Around the Horn

Frederick Douglass pumps out the prospects! Bates is certainly one. @PrestonBates_99, @coachnatemcpeek, @CoachJeffPoe, @FDouglassFB, @khsaafootball, @eCampusdotcom, @KyHighFootball, @bigassfans

May 28, 2026 Fletcher Long 0

There isn’t a program in all of Kentucky which pumps out more college prospects than Frederick Douglass High in Lexington, KY. These guys do a first rate job of developing talent. These guys do a first rate job of promoting talent. Coach Nathan McPeek is cementing himself among KHSAA football coaches as an elite practitioner. Preston Bates is a two-sport, varsity performer who plays defensive line for the Broncos. Bates has the feet, length, wind, and explosive twitchiness to thrive along a defensive front. Bates is listed as a ’28 kid but the roster from a season ago lists him as a “junior.” We will defer to the school’s recruiting site and call him a ’28, which makes him a rising junior and not a rising senior. Regardless, the 6’3,” 270-pound, multi-sport athlete should be a terror this coming season.

Friday Night Fletch

Tristan Dillard from the Christian County Tigers is our @LasatersCoffee ‘Wake Up and Smell the Coffee (or Tea)’ Feature of the Week @khsaafootball, @KyHighFootball, @bigassfans, @LasatersCoffee, @FC_FALCONS_FB, @County_TigerFB

May 26, 2026 Fletcher Long 0

We are very pleased to welcome Lasaters Coffee & Tea to our growing family of advertisers. The Kelley family has a very long history in the local football industry and several of the Kelleys have had their numbers retired owing to their familial history of playing excellence. Football has been very good to their family and they look for ways to give back to this very special community. Lasaters is a place one goes to get caffeinated and motivated and couldn’t we all use a bit more of that invigoration in our daily routines. Get by one (1) of our four (4) Christian County, Kentucky locations and enjoy the roasted flavor of a hot cup of warmth and love. Lasaters, where you aren’t just served; you’re loved.

Friday Night Fletch.

Max Sturm, from McCracken, ready for an expanded role on the ’26 roster @MCHFC_Brooks78, @MaxSturm09, @racersfootball, @eCampusdotcom, @khsaafootball, @KyHighFootball, @bigassfans

May 23, 2026 Fletcher Long 0

Max Sturm is among the best DBs in the ’28 graduating class particularly in western Kentucky. Sturm registered 56-tackles, a pair of TFLs, a FF, and an INT in the 10-games of PT he got as a sophomore. Sturm figures to be a starter in 2026 from night one, snap one. Finding the field as a sophomore is a “good sign” for those hoping to move on to next level success. We would like to see Sturm on the offensive side some more this coming season. The 5’10,” 160-pounder sports a 250-pound bench press and squats 385. He has plenty of strength and explosion to be a steady hand on offense and a three-phase performer on a 6A roster, something not easy to do. This kid’s 4.0-GPA makes him an easy take for many of the colleges around the commonwealth fielding college football teams. Enjoy the feature.

Friday Night Fletch

Tanner Stutler, from Paul Blazer High (Ashland, KY), rising to the top of @khsaafootball dual threat QBs @TannerStutler, @CtackettC, @QBREIGN, @KyHighFootball, @LasatersCoffee, @bigassfans, @eCampusdotcom

May 21, 2026 Fletcher Long 0

Tanner Stutler is a dual threat QB from Paul Blazer High in Ashland, KY. He runs the 40-yard dash in 4.7-seconds, presses 225-pounds, squats 385, and shuttles (5-10-5) in 4.57-seconds. Stutler has a 30-inch vertical, and at 5’10,” 170-pounds, is among the better QBs in KY’s 2029 graduating class. Matter of fact, “Prep RedZone,” a nationally disseminated recruiting service, has Stutler ranked the 6th best QB in the KHSAA, among 29s, and 29’s 35th overall prospect regardless of position. If we didn’t know anything else, we knew this; it was high time we got around to featuring this Tomcat. So, we did. Enjoy the article.

Friday Night Fletch

Mark Stivers III very likely to be a night one, snap one starter @STIVERSmarkIII, @Aspirationsgym, @trinitysports, @khsaafootball, @KyHighFootball, @bigassfans, @eCampusdotcom

May 16, 2026 Fletcher Long 0

Let me just stop you right there. We used to do a freshman and sophomore all-state football team back years ago. We stopped doing them because so many freshmen and sophomores started earning their way onto our Big Ass Fans Large and Small School All-State teams. We have heard all the “Freshmen don’t play at _________ High,” crap. The fact is, if the freshman is good enough, he will play. There is one thing high school coaches prize over rules and structure…and that is winning. If the freshman helps the program win, he will play. The fact remains more and more freshmen are showing up these days prepared mentally and physically to compete and contribute. Right here, this guy who is today’s feature, Mark Stivers, is a perfect example. Let’s see this season how long he stays on the sideline, regardless of where he plays.

