Around the Horn

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

Dalton Slone will be critical to the Pirates’s Plunder Prospects @bigassfans, @LemmingReport, @CoachStepp, @berea_football, @eCampusdotcom, @khsaafootball, @WBSportsGuy, @KyHighFootball

April 25, 2026 Fletcher Long 1

A “Pirate” may be described or defined several ways. A person who commits robbery, violence, or theft at sea is a Pirate. A person who illegally reproduces or sells copyrighted material (movies, music, software) is a Pirate. Taking something by force or reproducing content without authorization is “pirating” that information. A radio or TV station that operates without official permission maybe referred to as a pirated station. A super tough defensive lineman coming off an impressive freshman season who will be counted on to deliver for his ball club in ’26 is also a Pirate; a Berea High Pirate. Enjoy this feature about a kid from whom you are almost sure to hear plenty beginning this next Fall.

Friday Night Fletch

Miles Hollon, from Breathitt County, has come literally miles in a short time @Qb1miles4, @BreckenHarvey, @cleats2whistle, @wood7walker, @bigassfans, @khsaafootball, @KyHighFootball, @eCampusdotcom

April 23, 2026 Fletcher Long 0

Miles Hollon is a rare commodity among ’28 QBs. While many of them are selling “potential,” he’s selling production. How many QBs throw for close to 4,000 yards with around 50-thrown TDs entering their junior seasons? You can count them on less than a single hand. Hollon’s frame and growth potential are big pluses for him as he is today’s feature and a guy who has won almost every award one can bestow.

Friday Night Fletch

Brody Calhoun, a ’27 multi-phase star, is the Bank of Cadiz & Trust Company Superior Performance, Exceptional Quality Feature of the Week @KatherineL58069, @Ahmaariii12, @MurrayQBClub, @LasatersCoffee, @eCampusdotcom, @bigassfans, @khsaafootball, @KyHighFootball, @Ale8One, @CountyColonels, @HopHighTigers, @murrayFB

April 6, 2026 Fletcher Long 0

Trigg County, as of the date of our writing this piece, was still in the middle of a coaching search. Its former head coach, Chris Ezell, had stepped down as the head man to take a slot on the new Christian County Tiger staff as a strength and conditioning coach and DEs specialist. We are sure Ezell is excited to be getting a ton of talent on his new, 6A, “active” roster. The cupboard at the old school, Trigg County, won’t be completely barren. Brody Calhoun is among the better linebackers in western KY football. Trigg, with the help of this week’s feature just might be a dangerous team entering the ’26 season. Enjoy this feature on this wonderfully gifted and talented young football star.

Friday Night Fletch

Knox Barrett has been ‘on fire’ among ’28 QBs @FCFlyerFootball, @KnoxBarrett9, @khsaafootball, @KyHighFootball, @bigassfans, @eCampusdotcom

April 2, 2026 Fletcher Long 0

For our money, no one in the KHSAA does a much better job coaching a high school program at the 4A level than Franklin County’s Eddie James. His teams are yearly in contention and develop some of the KHSAA’s better next level talent. A guy who made our Lasaters Nifty Nichols preseason squad is Knox Barrett, a 6’3,” 195-pound, ’28 QB. Barrett has the stature the position craves and enviable on-field performance and production. Perhaps most importantly is the fact the Flyers win and routinely make deep, deep playoff runs. Their time for the title is coming on and it won’t be much longer before Coach James and his crew find themselves in the winner’s circle. Knox Barrett is the kind of QB who can make those dreams a reality. Enjoy this feature.

Friday Night Fletch