by Jared Jensen
The Paducah Sun
February 12, 2026
Used with permission.
The tradition of seeing Paducah Tilghman football players advance to the next stages of football continued on Wednesday afternoon as four players signed letters of intent to play football at the collegiate level.
Brenden Brown, DJ Wilson, Stone Crowe and Javin Dukes all put pen to paper, marking the beginning of the next step in their academic and athletic futures, while holding strong to the PT spirit and what brought them to this point.
To most, ‘PT’ stands for Paducah Tilghman. For the football staff, ‘PT’ stands for ‘Pride and Tradition’, something that head coach Sean Thompson is glad to see these four athletes and many more before them embrace.
Each of these four athletes has found the program and the university that not only best fits their playing styles and skill sets, but also will provide them with the best academic future.
Brenden Brown: Murray State University
Sticking close to home, Brenden Brown has committed to play at Murray State University under head coach Jody Wright. The wide receiver was part of a deep and talented group for the Blue Tornado, helping in a big way towards the successes of the past four seasons. As a senior, Brown tallied 155 receiving yards and two touchdown catches. He also dabbled in defense, collecting two tackles, one by himself and one assisted.
As for why he chose to become a Racer, the answer was simple:
“I believe in their development program and I believe they are going to help me be the best receiver that I can be,” Brown said. “I believe Coach Wright is turning this program around and I’m just so proud that they gave me a chance to come play for them.”
Brown said his time as a Blue Tornado also played a significant part in getting where he is today not only as a football player, but also as a man.
“I give a lot of praise to Coach Thompson. He’s a great coach, he knows how to win and I was very blessed to be able to play for him. He’s helped me not just become a better player, but grown me into a better man every single day.”
Javin Dukes: McKendree University
Coming from the defensive line, Javin Dukes has chosen to battle in the trenches at McKendree University as a Bearcat. The stats speak for themselves with Dukes, who tallied 40 total tackles his senior year, 22 solo and 18 assisted. He also had 6.5 tackles for a loss and two defensive sacks while scooping up a fumble for a touchdown. Dukes says his experience playing against some of the best offensive linemen in the state on the practice field has prepared him to play in college.
“I went against some of the best O-linemen around,” Dukes said. “Ben Myers, Jarvis Strickland, and plenty more, so I feel like having played against them for so long has really prepared me a lot for college ball.”
As for why Dukes chose to play at McKendree, he says it was their commitment to him from day one.
“They’ve been with me since the beginning. They’ve kept it real and have told me that I’ll be playing early and the coaching staff there is just great also."
DJ Wilson: Thomas More University
Located in Crestview Hills, KY just south of Cincinnati is where running back DJ Wilson will be spending his next few years. The offensive powerhouse has been a staple to the PT offense since the beginning and stood out in a major way as an upperclassman. His senior year, Wilson led the team in rushing yards with 1,245 and 16 rushing TD’s. He also used his hands for a few receptions throughout the season, tallying another 115 yards in the air with three more touchdowns.
“I like the coaching staff and the campus over there,” Wilson said. “The coaches there felt special to me and helped me feel special also.”
Wilson says the game that is taught both mentally and physically at Paducah Tilghman High School is a big reason for him getting to this level.
“Coach Thompson and all of the other coaches have had my back,” Wilson said. “They’ve prepared me both mentally and physically and they’ve just really been on my tail, making sure I get the little things right so I can make the big plays.”
Stone Crowe: Lindsey Wilson University
Stone Crowe announced his commitment to Lindsey Wilson University after a standout final season that saw him throw for 3,138 yards (fifth in Kentucky) and 37 touchdowns (tied for seventh), leading the Blue Tornado to a 9-1 regular season record and a state semifinal appearance. Tilghman averaged just over 42 points per game, ranking among the state’s top offenses. Crowe said his campus visit ultimately sealed the decision.
“I had a couple of smaller schools come at me… I just stepped on campus at my visit at Lindsey Wilson, and I just ultimately knew it was home,” Crowe said. “The coaches and all the other players I met up there were just so nice and so welcoming. I knew as soon as I got there that this place felt like home and I really wanted to go.”
Football runs deep in Crowe’s family, as his grandfather, longtime Kentucky coach Jack Haskins, and his uncle, former Tilghman and Kentucky quarterback Billy Jack Haskins, helped guide him through the recruiting process.
“Every Saturday or Sunday me and my Grandad would come together and watch film… That’s ultimately what led to me at Lindsey Wilson as well,” Crowe said. He’ll also reunite with former teammates Michael Hinton and NyYon Fitzgerald in Columbia. As he finishes his senior year and prepares through baseball and offseason training, Crowe said he remains grateful for those who helped him along the way. “I would be nowhere without Coach Thompson or all my other teammates… It’s a team sport, so without them, I wouldn’t be here.”
As Brown, Dukes, Wilson and Crowe take the next step in their football journeys, they do so as the latest examples of Paducah Tilghman’s Pride and Tradition in action. Their signings not only reflect individual achievement, but also the culture built within the Blue Tornado program.