By Justin Sokeland
WBIW.com
BEDFORD – Dayson Kirby’s star rose faster than Artemis II heading toward outer space.
From the bottom of the Bedford North Lawrence depth chart, Kirby rocketed into the state and national spotlight with his passing production. His drive to improve, his pure passion for the game, powered him to the next level.
Kirby officially signed with Kentucky Wesleyan, a Div. II program in Owensboro, on Tuesday. He’s part of a 63-player signing class for head coach Tyrone Young and the Panthers.
The Kirby journey from overlooked freshman to coveted senior was remarkable. He exploded on the scene for the Stars, throwing for 3,379 yards and 36 touchdowns as BNL went 8-4 overall in 2025.
“The one thing, looking back, is not giving up,” Kirby said. “My freshman year, I was the bottom of the depth chart. From that, to the senior year I had, was really cool. It was nice to see that come to fruition, but there’s still more work to do.“
College football was his dream since junior high. His love for the game never wavered.
“It’s kind of weird,” said Kirby, who plans to major in youth ministries. “I’m in between everything, moving away, going to a brand new place and meeting new people. It’s kind of surreal.
“I’m a competitor. I like going out there and trying to beat the people across from me. In football, that’s easier said than done. The hard work is my favorite part, practice and doing the little things right is what makes the game fun.”
Kirby finished second in the state in yards and touchdowns.
“You think about him leading the whole entire nation in yards through the first five weeks of the season, and the absolute historic season that he had numbers wise, that will go down in history,” BNL coach Brayden Tidd said. “I know I’ll never forget it.
“He’s the definition of what a leader looks like and does. He was in my office every day, wanting to study film. He loved it more than anything and he literally just wants to learn as much as possible. And that’s why he had the success that he did.”
Kentucky Wesleyan is coming off an 0-11 campaign, looking to rebuild as it chases its first winning campaign since 2014. Wesleyan has enjoyed only four winning seasons since 1983.
