[Hoot Gibson]

You’re wasting your breath Jet. In Hoots eyes JC is Bill Braske to everyone else. Always bigger and better. I’ll take the kid who rushed for around 5k yards the last two years and probably had 500 yards receiving in those two years as well as being the  best back in Eastern Ky last year as well Jet.

Birchfield vs. Corbin 2022: 15 rushing attempts for 47 yards and 0 touchdowns, with 0 receptions.

McCoart vs. Corbin 2022: 21 rushing attempts for 80 yards and 1 touchdown, with 1 reception for 83 yards and 1 touchdown.

Birchfield vs. Belfry 2022: 26 rushing attempts for 180 yards and 4 touchdowns, with 0 receptions.

McCoart vs. Belfry 2022: 20 rushing attempts for 181 yards and 4 touchdowns, with 0 receptions.

You are entitled to your opinion, but I give the edge to McCoart, in part because JC was in a rebuilding season with a young offensive line, while Birchfield was running behind an experienced offensive line in a state title season. But against two common opponents last season, I don't see anything in the stats to indicate that Birchfield was better than McCoart.

If Pikeville has a running back as talented as Birchfield to step into his shoes this season, then I look forward to seeing him. Barring injuries, McCoart will be the best running back in eastern Kentucky this season and he should be even better in his senior season.