Can you believe it?
We’re just over a week from the start of high school football practice, while games are only a month away.
In anticipation of the action on the gridiron, we’ll examine five players in each class to keep an eye on in 2019.
Beginning with Class AAA (in no order)
1 — Jarod Bowie, WR, Martinsburg
A number of Bulldogs could be on this list, but the senior Bowie is perhaps the safest pick.
He was a first-team all-state wideout as a junior in 2018 and has been wreaking havoc on opposing defenses for several seasons in a Bulldogs’ uniform.
With Elijah Banks taking over full-time at quarterback, Bowie’s crisp route-running and reliable hands will be counted on to produce for a balanced offense. That balance has helped make Martinsburg’s offense as feared as any unit in the state and has the Bulldogs riding a state record 42-game win streak.
With former Randy Moss Award winner Malakai Brown transferring from Hedgesville to Martinsburg, defenses can only afford so much attention on Bowie, who is a difficult 1-on-1 cover.
2 — Zeiqui Lawton, DE/OLB, South Charleston
Lawton has earned second-team all-state honors each of the last two seasons for the Black Eagles. While that’s a strong achievement for any player, it’s almost unheard of to receive the honor as a freshman and sophomore.
Yet that’s just what Lawton did and he’s proven he can live in backfields coming off the edge.
South Charleston will likely need even more production from Lawton this season considering it lost linebacker Drew Joseph, a tackling machine who was always around the ball.
Lawton began to generate interest from Division I schools last summer and has added offers from West Virginia and Illinois since.
If the Black Eagles are going to improve and seriously challenge for a playoff berth, Lawton will be counted on to dominant defensively as a junior against both the run and pass.
3 — Donathan Taylor, RB, Parkersburg South
One of the state’s more electrifying players a year ago, Taylor helped lead Williamstown to the Class A title game.
This year, he’ll showcase his skills at the highest level in the state after transferring to play for the Patriots.
With tailback Nick Yoho and quarterback Brayden Mooney accounting for a majority of the team’s offensive production a year ago and both no longer around, Taylor will immediately be a featured player for the Patriots.
His speed and vision make him tough to tame coming out of the backfield, and Taylor has proven he can make plays in the passing game as well.
Taylor’s presence will be a welcomed addition for new coach Nathan Tanner as Parkersburg South looks to return to the postseason for a second straight season. The Patriots, however, will have their work cut out as seven of their nine in-state opponents qualified for the Class AAA playoffs in 2018.
4 — Blake Hartman, RB, Musselman
Much like the aforementioned Lawton, Hartman has enjoyed a pair of special seasons to start his prep career.
As a freshman, he earned second-team all-state honors, before being bumped up to the first team a year ago following a sensational sophomore campaign.
The Applemen’s leading rusher and receiver last season, Hartman helped lead Musselman to a memorable 11-win season and two playoff victories.
Also a safety, Hartman plays a prominent role on Musselman’s defense as well as its special teams units.
If he can continue to increase his production in all phases, Hartman’s name could be in the discussion for the Kennedy Award by season’s end.
5 — Wyatt Milum, OL, Spring Valley
Milum received an offer from Alabama earlier this summer and was a household before that after earning second-team all-state honors as a sophomore.
However, playing on a Timberwolves team with two other high-level Division I offensive linemen that was full of senior standouts in 2018, Milum was another key player on a loaded roster.
This year, in his junior season, Milum will look to be an even more dominant force up front.
At last month’s 7-on-7 camp at West Virginia University, Spring Valley head coach Brad Dingess noted that Milum had added between 30-35 pounds and a surplus of muscle.
Spring Valley has reached the Class AAA title game each of the last three seasons thanks in large part to success on the ground through its Wing-T offense. For that to continue, Milum will need to pave the way for a stable of backs.
Others to watch: Kerion Martin, Capital; J.J. Roberts, Cabell Midland; Teddy Marshall, Martinsburg; Malakai Brown, Martinsburg; Brocton Blair, Huntington; Colby Piner, Greenbrier East; Keon Padmore-Johnson, Spring Mills