FAYETTEVILLE — Jordan Dennis has seemed to be a ideal fit for Fayetteville this season.
But if you ask the junior wide receiver/cornerback, it’s his teammates who have made his transfer a smooth one.
Dennis transferred to Fayetteville in the off season from rival Springdale High, where he was one of the top sophomores in the 7A-West Conference for the Red’Dogs last season. Making the switch to Fayetteville might appear like a dift cult move, but Dennis credits his new teammates this year with helping the change go easy.
“Everybody welcomed me and became my friends,” Dennis said. “They all were cool.”
While Dennis, at 6-foot-1, 175-pounds, didn’t have to worry about warming up to his teammates, his play on the field made sure the coaches at Fayetteville didn’t have to be too concerned with finding a place for him on the depth chart. In fact, fi nding time to give Dennis a rest has been more of a issue lately.
“He’s not taking any time off right now and he’s had to step up and play well,” Fayetteville coach Daryl Patton said. “We’re putting him out there on defense against the other team’s best receivers every week. So he’s really stepped up for us.”
Dennis specialized more on defense at Springdale as a sophomore, but coaches at Fayetteville knew his skills would fit their offense as a wide receiver. This season, he has 51 catches for 828 yards and nine touchdowns, teaming up with senior Cole Harris to give the Purple’Dogs the top one-two receiving tandem in the 7A/6A-West Conference.
“It’s a situation where Cole has had a great year and he owes a lot to Jordan, and Jordan also owes a lot to Cole,” Patton said. “Teams can’t concentrate on just one of those guys as Austin (Allen) works well with both of those guys.
“We’ve got other guys who catch the ball like Chadd Holmes and Jase Rapert and others, but it defi nitely starts with Jordan and Cole.”
Dennis admits being on the field for almost every snap, as was the case in Fayetteville’s 24-17 loss at Bentonville in Week 10, can be a chore. But he also wouldn’t have it any other way.
For this new Purple’Dog, it’s his way of showing he belongs to his new Fayetteville family.
“I just like being out there all the time,” Dennis said. “This senior class, they are so motivated to win another ring this season and I want to do whatever I can to help.”