Friday Night Fletch

Trigg Whisenant will be looking for eight when they pull that gate…@Trigg5whisenant, @MasonS3324, @LCCougarSports, @bigassfans, @eCampusdotcom, @khsaafootball, @KyHighFootball

May 14, 2026 Fletcher Long 2

Trigg Whisenant is one of Kentucky’s very best two way, multi-phase threats entering 9th grade in the Fall of 2026. Whisenant has a 4.0-GPA, plays football, basketball, baseball, and is a sprinter on the track & field team. Whisenant has made all the customary MS all-star teams and was the KYMSFA’s Region 4, POY. Will Whisenant hit the lineup for the Letcher County Central as a freshman on Friday Nights, night one, snap one? Hard to say. Letcher is a 4A team coming off a six (6) win season which is graduating its top two rushers from a year ago in Garrett Howard and Brett Sturgill. He will have to beat out Gunner Holbrook but all signs point to early PT for this up and coming ’30 prospect. Enjoy the feature.

Friday Night Fletch

South Oldham’s Silas Kennedy shooting up the list of 2028 linemen @silaskennedy33, @CainSams, @SOHighFootball, @SOHSDragons, @CoachBMeredith, @bigassfans, @eCampusdotcom, @khsaafootball, @KyHighFootball

May 9, 2026 Fletcher Long 0

One of the things we notice first about a young big, like Silas Kennedy (6’4,” 275-pounds, ’28) are his feet. This kid has excellent feet and sink to go along with find height and good length. Kids with his frame are generally Division I, FBS football recruits. With his 4.25-GPA, he is a “take” at many, many levels and different leagues including a league called “The Ivy” or “The Ancient 8.” We don’t know where this kid will end up but we do expect him to populate the first string in ’26 and (potentially) on both sides of the scrimmage line (OT/DE). That defensive deployment should tell you all you need to know about his movement and quicks. This is a large, tall, long, explosive, “twitchy” kid who is a delight to know and the kind of kid you want on your roster. Enjoy the feature.

Friday Night Fletch

Ariyon Stills-Carter, also known as The Bear, should have a big season upcoming @BearCarter42, @CoachDerekDay, @EKUWWells, @CoachBakerNH, @eCampusdotcom, @bigassfans, @khsaafootball, @KyHighFootball

May 7, 2026 Fletcher Long 0

Not a lot of athletes around the KHSAA so sufficiently athletic to warrant the nickname, “The Bear.” Here are some facts about bears you might not know. According to Google, “Bears are exceptionally athletic and powerful, capable of running up to 35 mph (56 km/h), even on uneven terrain. They possess immense strength, with specialized muscles for digging, climbing, and swimming. Despite their bulk, they are surprisingly agile, quick to accelerate, and can maintain high speeds over long distances.” All of this sounds eerily like Ariyon Stills-Carter, who (not so coincidentally) is nicknamed “The Bear.” Our Bear is 6’0,” has been listed as high as 230-pounds, and can play both MLB and RB. We think this coming season for North Hardin may be the year of the Bear. That is our call anyway. Enjoy the feature.

Friday Night Fletch

Matthew Briedwell, a rising senior QB/FS at Calloway County, is our Bank of Cadiz & Trust Company Feature of the Week @M_Briedwell8, @KYHighFootball, @MurrayLedger, @CClakerfootball, @teeroyhowell, @khsaafootball, @bigassfans, @LasatersCoffee, @eCampusdotcom

May 4, 2026 Fletcher Long 0

We continue on with our offseason coverage not really discussing players of the week so much as discussing featured players and prospects. Matthew Briedwell is simply among the best QB’ing football talents in the Kentucky-wide, KHSAA football game today at his level of play and particularly on the western end of KY. Briedwell came on our radar with his play last season in Coach Coby Lewis’s inaugural season at the helm of the Lakers’s ship. Since then, Briedwell has done nothing but confirm we were all right about him from the beginning. Briedwell is only going to improve over his senior season, particularly on offense where he should get many more throwing and running opportunities. Briedwell is the kind of kid coaches want to coach and, in the end, that may be the finest compliment which can be paid to him (or any other kid). Enjoy the feature.

Friday Night Fletch.

Alex Johnson among the best in the classification among dual threat guys @Alexbjohnson5, @QBCoachFox, @PrestonsburgFB, @Wes_Hager, @khsaafootball, @KyHighFootball, @bigassfans, @eCampusdotcom

May 2, 2026 Fletcher Long 0

Alex “AJ” Johnson is a dual-threat stud at QB who might end up a RB in college or even a strong safety/linebacker depending on how his frame continues its development. Johnson has added 15-pounds of muscle this offseason and has his bench press up over 250 (255) and both his squat and deadlift at the four plate (405-lbs.) level. This kid has quite the season a year ago in leading the Blackcats to a 12-1 finish and a loss in the regional championship game in Fort Mitchell, KY to Beechwood. No shame there. Enjoy this look at one of 2A’s more lethal offensive skill players and brace yourself for another fine season in Prestonsburg, KY.

Friday Night Fletch