Martin County senior adds college offer from Kentucky Wesleyan
BY BRITTNI MCCOY
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
INEZ — Martin County football standout Devan Maynard has been invited to play in a Blue-Grey Senior All-American Bowl Game at AT&T Stadium in Dallas. The honor will see him compete among the nation’s top high school football players.
The 6-foot-4, 210-pound wide receiver, defensive back and quarterback in the Class of 2026 was working out on the football field when news of his All-American Bowl selection arrived Thursday.
“My mom called my brother and told him the news and then he told me,” Maynard said. “I was excited.”
The selection followed Maynard’s impressive performance last month at the Blue-Grey All-American Combine (Kentucky Regional) at Centre College. A May 20 Kentucky Regional Scouting Report identified him as a top performer, describing him as “big and strong, always up for a challenge.”
Maynard’s numbers at the combine included a 4.63-second 40-yard dash, a 9-foot broad jump, a 4.49-second shuttle run, and 12 reps on the 185-pound bench press.
“It feels amazing,” Maynard said of the invitation. “Getting to go to this big event, it’s wonderful. Not only do I get to show Martin County that you can do anything you put your mind to, I get to show the whole world.”
Maynard nodded to the support he gets from coaches, teammates, and family and pledged to prepare diligently.
“I am committed to representing my school and community with pride,” he said.
On Friday, he also received a college offer from Kentucky Wesleyan University to elevate his week further. Earlier in the week an offer came from Kentucky Christian University.
Josh Horn, who serves in multiple roles at Martin County High School, has been crucial in getting Maynard exposure by actively promoting him and other team members to college programs. He is sending information and film to schools ranging from NAIA to Division I and arranging prospect camps to allow coaches to see the athletes in person and add them to their recruiting databases.
“Football recruiting operates differently than other sports,” Horn said, stressing the importance of in-person evaluations.
With the upcoming high school sports dead period in Kentucky, Maynard will get to enjoy other favorite pastimes, such as spending time with family and friends. Outside of football, he likes going riding, playing on his Xbox, working out and playing basketball.
The multi-sport athlete is a starter for the Cardinals basketball team.
When asked what he would say to young athletes in his hometown, Maynard offered this advice: “Believe in yourself. You can do anything you put your mind to.”