DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Getting his kicks

Russellville’s Hocker a ‘game-changer’

— Normally, teams control games defensively with menacing linemen, ultraaggressive linebackers or ballhawking safeties.

Not Russellville.

The Cyclones possessed senior Zach Hocker, maybe the best place-kicker/punter the state has ever produced.

“Good, gracious,” North Little Rock Coach Brad Bolding said. “That kid is a game-changer. He can turn the field in a heartbeat, punting or kicking.”

Hocker’s powerful right leg helped Russellville finish 8-3-1 and stamp him the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Defensive Player of the Year.

Hocker, 5-11, 170 pounds, kicked a school-record 15 field goals, but his booming kickoffs and punts were just as important in Russellville’s success, Coach Jeff Holt said.

According to statistics provided by Holt, all but three of Hocker’s 61 kickoffs this fall reached the end zone, resulting in touchbacks.

That meant opponents started from their 20 a little more than 95 percent of the time.

Hocker didn’t receive any style points, but more than half his kickoffs, Holt said, went through the end zone, a distance of at least 70 yards.

Hocker could hit the uprights or split the uprights, Holt said.

“He kicked it so high that we just about got them inside the 20 when he did kick off and miss one,” Holt said. “It wasn’t like he missed it short. It was high and deep.”

Hocker kicked four field goals in a 26-26 tie at Fayetteville on Sept. 18, including a schoolrecord 52-yarder.

But Holt said it was one of Hocker’s kickoffs that left an indelible image.

The blast landed behind the end zone, in Fayetteville’s band.

“The Fayetteville [players], they didn’t even look at it,” Holt said. “They just walked off the field. It wasn’t even past them,either. As soon as he kicked it, they started walking off the field. We all turned and laughed at each other because it was so neat.”

Fayetteville Coach Daryl Patton said Hocker was the best player the Bulldogs faced this season.

Van Buren Coach Mike Lee agreed.

In a 31-21 victory over the Pointers on Oct. 16, Hocker averaged 39.4 yards per punt on three attempts (two were downed inside the 20) and placed all six of his kickoffs into the end zone for touchbacks.

“The most game-changing, dominant weapon we faced,” Lee wrote on a Democrat-Gazette postseason survey.

Hocker finished the season with a 45-yard punting average on 35 attempts.

He averaged more than 45 yards in seven games, and 40 percent of his punts (14) were downed inside the 20.

Hocker averaged 38 yards per punt as a junior.

“That was the biggest change this year,” Holt said. “This year, he really concentrated on his punting and really got to be a great punter. Kicks the ball really high and lets your coverage get down and cover it.”

Holt said Russellville didn’t allow any punt return of note this fall.

Holt said Hocker’s most memorable punt came in a 14-3 road victory over thenunbeaten Bryant on Oct. 9 at a muddy Hornet Stadium.

Russellville played withoutsenior quarterback Barrett Hughes because of a shoulder problem, so Holt said he didn’t expect Russellville to score many points.

Hocker punted five times for a 41.8-yard average (three were downed inside the 20), highlighted by a 62-yarder when the Cyclones were backed up inside their 20 in the first half.

“He flipped the field,” Holt said. “We just got rolling after that and scored our first touchdown.”

Holt said Hocker’s exploits this fall have made him a legend in Pope County.

“I’ll be honest with you, we took him for granted, especially on kickoffs,” Holt said. “We never even thought of him not kicking it in the end zone, or out of the end zone. You just got so used to it. We knew how important it was.

“Punt returns and kickoff returns are game-changing plays. You just eliminate those. That’s a pretty good feeling.”

Hocker has been offered scholarships by Arkansas State, Central Arkansas and Memphis and is being heavily recruited by North Carolina, Holt said.

OFFENSE CLAUDE JOHNSON QB, Pine Bluff 6-0, 195, 4.6, Sr.

Committed to Undecided PASS ATT. COMP. YARDS TDS 276 148 3,042 33 NOTEWORTHY Led the team in rushing with 220 carries for 1,161 yards and 11 touchdowns. … Rushed 40 times for 169 yards in the Class 6A state championship game.

