Grayson County High School’s Greyson Chaffins will continue his education and football career at Kentucky Wesleyan.
In a signing at the high school on Wednesday evening, Chaffins made the decision that he announced earlier in the year official.
“It just fit me. I feel like it felt like home to me,” Chaffins told K105. “When I visited down there, I just got Grayson County vibes.”
Chaffins was a four-year starter for the Cougar football team despite only having very limited experience on the football field. His work ethic and desire to be great combined to make this possible.
When he showed up on the football field during the summer before his freshman year, his dad, Norman, who is a member of the program’s Wall of Fame, admittedly wasn’t sure he had what it would take to be on the team.
“I’m going to be quite honest with you, he played middle school football, he went out and he lasted one practice,” Norman said. “I’m the one that went to Coach (Bryan) Jones, and I told him ‘Greyson’s a little soft. He’s going to need some work. If he makes it through his freshman year, I’ll be impressed.'”
He made it through his freshman year and beyond while leading to two of the winningest seasons in the history of the program.
The physicality of the game of football is not something for everyone, and even his mom, Lauren, was hesitant when he brought up his desire to play.
“The moment that Greyson said he wanted to play football, I was like ‘you’ve got to be kidding me’ and I looked at Norman and said ‘no he can’t play. I’m terrified,'” Lauren said. “It’s been the best journey. God is so good.”
It doesn’t matter who you talk to; when Greyson’s name is mentioned, the common thread is work ethic, and he knows that comes from a strong support system.
“I can’t even start (to talk about his parents’ influence). They’ve bought me just about anything I’ve asked for. I mean, I’ll come home and there will be a new pair of gloves,” Greyson said. “I can’t even put into words how much they’ve influenced my career this far and encouraged me. Everything I do, they’ll be there by my side and encourage me.”
For some, work ethic isn’t obviously shown. For Greyson, all you need to do is look at the work that he put in across four years to see what hard work and determination can do.
“That journey, to be able to witness that and see him grow, not just learning football but physically grow. I mean he was 135 pounds as a freshman and now he’s 6’1 about 190 pounds,” Norman said. “That’s from going to the weight room, and that’s from putting in extra practices and catching about 100 balls every day.”
Greyson is the ninth player under current head coach Bryan Jones to sign to play college football at the next level.
Jones has also seen the transformation firsthand and hopes that it can wear off on the future stars of the program.
“He is the epitome of hard work paying off,” Jones said. “When he came in as a freshman, he was undersized and weak. He did not let that discourage him for one second. He went to work and built himself into a top athlete not only at GCHS but in our region and amongst the top receivers in the state.”
While the football aspect of the day was important, it was academics that everyone continued to revert to.
“Greyson is the premier student-athlete who keeps the student part in the proper place amongst his priorities,” Jones added. “He’s a straight-A student who works very hard at his academics. He will do nothing but make their program look even better.”
The relationship between Greyson and Jones is special. It wasn’t uncommon to see them talking after games or even Greyson picking up trash in the locker room, long after his teammates had left to celebrate a big win.
“He’s been a great mentor for me,” Greyson said. “When I came in as a freshman, I just knew that he would be the right coach for me, and I also can’t put into words what he’s done for me because he’s believed in me ever since I was a freshman. He still believes in me today.”
Kentucky Wesleyan is a Division II school in Owensboro, Kentucky. Last season, the Panthers ended with a 2-9 record.
“I believe Kentucky Wesleyan was the right choice because it felt like home,” Lauren added. “It felt small. It felt like family, and besides that, it is close to home, so mama liked that a lot.”
Norman made sure to add at the end to double down on just being proud that Greyson was heading to college, regardless of whether football was involved or not.
“It means more to me that he’s going to college and getting his degree than it is playing football, he said. “I’ve told Greyson many times, don’t play because I want you to play, play because you love football, and he loves football.”
The Cougar football team went to new heights under the leadership and hard work of Greyson and the rest of the Cougars, and that’s something he will forever be proud of.
“Honestly, just the way this team fights, Greyson said. “I mean freshman, sophomore year, 4-7, both years. Junior senior, two winningest seasons in school history. That goes to show you what this senior class and what this program is starting to do is really special.”
The 2025 Kentucky Wesleyan Panthers will open the new season at home on September 6 against West Florida.
By Sam Gormley, Play-By-Play Announcer/Local Sports
Reach Sam at sam@k105.com
