Nothing unites a community like high school football.
Whether you live in football-crazed Texas, or in an obscure berg in Idaho, the pulse of the town beats loudest at the local high school stadium.
Northwest Arkansas is no different. The fans at Fayetteville show up in droves, dressed in purple and white to cheer on their two-time defending state champion Bulldogs. Over in Pea Ridge, members of the booster club are flipping their tasty Blackhawks Burgers.
College recruiters are well aware of the football being played in Northwest Arkansas, as no fewer than a dozen local players will start the season with offers from multiple college football programs.
Springdale Har-Ber boasts the area’s top recruit in 6-foot-4, 320-pound noseguard Josh Frazier, who has offers from a host of Southeaster Conference programs, including two-time defending national champion Alabama. And he’s not the only Wildcat being courted.
Springdale High’s Deandre Murray was a relative unknown this time last season, but not anymore. His 1,400 yards rushing and electrifying punt returns changed all that, and now programs like Arkansas State, Tulsa and Memphis are hoping to land his services.
Jack Kraus at Bentonville has already locked down his college choice, verbally committing to the Arkansas Razorbacks, where he hopes to be the next in a long line of Bret Bielema-coached tight ends to play in the NFL.
NWA Media sports writers have selected our Dandy Dozen for the coming season. These 12 players represent what we feel like are the top dozen players in the area. They are not listed in any particular order.
NWA Media’s Dandy Dozen
Zane Bush, Rogers High
Jared Conover, Bentonville
Jordan Dennis, Fayetteville
Josh Frazier, Springdale Har-Ber
Jake Hall, Springdale Har-Ber
Colby Isbell, Rogers Heritage
Isaac Johnson, Springdale Har-Ber
Jack Kraus, Bentonville
Deandre Murray, Springdale High
Josh Qualls, Rogers Heritage
Zach Wary, Rogers High
Josiah Wymer, Springdale High
DEANDRE MURRAY
SCHOOL: Springdale High
CLASS: Senior
POSITION: Running Back
HEIGHT: 6-0
WEIGHT: 185
NOTABLE: Had a breakout season last year. … Carried the ball 194 times for 1,443 yards and 17 touchdowns. … Caught 11 passes for 145 yards. … Dangerous return threat with 5 punt returns for 128 yards, including a 91-yard touchdown return before teams quick punting to him. … Has offers from Tulsa, Alabama-Birmingham, Memphis, Arkansas State, Illinois State and Pittsburg State.
QUOTABLE: “He’s one of the more blessed athletes that I’ve ever been around, and I’ve coached players that have made it all the way to the NFL. He’s a very special talent that doesn’t come around very often.”
Shane Patrick, Springdale High coach
JOSIAH WYMER
SCHOOL: Springdale High
CLASS: Senior
POSITION: Tight End
HEIGHT: 6-4
WEIGHT: 262
NOTABLE: A ferocious blocker with tremendous strength and quick feet. Able to get out and seal the edge. … A big reason fellow senior Deandre Murray was able to get into the secondary on many of his runs last season. … Caught 13 passes for 149 yards and two touchdowns last season. … Expected to see his numbers rise dramatically this season in the passing game. … Has been offered by Louisiana-Monroe.
QUOTABLE: “The big thing that he’s worked on is his strength and flexibility. Those are the things he knew he had to improve on to take his game to the next level. If he continues to improve there, there is no limit on how good a tight end he can be.”
Shane Patrick, Springdale High coach
JOSH FRAZIER
SCHOOL: Springdale Har-Ber
CLASS: Senior
POSITION: Noseguard
HEIGHT: 6-4
WEIGHT: 320
NOTABLE: One of the best defensive lineman in the nation with scholarship offers from top programs like Alabama, Texas A&M, Georgia, and Southern California… Had 65 tackles with 61/2 sacks and 7 quarterback hurries last season… Had 65 tackles and 21/2 sacks as a junior… won conference meet in shot put with a throw of 50 feet.
QUOTABLE: “He’s got all the tools. He’s got great ball get-off and he’s explosive with his hands. The sky’s the limit for Josh.”
— Har-Ber coach Chris Wood
JAKE HALL
SCHOOL: Springdale Har-Ber
CLASS: Senior
POSITION: Defensive end
HEIGHT: 6-6
WEIGHT: 238
NOTABLE: Receiving interest from several Division 1 schools, including Arkansas… Had 50 tackles and 21/2 sacks last season… Also, forced three fumbles and was credited with four hurries by the quarterbacks.
