of the Year and finalists from Indiana, Dayton, Northern Kentucky and Cincinnati as well as the Mella Windows Players of the Week will be recognized at the TriState Football Year In Review Awards Show on Monday, February 20th, 2023 at the Holy Grail-Banks – RSVP 2022 TSF Year In Review Show

Here is a look at our finalists.

Austin Alexander, Cooper, So, DL – First Team All-NKY (for a second straight season) and First Team All-TSF. An outstanding two-way player whose best days are still ahead. Alexander tallied 85 total tackles, had 11.0 sacks and returned his only interception for a touchdown as Cooper (6-5) recorded back-to-back winning seasons for the first time since 2015-16. On offense, Alexander caught 34 balls for 522 yards and six touchdowns. His offers include Maryland, Akron, Eastern Kentucky, Liberty and Miami (OH).

Cooper TE/DE Austin Alexander

Xavier Campbell, Beechwood, Jr, DL – First Team All-NKY (for a third consecutive season), TSF NKY DPOY finalist (for a second consecutive season) and Third Team All-TSF (Second Team All-TSF in 2021). The heart-and-soul of the Tigers offensive and defensive lines. Campbell had double-digit sacks (11.0 in 2022) for a second straight year. Beechwood is 39-3 with three state titles in Campbell’s three seasons as a starter.

Adam Dunn, Highlands, Sr, DB – First Team All-NKY (for a second consecutive season) and Second Team All-TSF. A rock-solid secondary member, Dunn led Highlands (9-3) with 91 tackles (60 solo). He also had seven for tackles for losses and three interceptions.

Aiden Jones, Covington Catholic, Sr, LB – First Team All-NKY (OL), Second Team All-NKY (LB), NKY Top 26 and Third Team All-TSF (LB). Jones registered 63 total tackles, six-and-a-half sacks, 18.0 tackles for losses, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery for Covington Catholic (9-3). He also had a touchdown catch on his only offensive touch of the season. Jones ends his career with 193 total tackles, 10.0 sacks, 24.0 tackles for losses, three fumble recoveries and a scoop-and-score. He has signed with Army.

Covington Catholic LB Aiden Jones circa. 2020 (photo by Greg Shoemaker/TriStateFootball.com)

Byron May, Rowan County, Sr, DL – Class 4A, District 6 POY, First Team All-EKC (for a second consecutive season), TSF NKY DPOY finalist (for a second consecutive season) and Honorable Mention All-TSF (for a second consecutive season). A ferocious defender, May recorded 62 total tackles, 17.0 sacks, 24.0 tackles for losses and returned both of his interceptions for touchdowns. He finishes his career with 200 total tackles, 39.5 sacks, 58.5 tackles for losses, four forced fumble and two pick-sixes.

Brach Rice, Dixie Heights, Jr, LB – First Team All-NKY (for a second consecutive season as TE in 2021), NKY Top 26 and Honorable Mention All-TSF. Rice took his game to a whole new level on defense in 2022 with 126 total tackles (100 solo), five sacks, 12.0 tackles for losses and a safety. On offense, he ran for 605 yards and led Dixie Heights (3-8) with 10 touchdowns (nine rush, one PR). Rice has offers from Miami (OH), Toledo and Eastern Kentucky and expects several more before his senior campaign starts.

Luke Runyon, Newport Central Catholic, Sr, DB – KFCA Class 1A, District 4 POY, First Team All-NKY (DB), NKY Top 26 and Second Team All-TSF (DB). An electrifying talent in all three phases of the game who is arguably the most productive player, pound-for-pound, in Northern Kentucky. Runyon was in on 130 total tackles, had five-and-a-half tackles for losses, two sacks, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and one interception. On special teams, the senior returned two kickoffs for touchdowns. On offense, he ran for 573 yards, averaged 11.5 yards per carry, had team highs of 38 receptions and 484 yards receiving with 19 trips to the end zone (16 rush, three rec) helping Newport Central Catholic (11-3) to the Class 1A state semifinals. For his career, Runyon had 41 touchdowns (20 rush, 13 rec, four KRs, two PRs, one FR, one IR), 74 receptions, 1,054 receiving yards, 752 rushing yards, 212 total tackles and eight takeaways (six INTs, two FRs).

