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2024 TSF Kentucky DPOY Finalists

Ryle DE Dillon Smith (photo by: Chris Granger/X: @regnargc)

There are seven finalists for the 2024 TriState Football Kentucky Defensive Player of the Year. Three of them are seniors, three are juniors and the other is a sophomore.

This the third finalist nomination for Austin Alexander. He is the second player (Xavier Campbell, Beechwood – 2021-’23) in the 18-year history of the award to be nominated three times as a DPOY in Kentucky. This the second nomination for Jacob Savage. He becomes the 13 player to have been nominated for this award two times (or more).

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 17th, 2025 at the Holy Grail-Banks – RSVP 2024 TSF Year In Review Show

Here is a look at our finalists for the 2024 TriState Football Kentucky Defensive Player of the Year.

Austin Alexander, Cooper, Sr, DE – Was named First Team All-NKY for a fourth straight season, NKFCA Top 26, First Team All-TSF (DL) for a third straight season and TSF NKY DPOY finalist for a third straight season. If Northern Kentucky High School Football had a Mount Rushmore, Alexander would have his bust chiseled on it! The four-year starter capped off his illustrious career with 52 tackles, 13.0 sacks, 13.0 tackles for losses, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and a scoop-and-score. On offense, he reeled in 45 receptions for 706 yards and 13 touchdown catches helping the Jaguars to an undefeated regular season and second straight state finals appearance. The 2022 TSF NKY DPOY ended his career with 279 tackles, 48.5 sacks, five forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries, two interceptions, 158 receptions (28th most in Kentucky history), 2,522 receiving yards (40th most in Kentucky history), 39 touchdown receptions (tied 14th most in Kentucky history)and 41 touchdowns overall (39 rec, one FR, one IR). Alexander has signed with North Carolina.

Dameyn Anness, Ludlow, Jr, LB – Was named KFCA Class 1A, District 4 Player of the Year for a second straight season, Second Team All-NKY (RB) and NKFCA Top 26. Anness does it all for the Panthers. As a junior, he recorded 64 tackles, five-and-a-half sacks, 16.0 tackles for losses, one forced fumble, three fumble recoveries with a scoop-and-score and had an interception for a touchdown. On offense, Anness ran for 1,472 yards, averaged 10.5 yards per carry, had 16 receptions for 344 yardss (21.5 yards/rec), threw one touchdown pass and found the end zone 22 times (16 rush, one rec, one FR, one IR, one KR, two PRs). He heads into his senior season with 262 tackles, 11.5 sacks, 30.0 tackles for losses, four forced fumbles, nine takeaways (six FRs, three INTs), two fumble recoveries for touchdowns, two interception returns for touchdowns, 3,125 yards rushing, 42 receptions, 666 receiving yards and 45 touchdowns scored (33 rush, five rec).

Ryker Campbell, Cooper, Jr, DB – Was named Second Team All-NKY. Campbell led the Jaguars with 102 tackles and tied for second in the state with eight interceptions. He had 190 interception return yards and two pick-sixes. Campbell goes into his senior year with 13 career interceptions.

Cooper WR/DB Ryker Campbell (photo by Chris Granger/X: @regnargc)

Kaleb Cole, Newport Catholic, Sr, RB/LB – Was named KFCA Class 1A, District 3 Player of the Year, First Team All-NKY (RB & LB) and NKFCA Top 26. Cole was the centerpiece of the Thoroughbreds defense and offense. He recorded 84 tackles, had three sacks, four tackles for losses, two forced fumbles, six takeaways (three FRs, three INTs) and two pick-sixes. On offense, Cole ran for 1,150 yards, had 11 receptions for 97 yards with 25 touchdowns (24 rush, one rec). He finished his career at NewCath with 255 tackles, five sacks, nine tackles for losses, four fumble recoveries, three interceptions and three defensive scores (two IRs, one FR).

Jacob Savage, Ryle, Jr, LB – Was named KFCA Class 6A, District 5 Player of the Year, First Team All-NKY (LB), NKFCA Top 26, First Team All-TriState Football (LB) and TSF NKY DPOY finalist for a second straight season.. You can make a strong argument that Savage is Kentucky’s best two-way player in the Class of 2026. As a junior, he recorded 141 tackles, three sacks, nine-and-a-half tackles for losses and had an interception. On offense, Savage ran for 1,085 yards, had 29 receptions for 313 yards and found the end zone 26 times (22 rush, four rec). He heads into his senior season with 397 tackles, six sacks, 24.0 tackles for losses, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and four interceptions. Savage has offers from Michigan State, Louisville, Georgia Tech, Indiana, Ohio, Miami (OH) and Eastern Kentucky

Dillon Smith, Ryle, Sr, DE – Was named First Team All-NKY (DL) and NKFCA Top 26. A disruptive pass rusher who excelled at blowing up opposing backfields, Smith had 59 tackles, nine-and-a-half sacks, 20.5 tackles for losses and a fumble recovery helping Ryle to its second-ever state finals appearance. He ended his Raiders career with 173 tackles, 24.5 sacks, 47.0 tackles for losses, five takeaways (three INTs, two FRs) and one pick-six. The 6-foot-3, 240-pound Smith has signed with Louisville.

Gabe Williams, Highlands, So, DB – Was named First Team All-NKY (DB). Williams had a breakout sophomore campaign with 51 total tackles, nine tackles for losses, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and five interceptions. On offense, he ran for 344 yards, had 10 receptions for 178 yards and found the end zone seven times (four rush, three rec).

Highlands RB/WR/DB Gane Williams (photo by: Mike Noyes/TriStateFootball.com)

Past TSF NKY DPOY finalists (players of the year in bold):
2023
Austin Alexander (Cooper), Xavier Campbell (Beechwood), Jack Lonaker (Cooper), Brach Rice (Dixie Heights), Willie Rodriguez (Covington Catholic), Jacob Savage (Ryle) and Carson Shelton (Highlands).
2022
Austin Alexander (Cooper), Xavier Campbell (Beechwood), Adam Dunn (Highlands), Aiden Jones (Covington Catholic), Byron May (Rowan County), Brach Rice (Dixie Heights) and Luke Runyon (Newport Central Catholic)
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) and 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) and 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) and 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) and 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) and 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) and Matthew Way (CovCath).
2012
Jared Bowling (Simon Kenton), Sam Burchell (CovCath), Taylor Centers (Cooper), Cameron Fogle (Conner), Seth Hope (Highlands), Cole Mosier (Walton-Verona) and Cameron Pangallo (Bellevue).
2011
Drake Bruns (Highlands), Paul Lampone (Holy Cross), Quincy Page (Walton-Verona), Mikel Reynolds (Boone County), Ryan Smith (Ryle) and JP Williams (Cooper).
2010
Austin Baldwin (Simon Kenton), Drake Bruns (Highlands), Tommy Courtney (Holmes), Brian Doyle (NewCath), Jake Giesler (NewCath) and Court Mace (Ryle).
2009
Nik Brown (Simon Kenton), Chris Kelly (NewCath), Regal Lowe (Holmes), Drew Rice (Ludlow), Brandon Roller (Highlands) and Markel Walker (Holy Cross).
2008
Austin Collinsworth (Highlands), Zach Eagler (Boone County), Dominic Mainello (Beechwood), Ben Parr (NewCath), Kody Rosenhagen (Highlands) and Pat VanSant (Covington Catholic).
2007
Stephen Benson (Dixie Heights), Sam Brown (Boone County), Nick Franzen (NewCath), Aaron Morgan (Lloyd) and Luke Stein (Highlands).

 

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