2026 Football Preview: Fairland Dragons

PROCTORVILLE — What may have been a dream has become a reality for Ron Wooten.

Wooten has been a college assistant coach at three different schools including Marshall University, and he’s been an assistant coach at Fairland the past four years.

But this season it is no longer a dream for Wooten to be the Dragons’ head football coach and the former Fairland player and alumnus is excited about his new position.

“It’s like a lifelong dream come true to come back here and be that guy on the sideline,” said Wooten. “My earliest memories of football were coming here with my grandparents who worked for the schools, and coming here to support Fairland.

“So, it was ingrained in me from a young age. It was Go Dragons and Go Green and all that. Now we just have to make sure we work hard enough at it and get better enough to make sure we do it right.”

The Dragons are looking at a young, inexperienced roster with not a lot of size. Wooten just shrugs at the challenge facing him and is taking a positive approach.

“If any of this stuff was easy then everybody would do it, right?” Wooten said as he embraced the challenge his young team faces.

“It takes all the fun out of it if someone hands it to you. We’ve got a lot of work to do.”

One problem that seems to be a common theme throughout the Tri-State is the size of team rosters, or rather the lack of numbers.

“The numbers are down a little bit from what I’d like them to be. That’s an issue for a lot of people,” said Wooten.

“But our core group, our 16, 18 guys are buying in and doing it the right way. Our weight room attendance and everything we’ve been doing is the best it’s been in recent memory here at Fairland.”

The lack of numbers is just one issue. The Dragons have a limited number of returning starters from last season’s 4-7 team. The lack of numbers also creates a depth issue and the lack of experience is yet another concern.

“We have five seniors on the roster but only three that have played any varsity ball at all. We’ve got something going, it’s just they’re starting from a different place than where this other groups started from,” said Wooten.

“It’s a growth process, but it’s no excuse. How many freshmen and sophomores you were playing when they write down the scores doesn’t matter. You’ve got to go play. We’re trying to get that kind of mentality built into them. There’s a couple of things up against us, but that doesn’t matter.”

The Dragons will not only be playing a new quarterback, he is a converted running back. Junior Kinyon Smith (5-9, 150) has been taking the reps with the first unit and Wooten has been impressed.

“He’s been in the program playing some running back. He’s a good athlete. His brother was a big-time receiver for us a few years back,” said Wooten. “I presented it to him as a challenge back when we were looking at him as one of the options. He’s tackled it head-on. He’s been phenomenal with it. The mental part of playing quarterback he’s been great at. The physical part he’s getting better at.”

The running backs will be a pair of seniors in Xander Collins (6-1, 205) and Christian Bompus (6-0, 170), both who played a big role in the offense last season.

“It’s no secret that those are two of our better players. It’s how many times can we get them the ball and where they get it they have a chance to be special with it and not have to break four tackles to get a big play out of it,” said Wooten.

The wide receiver corps will include sophomore Aiden Trimble (5-9,150), junior Ford Rickard (6-3, 175), junior Maddox VonVille (5-8, 145), and junior Kylan Blake (5-9, 150).

“Aiden played a lot for us last year. He had a really good offseason. Ford played a lot for us and did a good job,” said Wooten. “VonVille will play in the slot. Blake is coming off an injury. We’re looking for another guy out there. We’ve got some young guys who have been filtering through there and we’ll see who comes through and takes that one.”

The offensive line will be an inexperienced group and Wooten said they will have to be a versatile group that knows all the positions.

Senior A.J. Brammer (6-0, 200) is expected to be the center with the other four positions filled by junior Aiden Kirk (6-0 185), junior Orion Tolbert (6-2, 240), and junior Payton Lucas (6-1, 230). 

“Brammer played some last year. Aiden Kirk played tackle for us last year and he’s had a good offseason and he’s doing a phenomenal job for us,” said Wooten.

“We’ve got a lot of young guys that we hope are picking that stuff up. Tolbert and Lucas played some for us last year and we’ve looking forward to them taking that next step.

“With our (lock of) depth, we creatively invent some offensive linemen. With our depth, we told all our guys — especially up front — you’re not just one position. You’re not the left tackle, you’re the right guard. No, you’re a lineman. You’ve got to know how to do it all.”

On the defensive side, the Dragons will have most of the offensive starters playing on the other side of the ball as well.

The four-man front will be led by sophomore Walker Callicoat (5-8, 160) who Wooten said “has been phenomenal. He’s in that long line of Callicoats who have been good ball players.”

Lucas and Tolbert will be part of the inside positions with Kirk at one end and either Brammer or junior Josh Hunt (6-0, 150).

“I would love to play four D-linemen where only one of them had to play offense. I don’t know if that’s going to happen, but that’s what we’re trying to make happen,” said Wooten.

The middle linebacker will be Collins with Bompus the weak side backer. Wooten said the other linebacker spot is still undecided.

“As much as how important they are on offense to us, they’re the key to the defense. They’re the box backers as much as we can make them,” said Wooten. “They’ve got a lot on their plate and, so far, they’ve been up to it.”

VonVille will be one cornerback with Trimble on the other side. Rickard should be the free safety and possibly sophomore Conner Kazee (6-0, 145) getting the call on the other slot.

“Ford is a ball hawk back there,” said Wooten.

Overall, Wooten said the Dragons will take advantage of their overall team quickness and speed to play an aggressive defense.

“Everything we do has to be speed based. We don’t have enough heft to not play that way just yet,” said Wooten. “We’ll be flying around and pursuing like crazy. And we have to make sure when we get there it’s violent. We’re not big enough to get there and not be violent. Instilling that in them has been our goal all through camp.”

In the kicking game, sophomore Yardley Gorby will handle the placements while Smith and sophomore Timmy Kujac (5-9, 145) are the punting candidates.

Kujac is also the backup quarterback.

“She got some experience last year. Smith is a good athlete and Timmy Kujac has some skill at it,” said Wooten.

In the Ohio Valley Conference race, Wooten pointed toward Coal Grove as the favorite.

“Coal Grove is the defending champ, so until they get knocked off they’re top dog. Gallia is always tough and Portsmouth is always tough. I expect everyone to put their best foot forward. We just have to make sure we’re taking care of ourselves,” said Wooten.

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