Past TSF NKY DPOY finalists:
2021
Jackson Belk (Ryle), Xavier Campbell (Beechwood), Jacob Leicht (Bishop Brossart), Byron May (Rowan County), Gabe Savage (Ryle), Colin Smith (Dixie Heights) and Trevor Wilson (Covington Catholic).
2020
Mitch Berger (Beechwood), Rhys Brown (Dixie Heights), Tayquan Calloway (Holmes), Dawson Catlett (Walton-Verona), Ben Dickhaus (Covington Catholic), Eric Jiminez (Dayton) and Gabe Savage (Ryle).
2019
Tayquan Calloway (Holmes), Kaleal Davis (Newport), Daniel Felix, (Covington Catholic), Brycen Huddleston (Highlands), Cody Kramer (Ludlow), Andy Molique, (Covington Catholic) & Vuk Sajlovic (Simon Kenton).     
2018
JJ Courtney (Simon Kenton), Adam Derry (Beechwood), Grant Grubbs (Walton-Verona), Brycen Huddleston (Highlands), Kyle Kelly (Newport Central Catholic), Tanner Lawrence (Campbell County), Michael Mayer (Covington Catholic).
2017
Kam Butler (Covington Catholic), Adam Derry (Beechwood); Grant Dyer (Covington Catholic); Michael Mayer (Covington Catholic); Nelson Perrin (Scott), Jackson Saladin (Ryle) & Brayden Trattles (Simon Kenton).
2016
Derrick Barnes (Holy Cross), Justin Blackburn (Ludlow), Brian Carter (Simon Kenton), Sander Rocksvag (Cooper), Hunter Ruber (Walton-Verona), Peyton Van Horn (Conner) & Alex Thurza (Scott).
2015
Isaiah Ebarb (Conner), Dante Hendrix (Cooper), Trent Kincaid (Simon Kenton), Tucker Mueller (Simon Kenton), Cameron Pitzer (Covington Catholic), Brett Slusher (Beechwood) & Marcus Watson (Cooper).
2014
Barry Deaton (Simon Kenton), Branden Johnson (Dixie Heights), Breandon Johnson (Newport), Will Latimore (Walton-Verona), Nick Sauerbeck (Campbell County)
Alex Wagner (CovCath) & Luke Zajac (Dixie Heights).
2013
Jalen Beal (Holy Cross), Sam Burchell (CovCath), Brendan Fisk (Dixie Heights), Seth Hope (Highlands), Nate McCoy (Gallatin County), Jack Sutkamp (NewCath), Andrew Way (Conner) & Matthew Way (CovCath).
2012 
Jared Bowling (Simon Kenton), Sam Burchell (CovCath), Taylor Centers (Cooper), Cameron Fogle (Conner), Seth Hope (Highlands), Cole Mosier (Walton-Verona) & Cameron Pangallo (Bellevue).
2011
Drake Bruns (Highlands), Paul Lampone (Holy Cross), Quincy Page (Walton-Verona), Mikel Reynolds (Boone County), Ryan Smith (Ryle) & JP Williams (Cooper).
2010
Austin Baldwin (Simon Kenton), Drake Bruns (Highlands), Tommy Courtney (Holmes), Brian Doyle (NewCath), Jake Giesler (NewCath) & Court Mace (Ryle).
2009 
Nik Brown (Simon Kenton), Chris Kelly (NewCath), Regal Lowe (Holmes), Drew Rice (Ludlow), Brandon Roller (Highlands) & Markel Walker (Holy Cross).
2008
Austin Collinsworth (Highlands), Zach Eagler (Boone County), Dominic Mainello (Beechwood), Ben Parr (NewCath), Kody Rosenhagen (Highlands) & Pat VanSant (Covington Catholic).
2007
Stephen Benson (Dixie Heights), Sam Brown (Boone County), Nick Franzen (NewCath), Aaron Morgan (Lloyd) & Luke Stein (Highlands).

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