Big, Bad, Bo! Stinson closing in on decision… @CoachBarnett_22 @CoachCadron @CoachCFarris @CoachWCinelli @CoachGardnerCU @CoacnDamGC @minguabeefjerky @1776Bank @PrepSpin @davidjones_7 @KyHighFootball @HLPreps @kyhighs

Don’t give any lip to ‘Big Bad Bo!’

Bo Stinson is a late-bloomer whose upside is off the charts. He is listed at 6’3,” 250-pounds and we believe both numbers are on the modest/conservative side. His father was a captain on UK’s defense, in the day, and the kid has the pedigree to be a very good defensive lineman at the next level. He was a two-way guy at Bourbon County and we love his frame, pedigree, and ‘upside.’ His best football is yet to be played.

Fletcher Long, Chief Scout, KPGFootball

I don’t want to alarm anyone at my advanced age but I remember when Bo Stinson’s dad, Robert, was tearing up the Friday-night field as a Trigg County Wildcat back in the day. His son, Bo, is beginning to look a lot like his dad, which bodes very well for his college playing future.

Bo is what we call a late bloomer. Sometimes the rose which blooms last; blooms longest, as my mother was often fond of saying though I doubt that sentiment originated with her.

We caught up with Bo’s high school head football coach, David Jones, himself a former UK Wildcat football star. He told KPGFootball, “Bo’s ceiling is so high. His best football is still ahead of him. He was an indispensable part of our Colonel roster while playing here.”

Bo transferred from Hopkinsville High to Bourbon County. Bo’s mother and father, both educators by trade, caught good jobs in the school system in Bourbon County which precipitated the move.

Bo hadn’t “flowered” yet in Hoptown, so the move was definitely work (and not football) related. Still, though awkward and not physically developed at the time, the keen eye could still see the possibilities.

Bo moved to Bourbon where he flourished. He started out along the offensive front. His senior year he was far too valuable to ever exit the playing surface resulting in two-way deployment.

We have likened “Big Bad Bo” to “Big John” from the Jimmy Dean hit song. The two of them share some physical attributes.

Big John was 6’5″ and weighed two-forty-five, was broad at the shoulder and narrow at the hip, and everyone knew not to give him any lip. Big Bo is 6’3,” weighing two-fifty (on the conservative side). He’s also broad shouldered and narrow at the hip and opponents learned this year not to give Big Bo any lip.

Bo anchored a line which presided over 3,500-yards of total offense for a team which finished 3-9. Bo also played defense and contributed close to 40-tackles. You don’t see a lot of two-way guys at the 4A level.

While Bourbon was 3-9, that record is a bit misleading. First of all, Knox Central beat the Colonels by a single point.

The Colonels also made decent showings against both 5A power, Great Crossing, and in the playoffs against Lexington Catholic. That Catholic team had the 3rd highest RPI in the classification and still only managed a paltry 14-points against Bourbon’s defense on which Bo Stinson was a vital and active cog.

Bourbon also upset Holmes in the first round of the playoffs. All in all, ’22 was not the type season any of the Colonel faithful were expecting; but the team fought hard week after week, an indication of a fine coaching staff making the most out of its personnel and circumstances.

So we are left wondering where is Big Bad Bo going to pledge his next four or so years of football eligibility? He has dozens of suitors vying for his services.

We asked Coach Jones. He told us he believed it is a two-horse race between the Cumberlands and G-Town (Georgetown College).

We asked the Stinson camp. The Big-Cat, Robert Stinson, responded on his family’s behalf.

Stinson told KPGFootball, “Bo has been invited to G-Town, Thomas More, and Kentucky Wesleyan (K-Dub). Hanover and Lindsey Wilson have also shown interest.”

“Bo has only played as a down lineman for 2 years and that’s including the Covid year. So Bo has had limited experience and that experience has been even more limited on the defensive front with only one year there.”

Stinson went on to tell us, “Bo tells his mother and me he is not done playing. Bo feels like he won some matchups, in ’22, against some really good competition. The Stinsons are completely committed to any school Bo selects.”

Well said. Us too.

Big Bad Bo has one other characteristic shared with the Big John from the Jimmy Dean song. Both of them are big, bad men!

This is Coach HB Lyon, reporting for KPGFootball, and we’re JUST CALLING IT LIKE WE SEE IT!

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