J.J. Roberts appears to be on the verge of becoming the third high school football player from the Tri-State to play in the current NFL, joining Huntington High tackle Darnell Wright of the Chicago Bears and Coal Grove tackle Austen Pleasants of the San Francisco 49ers.
A former all-stater at Cabell Midland High School and Marshall University standout, Roberts starred in the Hula Bowl Saturday in Orlando, Florida.
Emory Hunt of CBS Sports wrote. ƵEvery time I looked up, Roberts either had the ball in his hands or he was making a play on the ball vs. a (wide receiver). I came away very impressed with the instinctual nature of his game and how he acted on what he saw developing in front of him. There was no hesitation in his game and he played about as fast as a player could in an all-star game setting.Ƶ
TOLER DECLARES FOR NFL: Former Gallia Academy punter Andrew Toler of Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology has declared for the NFL Draft.
Toler averaged 46 yards per punt this season for the NCAA Division III school and is a consensus All-American.
Toler is a legitimate prospect, featuring the third-best punting average in all of college football. He doesnƵt necessarily expect to be drafted. Just 36 punters have been selected in the last 30 years. Toler, though, said heƵd be pleased to sign as a free agent and earn a shot at a roster spot.
If pro ball doesnƵt pan out, Toler has a degree in chemical engineering to put to use.
AMAZING STATS OF THE WEEK: WayneƵs Isaac Meddings leads West Virginia high school basketball in scoring/assist ratio at 21.9 points and 5.2 assists per game.
Portsmouth basketballƵs Malachi Loper scored his 1,000th career point. Three Meigs players Carson Davis (31), Reed Brinager (26) and Dustin Vance (20) scored at least 20 points in the MaraudersƵ 97-53 victory over Eastern Meigs.
Former Boyd County girls basketball star Jasmine Jordan scored 31 points and grabbed 15 rebounds as Rio Grande defeated ƵU Tech 107-70. Russell leads Kentucky high school girls basketball teams in free throw shooting at 79.9%. Menifee CountyƵs girls lead the Kentucky 16th Region in 3-point shooting, making 41.4%.
COACH SPEAK: Condolences to the family and friends of former Bluefield boys basketball coach Buster Large, who died. Large coached the Beavers to state titles in 2013 and 2014.
Belfry baseball coach Michael Hagy is to be inducted into the Kentucky Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame Saturday. Mason County (Kentucky) football coach Joe Wynn resigned.
Recruiting roundup
COMMITMENTS: Spring Valley footballƵs Jalyn Abercrombie (Marshall). Wayne volleyballƵs Addie Adkins (Concord) and footballƵs Kade Estep (Georgetown College). South Charleston softballƵs Sophia Frye (Fairmont State).
OFFERS: Former Cabell Midland defensive back Jaydyn Johnson of Lindenwood University (Norfolk State). Spring Valley trackƵs Bryce Fuller (Bluefield State).
TRANSFERS: Former Huntington High football star Robby Martin to West Virginia from North Carolina State. Former Robert C. Byrd offensive lineman Wyatt Minor to ƵU from Youngstown State. Former South Charleston defensive lineman Zee Lawton of ƵU entered the transfer portal.
Former Greenup County football player Ethan Kelley from Kentucky Christian to Lindsey Wilson.
NOTES, QUOTES, ANECDOTES: Former Spring Valley offensive lineman Wyatt Milum declared for the NFL Draft. Pro Football Focus rated Darnell Wright the highest Chicago Bears players this season with a ranking of 79.3 on a scale of 100.
Grace ChristianƵs boys and girls basketball teams will play at MarshallƵs Cam Henderson Center Feb. 11. The SoldiersƵ boys take on Covenant Christian at 6 p.m., followed by the girls playing Tolsia at 7:30 p.m.
Ironton football scheduled to play at Shelby Valley at 8:30 p.m. Aug. 23 in the Blue & White Bowl in Pikeville, Kentucky. Johnson Central meets Letcher Central at 6:30 p.m. in the bowl opener.
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