MICHAEL DYER RB, Little Rock Christian 5-9, 205, 4.5, Sr.

Committed to Auburn RUSH ATT. YARDS TDS 295 2,502 31 NOTEWORTHY Three-time Arkansas Democrat-Gazette All-Arkansas selection. … Rushed for at least 100 yards in all 12 games. …. Caught 13 passes for 193 yards and 4 touchdowns. … State’s alltime leading rusher with 8,097 yards.

CHRIS RYCRAW RB, Bryant 5-10, 185, 4.6, Sr.

Committed to Undecided RUSH ATT. YARDS TDS 252 1,623 18 NOTEWORTHY Broke his single-season school rushing record this fall and finished as the school’s all-time leading rusher. … Caught 14 passes for 78 yards and 1 touchdown, returned 4 kickoffs for 62 yards and threw a touchdown pass in a first-round playoff game against Fort Smith Southside.

LARRY WALLS RB, White Hall 5-9, 174, 4.4, Sr.

Committed to Undecided RUSH ATT. YARDS TDS 232 2,170 27 NOTEWORTHY Set a single-game school record with 444 rushing yards against Hot Springs Lakeside. … Completed 12 of 20 passes for 279 yards and 3 touchdowns. … Returned 4 kickoffs for 93 yards and 3 punts for 64 yards.

GARRETT UEKMAN TE, Little Rock Catholic 6-3, 240, 4.8, Sr.

Committed to Arkansas REC. YARDS TDS 56 600 6 NOTEWORTHY Three-year starter who caught 111 passes during his career.

BREY COOK OL, Springdale Har-Ber 6-6, 290, 5.3, Jr.

Committed to Undecided NOTEWORTHY Graded out 88 percent on assignments at right tackle for a team that finished 12-1 and won the Class 7A state championship… Had 43 knockdown blocks and didn’t allow a sack.

CHRIS DOLAN OL, Fort Smith Southside 6-2, 265, 5.3, Sr.

Committed to Undecided NOTEWORTHY Graded out 92 percent at tackle for the Class 7A state runner-up.

JON-MARK HOLDEN OL, Bentonville 6-0, 275, 5.1, Sr.

Committed to Undecided NOTEWORTHY Consistently graded out in the upper 80s at guard, with a seasonhigh 91 percent against Springdale.

ROBERT MOYE OL, Watson Chapel 5-11, 268, 5.2, Sr.

Committed to Undecided NOTEWORTHY Graded out 98.6 percent on his assignments at left tackle for a team that finished 10-3 and advanced to the Class 6A semifinals. … Had 32 pancake blocks and allowed only three sacks.

ALAN WRIGHT OL, Cave City 6-4, 285, 5.2, Sr.

Committed to Arkansas State NOTEWORTHY Graded out more than 90 percent in every game at tackle. … Had 87 pancake blocks, 38 knockdown blocks and didn’t allow a sack.

SPENCER HARRIS WR, Greenwood 6-3, 185, 4.6, Sr.

Committed to Undecided REC. YARDS TDS 81 1,451 21 NOTEWORTHY Had 42 tackles and six interceptions at safety.

SPECIALISTS ZACH HOCKER PK, Russellville 5-11, 170, Sr.

Committed to Undecided PATS FGS LONG 32-33 15-23 52 NOTEWORTHY Kicked a school-record 52-yard field goal against Fayetteville. … All but three of his 61 kickoffs resulted in touchbacks.

WESTON COX P, Jonesboro 6-0, 175, Sr.

Committed to Undecided ATT. AVG. LONG 26 42.6 62 NOTEWORTHY Had nine punts downed inside the 20. … Had a net average of 41.1 yards. … Only one had one punt returned for more than 5 yards. … Only had five punts returned, which totaled minus 5 yards.

TIM JOHNSON AP, North Little Rock 5-5, 155, 4.4, Sr.

