LOUISA —
LOUISA Want to get under Jordan Wellman’s skin?
Try calling him Troy Polamalu.
Like the Steelers’ standout strong safety, Wellman also sports a monstrous mane, but with much more fiery follicles.
On second thought, don’t mention that team from Pittsburgh.
“I’m a Ravens fan,” the Lawrence County senior will quickly recoil the comparison.
And, the Bulldog makes no bones about his desire to hit people on the football field.
Wellman unfurls his running red locks, which now extend past his chest, because it’s his “trademark.” He hasn’t been to a barber in three years.
“Everybody knows me by it,” Wellman said.
No one can miss No. 40 for the Bulldogs’ football team, and opposing teams shouldn’t forget about No. 52 either.
Former rivals, Blake Watson and Wellman are now the main men in the middle of Lawrence County’s defense.
Growing up, Watson and Wellman played against one another in youth league. Wellman was in Fort Gay, Watson in Louisa.
Wellman came over to Lawrence County upon entering high school.
“At first, it was like, I can’t believe he’s over here,” Watson recalled with a laugh. “I thought he was going to try to take my position.”
Watson is a middle linebacker while Wellman has slid over to outside linebacker after spending some time on the inside.
“It’s been a good transition,” Wellman said. “I can read everything that’s going on.”
Watson is more than happypatrolling the middle.
“I’m like the quarterback of the defense,” he said. “I love it that way.”
Wellman and Watson are two of just six seniors on this year’s youth-laced Bulldogs.
Second-year coach Joe Cecil will rely upon them heavily, as the duo combined for 190 tackles last season.
“Jordan is a guy that’s really versatile, and he just has a feel for the game,” Cecil said. “Blake’s really stepped up leadership-wise.”
Watson spoke of the leadership role his coach talked about.
“It’s kind of cool because kids look up to you,” he said. “You can tell by the look in their eyes. I love how these kids look up to us.”
Neither offer imposing frames — Watson is 5-foot-10, 200 pounds; Wellman 5-10, 190 — but their tough bash brother-like attitudes have permeated throughout the locker room.
“We are physical, I’ll say that much; more physical than last year,” Wellman said.
“Unbelievably physical” is how Watson described it.
Wellman has basically taken up residence in the weight room. He’s added 30 pounds of muscle since the end of last season.
“He is constantly working out,” Cecil said. “We lift (as a team) and then he goes to the local gym after.”
Wellman missed the Bulldogs’ opening game at home against Ashland in 2011 with a broken left wrist. He returned a week later, played one full game and then got hurt again.
In Week 4 against Perry County Central, with the game nearing halftime, Wellman bruised a lung and fractured three ribs tackling a receiver from behind.
“His cleat shot up and hit me in the ribcage,” Wellman said. “What’s bad about that is two plays before that, I made an interception, but I fumbled the ball trying to carry it with my cast hand (from the broken left wrist).”
After an overnight hospital stay and another game off, Wellman was back in action.
Lawrence County finished at 5-7 with a playoff win a year ago.
Offensively, the Bulldogs lost many key pieces to graduation, so Watson knows that 28.7 points allowed per game last season won’t even be close to cutting it this fall.
“We’re the backbone of the team,” said Watson of the defense. He may play some offensive line as well, while Wellman may receive some carries from the fullback position.
Neither can wait much longer for Friday night’s opener against Ashland at Putnam Stadium.
“My blood’s boiling,” Watson said.
“There’s nothing like playing at Putnam Stadium on a Friday night,” added Wellman.
AARON SNYDER can be reached at asnyder@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2664.
Local Sports
Snap Counts: Lawrence leaning on Wellman, Watson
Countdown to kickoff reaches five days
- Local Sports
-
-
62nd District Softball: East playing second fiddle no longer
East Carter’s Morgan Jacobs fired a pitch across the plate for strike three in the bottom of the seventh inning and jumped into the arms of first baseman Montana Fouts.
-
Salow Show: Ashland ace halts Boyd’s district streak
What’s the encore for a perfect game?
-
62nd District baseball: Staton strives after storm
East Carter’s Conner Staton hasn’t lost a 62nd District in his high school career. As a senior, he wasn’t going to let that change.
-
63rd District baseball: Greenup County outduels Lewis, 7-3
Lightning delayed the 63rd District Tournament championship game several times following the first inning on Tuesday, creating a late night for Greenup County and Lewis County.
-
Boyd’s Fraley commits to Herd
Boyd County sophomore basketball player Logan Fraley has announced her commitment to Marshall University.
The 5-foot-11 shooting guard informed Marshall women’s coach Matt Daniel of her decision on Monday morning, which was confirmed by Boyd County coach/father Pete Fraley via text message. -
63rd softball: Greenup leans on bunting, baserunning; Russell wins
Immersed in another district contest with little breathing room, Greenup County softball coach Eric Keeton resorted to the strengths of his lineup: bunting and baserunning.
Two bunts and a swinging bunt helped the Lady Musketeers scratch across three runs in the fifth inning of a 6-2 victory over Raceland in the 63rd District Tournament opening round on Monday night at Russell High School. Top-seeded Russell defeated Lewis County, also 6-2, earlier in the evening. -
Boyd pounds out 11 hits to go along with Grimm’s shutout, 14-0
Robbie Shivel might be a little sore after Monday night, but it was Fairview that left the game battered and bruised.
Boyd County belted out 11 hits to go along with Dylan Grimm's complete-game gem as the Lions roared past Fairview, 14-0, in the opening round of the 64th District Tournament at Ashland's Alumni Field. The game lasted five innings. -
Different look, same results for Lady Lions
A longtime fixture in the 64th District softball championship game, Boyd County looked different this return trip.
The Lady Lions defeated Fairview 10-5 in Monday’s district semifinal, which doubled as an Autism Awareness Night. Boyd County players wore light blue shirts and colorful, jigsaw puzzle socks for the event, which had to be rescheduled more than once due to weather problems. -
Musketeers explode in final 2 innings to beat Raceland; good times continue for Lewis
Through the first four innings of its 63rd District Tournament opener, Greenup County found itself hitless. The Musketeers made up for it over the next two innings.
Greenup County scored eight runs on eight hits in the final two innings to defeat Raceland, 9-1, at Russell High School on Monday. -
The will to win
Opponents get the same look from Emily Stewart whether it’s softball, basketball or soccer season.
Steely eyed and lips pursed, the Boyd County senior is keenly focused and all business between the lines. - More Local Sports Headlines
-
62nd District Softball: East playing second fiddle no longer
Jodi Arias: Death Penalty Would Cause More Pain
Looking for Love? Take the Prague Metro
Crews Race to Find Survivors of Okla. Twister
First Person: Baby Falcons on a New York Bridge
Oklahoma: Images of Devastation, Reunion
Reunited Dad, Son: 'We Just Praise God'
Slow Pokes: Acupuncture Helps Sick Turtles
Moore, Okla. City of Reunions, Tears After Storm
Former IRS Chief: Can't Say How List Happened
Gov. Fallin: Okla. Facing Horrific Disaster
Tim Cook Defends Apple's Tax Accounting
AP Photograher: 'It Was a Miracle' They Got Out
Raw: Crews Search for Survivors of Okla. Tornado
Raw: Tearful Reunion After Okla. Tornado
OKC Hospital Describes Treating Tornado Wounded
Obama Pledges Urgent Aid for Tornado Victims
Raw: Massive Funnel Clouds in Oklahoma
