Former Eastside star J.P. Hovey forges path by betting on, staying true to himself
Left: J.P. Hovey playing football at Eastside High School in 2013. Right: J.P. Hovey poses for a picture with Dale Earnhardt, Jr. after recording an episode of Bussin’ With The Boys in 2025.
Some years ago, J.P. Hovey was just a fun-loving, happy-go-lucky student at Eastside High School. Known amongst his peers for his bubbly personality and ability to be friends with just about anyone, Hovey was beloved as an Eagle.
Nowadays? Not much has changed about Hovey. His warmth and friendliness remain. His ability to light up any room or place he’s in has far from gone dim. If anything, it’s only grown brighter.
Hovey just happens to find himself in some pretty crazy rooms. With some pretty famous people.
“I saw myself ending up somewhere cool,” said Hovey. “I knew what I wanted to do, and if I worked at it, I’d get there. I just would’ve never been able to see all of this coming.”
Hovey works as a producer for the widely-known podcast “Bussin’ With The Boys,” hosted by former NFL standouts — three-time Pro Bowl OL Taylor Lewan and nine-year (10th year coming soon?) veteran LB Will Compton.
Hovey edits Bussin’s videos, conducts conversations on the weekly podcast, and maintains a relatively popular social media presence for both himself and the podcast.
“It’s unreal how all of this happened, truly,” said Hovey. “I didn’t even know anything about Bussin’ With the Boys until my friend sent me one of their Instagram stories a long time ago.
“Now, this is my life.”
A LEAP OF FAITH
So what is Hovey’s life nowadays, exactly?
It’s likely best explained with a step-by-step walkthrough of one of his Mondays, which just so happens to be podcast recording day for Bussin’ With The Boys.
Hovey arrives at the Bussin’ Headquarters — a renovated warehouse in South Nashville, TN — around 9 a.m. He takes a few minutes to meet with Lewan, Compton, and his fellow producers and crew members. Topics for that week’s show are discussed. Then, Hovey and his crew begin recording.
Nearly every week, the podcast brings on a notable guest from the sports world.
Hovey has a laundry list of celebrities he’s crossed paths with through Bussin’. Jelly Roll. Theo Von. Stephen A. Smith. The list, quite literally, goes on and on. Hovey has shaken hands with more famous people than he can recall.
“It’s all dream-come-true stuff,” said Hovey. “There’s no other way to describe it.”
These opportunities are ones that didn’t come without a leap of faith for Hovey.
He was the first full-time hire made by Compton and Lewan back in 2021. Bussin’ With The Boys was nowhere near the sports culture staple it’s become today.
Hovey even turned down a full-time sports media job with a well-known organization to drop everything and move to Nashville and work for Bussin’.
“I told [Will and Taylor] ‘just give me like, three days, and I’ll pack my things and be up here,” said Hovey. “So when I drove up here, I didn’t actually have a place to live. I stayed with friends when I first got here before finding my own place. I really, really believed in what they were doing here.”
“We could tell that J.P. was a grinder from the jump,” said Compton. “He jumped in his car, drove to Nashville right away to make this career move with us, without any transitional period. He made no excuses. He just wanted to get up here and help us grind.”
Hovey (middle) joined Compton (left) and Lewan (right) as a full-time Bussin’ With The Boys employee in 2021.
That’s exactly what Hovey did. On a wing and a prayer, he moved to Nashville and got to work. With his help — along with the undeniable charisma of Lewan, Compton, and a now larger staff of Bussin’ crew members — the show has taken off.
“Without J.P. and the guys, there’s no way we could get done what we get done,” said Lewan. “And with J.P., it’s all about selflessness for him. He is always helping out and staying late when he needs to. He’s got an incredible work ethic. He’s going to go until he can’t go any longer.
“You can’t say that about everybody. It’s hard to find people who go to work every day and are passionate about every aspect of what they do. That’s just who J.P. is.”
FOREVER AN EAGLE
Another person who knows exactly the kind of person J.P. is? Eastside head football coach Andre Woolcock.
Hovey was the kicker and punter for Eastside football from 2012-2014, back when Woolcock was the linebackers and special teams coach.
Hovey attempts an extra point during a game for the Eastside Eagles.
Hovey still credits Woolcock as one of his biggest influences from Eastside growing up.
“J.P. was the kind of kid who brought life to every room he was in while I coached him,” said Woolcock. “I’ve never seen a kid constantly smiling as much as him.”
