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Lexington Christian Academy returns to the field as the reigning Class 2A state champion with a roster bristling with Division I talent and a clear cultural identity. Coach Oakley Watkins says the team’s commitment to daily habits — what he calls “December habits” — and a selfless approach, not trophies, will shape whether the Eagles can repeat.
Team snapshot
The Eagles enter 2026 with high expectations: multiple senior commits to FBS programs, a two-way star at quarterback and a core of veteran defenders. That talent pipeline already has college coaches watching, and opponents will spend the season trying to stop a balanced attack and a stingy front seven.
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Watkins describes the program’s emphasis less as championship-chasing rhetoric and more as a long-term project to build character. From locker-room standards to community service, the coach says the small daily choices are the measures the staff values most.
Players to know
| Player | Position / Class | College commitment | 2025 highlights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nash Whelan | QB / Junior | — | 2,526 passing yards, 28 TDs, ~1,000 rushing yards; also 41 tackles on defense |
| Conrad Hart | Tight end / Senior | Kentucky (early enrollee) | 6‑5, 235 lbs; converted from corner and finished as a matchup problem |
| Sam Pearson | Receiver / Senior | Ohio | 25 catches for nearly 500 yards and seven TDs |
| Daven Hood | Running back / Senior | Marshall | Close to 600 rushing yards and 13 TDs in 2025 |
| Aiden Lyons | Linebacker / Senior | — | Team-high 89 tackles |
| Thomas Sizemore | Linebacker / Junior | — | 74 tackles; defensive leader |
| Bode Darland | D‑line / Junior | — | All‑state as a sophomore; disruptive interior presence |
| Jeremiah Burbage | Corner / Junior | Offer from Middle Tennessee State | Long, rangy cover corner bolstering the secondary |
Collectively, the roster features double-digit players headed to college programs over the next two seasons, and three seniors already committed to FBS schools for 2027 — a meaningful pipeline for a 2A program.
Offense and defense are anchored by different pieces. The offense revolves around Whelan’s dual-threat play and the trio of committed seniors who provide mismatch weapons, while a veteran linebacker group and a disruptive D-line supply the defense’s identity.
Coach’s approach and what it means
Watkins downplays singular focus on rings; instead he measures success by the routines his players develop. The phrase December habits captures that view: build consistent behaviors in practice, the classroom and the community so that postseason results follow without becoming the only standard for the season.
That approach has consequences beyond win totals. For opponents, it translates into a team that is disciplined late in games. For recruits and college coaches, it signals a program that produces both high-level athletes and mature prospects.
Key matchups to circle
- @ Boyle County — Aug. 29
- vs. Christian Academy-Louisville — Sept. 4
- vs. Franklin County — Sept. 11
- @ Lexington Catholic — Sept. 18
Those early-season contests will test depth and cohesion as LCA attempts to defend its title. Expect opponents to game-plan around stopping Whelan and forcing other playmakers to beat them.
Perspective: Lexington Christian’s mix of high-level recruits and a program-first culture makes them a favorite in 2A, but the margin for error at the state level is small. The Eagles’ season will show whether Watkins’ emphasis on daily habits can consistently convert talent into another championship run.
