
’26 FB/LB boasts small frame/huge performance
Jeremiah “JJ” Austin is a guy whose frame hardly belies his performance. We have the guy at around 5’8,” 150-160 pounds. He plays FB/LB for one of Kentucky’s elite teams and elite coaching staffs. This guy gained over 1,500-yards and scored 16-rushing TDs together with 22-tackles and a FR in ’24 with a senior year upcoming. Together with JB Woolum and Ace Caudill, these three compose among the more lethal ground games in the KHSAA.
HB Lyon, Senior Scout, “KPGFootball”
Editor's Note: This article was submitted prior to the passing of legendary coach, Phillip Haywood. We don't know who will be tasked to first attempt to fill those HUGE shoes. He will be sorely missed by all of us across the commonwealth!
Big Ass Fans from Lexington, Kentucky has a simple corporate goal. The company is “creating a more comfortable world,” one fan at a time.
The logo is the rear of a donkey (Fanny) swishing its tail back and forth. The trademarked logo is among Kentucky’s more celebrated and well known corporate identities across the commonwealth and has come to represent commitment to quality, cutting-edge innovation, and product reliability.
Big Ass Fans is so much more than just a gigantic fan. It is gigantic quality, gigantic performance, and a gigantic commitment to reliability and innovation. Its size is far from the only selling point about our product. Our product is a Kentucky Comfort Creator…and, these days, isn’t that exactly what Kentucky needs?
“Fanny” is among Kentucky’s more celebrated and well known corporate logos
Friday Night Fletch, “KPGFootball”
Belfry, KY: Folks around Pike County, Kentucky call Jeremiah Austin “JJ.” These same folks join the rest of the commonwealth in calling Coach Phillip Haywood a legend.

It isn’t easy to play FB in a run-first offensive attack at 5’8,” 150-or so pounds. It isn’t easy to play LB on defense the same way. Carrying the ball for Belfry High comes with certain expectations.
We expect a Belfry ball carrier to be a David Jones-type, an Isaac Dixon-type. You know the type; the “Mr. Football,” All-State, matriculates to college-type.
Coach Haywood may be entering ’25 with an entire backfield of those caliber players. The combination of Austin, JB Woolum, and Ace Caudill contributed 2,997-yards rushing on 355-combined carries with 43-rushing TDs in ’24. The three of them averaged around 8.45 or so yards per tote.
The combination of JJ Austin, JB Woolum, and Ace Caudill contributed 2,997-yards rushing on 355-combined carries with 43-rushing TDs in ’24
KHSAA statistical website
That is how a team finishes 11-3 and earns a berth in the semis. That is how champions are constructed.
Austin enters ’25 a candidate for All-State consideration with an outside “Mr. Football” candidacy looming. As a junior, Austin gained 1,574-yards and scored 16-rushing TDs on 206-rushing attempts. That comes out to 7.64 yards (or so) per rushing attempt and a TD every 13th (or so) carry. Not too bad for a guy hitting it straight up the pipe from FB, huh?
Austin registred 22-tackles and recovered a fumble on defense. Obviously, his defensive snaps were limited. Not too many coaches will risk their leading rusher on defense, even at the 3A level.
Belfry will move down one enrollment size-based class, to Class 2A, in KHSAA realignment for 2025-26. We aren’t too sure the Pirates will find the sledding any easier in 2A than it was in 3A.
However, we are sure Belfry will settle into its new classification contending for Kentucky-wide supremacy. Somethings rarely change.
If there is football to be played, the Belfry Pirates will run it right down your throat and Coach Phillip Haywood will have his team right in the thick of the championship race. Go on and set your watch by these facts!
This is Friday Night Fletch, reporting for KPGFootball, reminding you to PLAY THROUGH THE WHISTLE!
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