Hovey is quick to remember some of his best moments in an Eastside football uniform.
“I was actually up for Player of the Week one week,” said Hovey, laughing. “The game was against Southside, and I remember I played really well and had a punt for like 55 yards at one point. It’s so funny, too, because a couple of the other guys up for the award that week went on to play in the NFL. And then there’s me.”
Hovey played basketball at Eastside as well and was a state-champion soccer player for the Eagles. Despite his busy schedule, Hovey still finds time to support his alma mater.
“Even when I’m not around, he still finds time to encourage some of our current players and give them advice,” said Woolock. “Whether that’s when he comes by when he’s back in town, or sometimes just through social media, he’s always being a positive influence to these young athletes and to our community. It’s like he never left.”
Hovey (No. 20) celebrates with his Eastside soccer teammates after winning the 2013-14 Class 3-A state championship.
Hovey sees himself in the younger people who ask him for advice, or even just to connect.
“Some of the current high school kids reach out to me, and I love being able to talk to them and give them advice,” said Hovey. “If I can somehow be even just a little bit of help, that’s what I want to go for. I remember being in their shoes.
“It’s just crazy to think that some of them look at me and see me as someone they want to reach out to for advice or talk to. It’s like, ‘We really are the same person. We’re not that different, I promise.”
‘J.P. IS J.P.’
For Hovey, he couldn’t be more content with where life has taken him. Now 29 years old, he lives with his wife, Sitton, in a quaint, comparatively quiet suburb of Nashville.
J.P. and Sitton knew each other in high school, both going to school in Greenville County and meeting on a bus ride to a YoungLife camp. At first, J.P. admits, he was put in the “friend zone.” At least, that’s what he thought.
The pair bounced back and forth in phases of “not wanting to ruin” the friendship they’d built by confessing feelings, before finally, in 2020, J.P. made his feelings known. Turns out, Sitton had those same feelings toward him, but she was too afraid to say anything.
The rest? History. J.P. and Sitton married in Greenville in August 2024.
She’s known him for longer and knows him better than almost anyone else. He’s the same J.P. Sitton became friends with in high school. He’s the same J.P. she fell in love with later on in life.
“His popularity, or what I call it — fame, has grown. But he doesn’t let it go to his head or change who he is,” said Sitton. “J.P.’s never going to do or post something just because it’s what other people like. He’s always himself.”
Hovey’s ability to stay unapologetically who he is — still the same upbeat, optimistic person he’s been since his days at Eastside — is a major reason behind his ascent and growing follower base.
Hovey recently founded an inspirational podcast called “Make It To Midnight,” a passion project of Hovey’s that he’d been developing for years, designed to provide stories, quotes, and motivation to folks just trying to make it to the end of the day. In his spare time, he also helped Woolock start his own motivational podcast, titled “4th and Faith.”
He’s an avid South Carolina Gamecock fan, and his USC-related posts have been part of his rising notoriety, too. He bumps into strangers occasionally in airports or grocery stores who know him from social media. They’ll hit Hovey with a head nod and a “Go Cocks!”, and be on their way.
But it’s not his loyalty to the Garnet and Black that makes Hovey so successful. It’s not his loyalty to his work or Bussin’ With The Boys.
Hovey’s greatest success — and what draws people to him — is his unwavering loyalty to himself.
“Even when the cameras are off, J.P. is J.P.,” said Lewan. “He’s the same exact guy, truly authentic every step of the way. He always stays true to himself. He’ll always do the right thing, and he’ll never cut corners.”
“He’s made of the right stuff, as [Detroit Lions head coach] Dan Campbell would say. He knows who he is and what he wants to do,” said Compton. “He doesn’t take himself too seriously. J.P. knows how to build on negativity and positivity equally. He’s got the willingness to put himself out there and be vulnerable.”
As a result, Hovey’s doing things now that he never dreamed were possible.
“I remember four years ago, I was legit barely able to pay rent,” said Hovey. “I was just talking to God, asking him, ‘What the heck am I doing?’ All my friends had money in their pockets and were making it… Now, I’m living this life I never imagined.
“I think the biggest thing in all of this for me is that one day, when I have kids, I want them to see my life and see that their dad lived a life they can look up to. He took risks. He wasn’t afraid to take chances and meet new people. That’s what I want more than anything.”