BY BRITTNI MCCOY
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
INEZ — The cicadas are not the only noise in eastern Kentucky this summer. A few Martin County High School football standouts are generating buzz on the field.
Devan Maynard, Crayson Lafferty, Kendal Mullins and Gavin Stepp have attended camps, received invites and earned college offers.
Maynard added to his growing list of achievements last week, receiving offers from Midway and the University of Pikeville. Those offers follow two earlier ones from Kentucky Christian University and Kentucky Wesleyan, and an invitation to play in the Blue-Grey All-American Bowl in Dallas, Dec. 15.
The 6-foot-4, 210-pound quarterback has stayed busy on the field this summer. Maynard attended camps at Lindsey Wilson College, West Virginia University, University of Pikeville, Kentucky Wesleyan, Midway and Marshall University and the Blue-Grey Combine at Centre College.
Lafferty attended the UPIKE camp and the Morehead State prospect camp. He received an invitation to the Military Appreciation Army Bowl National Combine Series in Dayton, where the nation’s top high school athletes will compete to see who becomes the next playmakers in the U.S. Army Bowl and college football. Athletes will complete combine measurables, drills and on-field training/competition.
Data and film will be uploaded to each participant’s signing day profile as well as to over 200 universities. The Bowl Selection Team will be on hand to choose top athletes for the upcoming 2025 Military Appreciation U.S. Army Bowl & 2025 National Combine.
Lafferty also attended the Blue-Grey Combine at Centre College.
Mullins plays nose guard, offensive guard and tackle for the Martin County Cardinals. On top of attending the Blue-Grey All-American Combine at Centre College in May, he has also attended camps at Kentucky Wesleyan and recently Campbellsville University.
Mullins has been in the gym since last season ended “to get stronger and more explosive.”
Colleges are already knocking on his door.
“I’ve really been working on getting reps and getting better as an overall player and a leader,” Mullins said. “I have done three camps and am doing a big man camp July 16. The camps have really helped me learn new skills like having better footwork, getting in shape and overall getting more physical.”
Stepp has attended multiple camps, including UPIKE recently and Kentucky Christian University. The senior is looking to turn heads at wide receiver for the Cards this upcoming season.