Committed to Undecided RUSH ATT. YARDS TDS 210 1,570 10 NOTEWORTHY Caught 23 passes for 260 yards and 2 touchdowns, returned 25 punts for 462 yards and 2 touchdowns and 15 kickoffs for 390 yards and 3 touchdowns. … Had 14 plays of more than 50 yards. … Fastest player on North Little Rock’s team.

DEFENSE T.J. BERTRAND DL, Cabot 6-0, 265, 5.0, Sr.

Committed to Undecided TACKLES ASSISTS TOTAL

- - 61 NOTEWORTHY Had seven tackles for loss and six sacks at nose guard.

BYRAN JONES DL, Junction City 6-2, 305, 5.0, Sr.

Committed to Undecided TACKLES ASSISTS TOTAL

- - 98 NOTEWORTHY Repeat All-Arkansas selection. … Had 25 1 /2 tackles for loss, 18 sacks, 9 blocked passes, 8 forced fumbles, 4 recovered fumbles and 1 blocked kick at nose guard.

MARTIN MONTGOMERY DL, Pine Bluff 6-3, 235, 4.9, Sr.

Committed to Undecided TACKLES ASSISTS TOTAL 46 9 55 NOTEWORTHY Had 16 tackles for loss, 10 1 /2 sacks, 6 blocked passes, 2 forced fumbles and 1 recovered fumble at end.

JACOB BUNDRICK LB, Springdale Har-Ber 6-0, 210, 4.8, Sr.

Committed to Undecided TACKLES ASSISTS TOTAL 29 62 91 NOTEWORTHY Had 8 1 /2 tackles for losses of 84 yards, 8 sacks, 11 quarterback pressures, 1 blocked kick, 1 interception (returned for a touchdown), 1 forced fumble, 1 recovered fumble (returned for a touchdown) and 1 tackle for a safety.

JOE CARMICAL LB, Monticello 6-2, 224, 4.8, Sr.

Committed to Undecided TACKLES ASSISTS TOTAL

- - 58 NOTEWORTHY Also ran and threw for more than 1,000 yards, leading the Billies to the Class 5A state championship. … Won Meet of Champs and 5A state titles in the shot put last spring with throws of 53 feet, 11 inches and 53- 3 /4, respectively.

SPENCER NEUMANN LB, Cabot 6-0, 195, 4.6, Sr.

Committed to Central Arkansas TACKLES ASSISTS TOTAL

- - 108 NOTEWORTHY Had 4 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 1 interception and 1 forced fumble.MITCHELL ROBERTS LB, Shiloh Christian 6-3, 235, 4.8, Sr.

Committed to Undecided TACKLES ASSISTS TOTAL 48 22 70 NOTEWORTHY Had 9 1 /2 tackles for loss, 2 sacks and 2 recovered fumbles.

SYBHRAIN BERRY DB, Camden Fairview 5-8, 183, 4.4, Sr.

Committed to Undecided TACKLES ASSISTS TOTAL 55 27 82 NOTEWORTHY Had 5 tackles for loss and 13 interceptions, returning 3 for touchdowns, at cornerback.

BRISHEN MATHEWS DB, Monticello 6-0, 180, 4.5, Sr.

Committed to Ole Miss TACKLES ASSISTS TOTAL

- - 51 NOTEWORTHY Repeat All-Arkansas selection. … Had three tackles for loss and four interceptions at safety. … MVP of the Class 5A state championship game after rushing 12 times for 170 yards and 1 touchdown. … Intercepted 15 passes in his career.

HOUSTON PRUITT DB, Springdale Har-Ber 6-0, 180, 4.6, Sr.

Committed to Arkansas (baseball) TACKLES ASSISTS TOTAL 24 33 57 NOTEWORTHY Had 1 tackle for a 2-yard loss, 8 pass breakups, 4 interceptions and 1 forced fumble at safety.

ANDREW TRYON DB, Russellville 5-10, 185, 4.5, Sr.

Committed to Arkansas State TACKLES ASSISTS TOTAL 82 28 110 NOTEWORTHY Had a school-record 10 interceptions (returning 2 for touchdowns) and 3 forced fumbles at cornerback. …. Returned five kickoffs for touchdowns.

Sports, Pages 30 on 12/27/2009

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