Appalachia Prep Combine

Mason Stephens from Letcher County Central tearing up the Appalachia Mountains… @MasonS3324, @ncsa, @LCCougarSports, @bigassfans, eCampusdotcom, @khsaafootball, @KyHighFootball

April 11, 2026 Fletcher Long 0

We have been featuring versatility going on a few years now. It is also time to step away from the seniors graduating this semester and focus on the younger talent coming down the pipeline. Today, we focus on one of the mountain’s better ‘27s in Letcher County’s Mason Stephens. Stephens is a WR/defensive back third guy who figures to continue to play, more and more this coming season, split out wide on offense. Enjoy this feature.

Friday Night Fletch.

Collins (2020) & Long (2021) are “Double-Trouble” for Breathitt Opponents…

June 25, 2024 Henry Lyon 2

The two players we are featuring together in this article are two guys who both relocated to Jackson, Kentucky (as luck would have it) during this summer. Both of their parents found employment in the area and uprooted their respective families. The Collins family has long-standing ties to Breathitt County High School as the Collins boys prior to CA Collins all played at Breathitt. The Longs had never been to Jackson, Kentucky before finding employment in the area and deciding to locate there. It has worked out swimmingly for a team which no media outlet predicted would do much in 2019 but which is absolutely killing it with considerable contribution from the two guys who have (naturally) bonded. Individually they are “CA Collins” and “William Long” but together they spell Double-Trouble for Breathitt opponents.

Breakout Player: @_BenLafferty from @MagoffinFootball, it is your time in the ‘hot seat.’ @b_derossett @1776Bank @minguabeefjerky @PrepSpin @MaxPreps @KyHighFootball

April 30, 2022 Henry Lyon 0

We have a real find for you today. How many of you remember the big time linebacker who played at Magoffin and then transferred to Paintsville before heading to Marshall’s Thundering Herd? His name was Mason Lovely. Today’s feature mimics Lovely’s production in several key ways, thought not completely. Enjoy this look at a Breakout Player you may not be soon to forget. HB.

Breakout Player: @JohnSua78 from @FDouglassFB is poised to move up the rankings. @1776Bank @minguabeefjerky @MaxPreps @PrepSpin @AppalachiaPrep @KyHighFootball

February 10, 2022 Henry Lyon 0

John Sualla is an example of why Frederick Douglass challenges for the title in 5A yearly. He is a 6-2, 265-pound, big-body guy who has had an unfortunate injury situation which has robbed him of some PT. He will have a huge senior year we predict and end up on quite a few recruiting boards. Enjoy this feature. HB.

@blakebirchfiel1 from @PikevilleHSFB is the @minguabeefjerky Protein-packed Performer of the week! @1776Bank @KyHighFootball @PrepSpin @AppalachiaPrep

July 7, 2021 Henry Lyon 0

Talk about an exceptional athlete, the Kentucky high school ranks may not have one superior to Blake Birchfield. He is a guy who pitches in and helps his ball club every conceivable way. Mingua Beef Jerky admires people like that. They feed and clothe people like that too. Join us next week as we award this to another worthy player. HB.

Breaking News: @Jeremiah_Riffle from @hurricanehighwv will play in ’21 for @LCA_Football. @minguabeefjerky @PrepSpin @KyHighFootball @1776Bank

June 10, 2021 Henry Lyon 2

With all of the talent already there, guys like Tyler Morris, Xavier Brown, Anthony Johns, and Mason Moore, plus the guys reclassifying like Drew Nieves and Mattie Lebryk, it is hard to imagine the Eagles having any need in the lineup. However, they are attracting it anyway. RB Jeremiah Riffle from WV has moved in and will compete for a spot in the offensive backfield behind some of the best OL talent the Kentucky high school game has at its disposal. Man oh man, are they going to be a difficult obstacle in ’21. Enjoy the feature. HB.

RB/OLB @JveontaeEmerson (Jay Emerson) from @wjfootballcolts has set himself up for a huge ’21 season. @Minguabeefjerky @PrepSpin @1776Bank @KyHighFootball

June 1, 2021 Henry Lyon 0

Many people around Kentucky believe it is J’Veontae Emerson’s time to shine. He reminds some of us around the magazine of North-Hopkins’ Jariah Hightower (Class of 2019) and that is quite the compliment in deed if you look at what Hightower did his final two seasons. Will Emerson do likewise? We ultimately don’t know but we believe he has similar skills and a similar frame. Enjoy the feature. HB.

Jake Harmeyer (@JakeHarmeyer) from @CooperFootball, Class of ’23, is our next ‘Breakout Performer’ for ’21. @minguabeefjerky @PrepSpin @KyHighFootball @1776Bank

May 29, 2021 Henry Lyon 0

There are many, many unknown football players across Kentucky. It is one reason we spend the offseason apprising our readers of where to look for the upcoming Fall heroes. Northern Kentucky is an area we are trying to give more attention as we feel these kids are player about whom we don’t know enough. We hope the Northern Kentucky folks (at least) appreciate our effort. Enjoy this feature about a Northern Kentucky kid who is a fine high-school player with limitless college potential. HB.

@landonsmith204, class of ’23, from @kccpatriots is this week’s @minguabeefjerky Protein-packed Performer. @AppalachiaPrep @PrepSpin @KyHighFootball @1776Bank @Logan_Smith17

May 26, 2021 Henry Lyon 0

Nobody has demonstrated a better eye for talent than the staff down at the Appalachia Prep Combine. So we thought it would be fun, as the APC was this last weekend, to let the Director of the APC, JT Powell, pick this year’s winner. Well he has chosen. Enjoy the feature and join us again next week when we adorn a new winner. HB.