Fern Creek's Kinslow remains committed to WKU

To illustrate Lamarius Kinslow's progress, Fern Creek football coach Josh Abell often tells a story from his star player's freshman year.

"He was frustrated," Abell said. "His teammate had said something to him, so he took his helmet and launched it 40 feet in the air – in the middle of a football game – and it came down and shattered the helmet.

"It was crazy and embarrassing at the time, but that's definitely not the same Lamarius Kinslow you see today."

Abell said Kinslow, a Courier-Journal All-State selection and Mr. Football finalist, matured into a coachable two-way star at Fern Creek. Should the Western Kentucky commitment qualify, he projects as a linebacker at the next level.

Kinslow is working on his ACT score and wasn't announced Wednesday as part of the Hilltoppers' 2016 recruiting class, though he's a player Abell said the school has guaranteed a scholarship should he meet the academic requirements.

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Last season, Kinslow watched his chosen school go 12-2, win a Conference USA title and cap the year with a win in the Miami Beach Bowl.

"I just couldn't wait to be there," he said.

Kinslow is on track to become the first Fern Creek star to sign with a Football Bowl Subdivision school since 2010. That year, the Tigers sent Jamon Brown, Jerrell Moore and Jalen Harrington off to U of L.

Abell, who arrived as an assistant at the school the next season, knew he had a special player in Kinslow from the start.

"Athletically, he's always looked 10 years older than everyone else, both in the face and with his body type," the coach said. "We knew he was starting when he came in here as a freshman. What really set him apart was his ability to be a stud for 48 minutes of a game on both sides of the ball, which happened starting with his junior year."

Kinslow, who measures 6-foot-2 and 222 pounds, says he can play just about anywhere on the field. He lined up mainly at receiver and linebacker for Class 5-A Fern Creek.

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"I'm waiting to see," he said of his college position. "Hopefully I can do what's best for the team and play both ways – hopefully. But I don't think that's going to happen.

"... Defense wins championships. That's what I go by. It's better to be on that side of the ball."

Kinslow is the only Louisville native committed to WKU this year but could join a slew of current locals in Bowling Green. Among the Hilltoppers' top contributors last season were former Central running back Anthony "Ace" Wales and Pleasure Ridge Park receiver Taywan Taylor.

In all, 17 players on WKU's roster came out of Louisville, most of them since Jeff Brohm joined the staff and was later promoted to head coach starting with the 2014 season.