Eight BG athletes sign to play college sports
Published 11:50 am Thursday, January 30, 2025
Students, faculty and coaches celebrated eight student-athletes from Bowling Green High School that committed to play at the next level in their respective sports.
Students, faculty and coaches celebrated eight student-athletes from Bowling Green High School that committed to play at the next level in their respective sports.
Students, faculty and coaches celebrated eight student-athletes from Bowling Green High School that committed to play at the next level in their respective sports.
Students, faculty and coaches celebrated eight student-athletes from Bowling Green High School that committed to play at the next level in their respective sports.
Students, faculty and coaches celebrated eight student-athletes from Bowling Green High School that committed to play at the next level in their respective sports.
Students, faculty and coaches celebrated eight student-athletes from Bowling Green High School that committed to play at the next level in their respective sports.
Students, faculty and coaches celebrated eight student-athletes from Bowling Green High School that committed to play at the next level in their respective sports.
Students, faculty and coaches celebrated eight student-athletes from Bowling Green High School that committed to play at the next level in their respective sports.
It was a big day for an octet of athletes at Bowling Green High School, with all signing to play collegiately during a ceremony in the auxiliary gym on Wednesday.
Six football players — Deuce Bailey, Jayden Axson, Mehki Axson, Brandon Gurley, Braden Widener and AJ Woodard, girls’ soccer player Eva McCay and baseball player Markell Yates were part of Wednesday’s signing day. Bailey signed to play at Missouri State. Jayden and Mehki Axson joined Gurley and Widener in signing at Georgetown with Woodard signing with the University of Indianapolis. McCay signed to play at Kentucky Wesleyan, while Yates signed with Campbellsville University.
“It’s amazing,” Bailey said. “It’s been a long time coming. The journey is really just now starting.”
Bailey had a storied career at Bowling Green, amassing over 10,000 yards passing. The Class 5A state player of the year is the only four-year starter at quarterback in school history — guiding the Purples to three state title games and back-to-back wins the final two seasons.
“I never really thought about it,” Bailey said. “As a young kid I used to come here and watch all the great quarterbacks who came here like Devin Hayes, Clark Payne. Just to have my name in the conversation with those guys is a pretty cool thing.”
Bailey joins a Missouri State team that will move up to the Football Bowl Subdivision, joining Conference USA this fall. Missouri State has Purples ties, with head coach Ryan Beard a Bowling Green alum.
“It’s going to be amazing playing for another Purple,” Bailey said. “That’s a pretty cool thing. We’ve got a pretty close relationship. It’s going to grow over the next (four) years. I can’t wait to get up there and play for him.”
Woodard signed with University of Indianapolis, coming off a season where he totaled 45 tackles with two interceptions — one returned for a touchdown.
While Bailey is headed to Missouri State and Woodard to Indianapolis, four teammates will remain together at Georgetown including twin brothers Mehki and Jayden Axson. Mehki Axson was a force on the offensive line for the Purples, transitioning from the defensive line prior to his junior year. Jayden Axson had 61 tackles for Bowling Green last season.
Gurley joins the Axsons at Georgetown, coming off a season in which he led the Purples with 11.5 sacks.
Widener will kick for Georgetown, coming off a season in which he finished 67-for-68 in extra points and 9-for-14 in field goal attempts — including three in the 5A state championship win over Cooper.
Also a key contributor for his dad on the BG soccer team, Widener said it was a hard decision whether to play soccer or kick at the college level.
“I grew up playing soccer, so it is always kind of in the back of my head,” Widener said. “I will still play it. I will still play in men’s leagues. It’s hard to stay away… (but) football has more money in it. It’s what I want to do now, so I am excited. I’m excited I got to play both sports growing up.”
Widener added he is excited about joining his teammates at Georgetown.
“College is a new thing, so you have to meet new people,” Widener said. “I will already have them up there with me, so we will have a friend group. We will get stuff going and will already know each other, so it will be fun.
“I’m glad we got to do it like this. I am excited to get up there and get to work.”
McCay heads to Kentucky Wesleyan after a successful career at Bowling Green.
“I’ve always wanted to play soccer at the next level,” McCay said. “I started when I was like four, so playing four more years in college — I am so blessed and so excited for it.”
One of BG’s top defenders, her only goal last season was a big one — a free kick that was the game winner in the Region 4 title game win over Greenwood. It was BG’s fourth region title, with the Lady Purples also claiming the District 14 title in her senior season.
“Not everyone gets the opportunity to do that,” McCay said. “Bowling Green is like a family. Everyone knows everyone. I’m very blessed to go to a high school like this and have teammates like this too.”
Yates said he is excited about playing baseball at the next level.
“I’ve played baseball since I was seven years old,” Yates said. “The ability to go and get an education while I get to play baseball is super fun, super exciting for me.”
A second baseman for Bowling Green, Yates appeared in six games last season — picking up two hits and a stolen base. He said he is happy to have his college decision finalized so he can focus on the upcoming season.
“I think it takes a lot off my shoulders,” Yates said. “It was always a big thing. I had a big summer and I was like, ‘I want to commit to a school before the senior season.’ I didn’t want that to be over my shoulder. I had to get this done. It gives me more time to play carelessly, let’s just play freely like I am a kid again.”
About Micheal Compton
I am a sports reporter and movie critic for the Bowling Green Daily News.
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