QUOTABLE: “Jake has done a great job of redefining his body. He is much leaner but much stronger. He’s really moving around well.”
— Har-Ber defensive line coach Travis Moreland
ISAAC JOHNSON
SCHOOL: Springdale Har-Ber
CLASS: Senior
POSITION: Offensive tackle
HEIGHT: 6-6
WEIGHT: 264
NOTABLE: Committed during the offseason to Tulsa…. Led the way for a Har-Ber offense that rushed for over 2,300 yards last season…. Son of former Springdale coach Kevin Johnson.
QUOTABLE: “Isaac Johnson, his upside is huge. He knows defenses and how to use leverage. I think his best football is still in front of him.”
— Har-Ber offensive line coach Don Struebing
JOSH QUALLS
SCHOOL: Rogers Heritage
CLASS: Senior
POSITION:Quarterback
HEIGHT:6-feet
WEIGHT: 170
NOTABLE: Three-year starter for the War Eagles, who has thrown for more than 4,800 yards and 50 touchdowns over the past two season … Earned all-state and all-conference honors as a junior … Has a scholarship offer from Arkansas Tech.
QUOTABLE:
“Josh is very capable of putting big numbers again. I fully expect him to. He has the ability to make plays with his legs as well as his arm. He’s done a great job for us.”
—Rogers Heritage coach Perry Escalante
COLBY ISBELL
SCHOOL: Rogers Heritage
CLASS: Senior
POSITION: Defensive End
HEIGHT:6-foot-2
WEIGHT: 260
NOTABLE:Has gained 30 pounds since last season and caught the eye of college coaches at various summer camps … Two-year starter for the War Eagles, who finished second on the team with 88 tackles as a junior to go with five quarterback sacks, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, one interception and two blocked kicks. … Earned all-conference honors last season …. Has a scholarship offer from Missouri State.
QUOTABLE: “He’s grown tremendously. He’s big, very aggressive, physical, very intelligent. He plays so hard on every down. He doesn’t take plays off.”
—Rogers Heritage coach Perry Escalante
Zane Bush
SCHOOL: Rogers High
CLASS: Senior
POSITION: Defensive end
HEIGHT: 6-2
WEIGHT: 275
NOTABLE: Is a three-year starter on the Mounties defensive line. … His father, Mike, is the Rogers defensive line coach. … Had numerous college scholarship offers before committing to Northwestern State last month. … Can bench press 375 pounds and squat almost 500 pounds.
QUOTABLE: “Worked very hard in the offseason, and he has changed his body. His weight is not much different, but he has added muscle weight. A lot of times, he can occupy two offensive linemen and is creating piles, making plays. We expect him to be a playmaker.”
Rogers coach Shawn Flannigan
Zach Wary
SCHOOL: Rogers High
CLASS: Senior
POSITION: Safety
HEIGHT: 6-4
WEIGHT: 215
NOTABLE: Was recently switched back to safety after working at inside linebacker. … Just celebrated his 17th birthday. … Has numerous college offers, including Arkansas State, Air Force, and several Ivy League Schools.
QUOTABLE: “Zach is very special, there is no doubt about that. Very talented. He has speed and size. He learns everyday and he understands the game better every time he is out there.”— Rogers coach Shawn Flannigan.
JARED CONOVER
SCHOOL: Bentonville
CLASS: Senior
POSITION: Nose tackle
HEIGHT: 6-1
WEIGHT: 266
NOTABLE: A three-year starter on Bentonville’s defensive line. … Makes the switch to nose tackle after he played defensive end the last two seasons. … Finished the season with 50 tackles, including 4 for losses, and one fumble recovery.
QUOTABLE: “He’s a great team leader, and he’s come a long way. I was waiting to see how that move inside was going to go, and he was like a duck to water. It’s a joy to have on the inside, and he has shown some things that I have never seen out of them.” — Bentonville defensive line coach Tony Cherico.
JACK KRAUS
SCHOOL: Bentonville
CLASS: Senior
POSITION: Tight end
HEIGHT: 6-6
WEIGHT: 234
NOTABLE: The Tigers’ lone three-year starter on offense. … Has already committed to Arkansas, where his position coach will be former Bentonville offensive coordinator Barry Lunney Jr. … Caught 19 passes for 242 yards and three touchdowns last season.
QUOTABLE: “He has great size and ability for a tight end. He has the most experience coming back on offense, and that’s nice to have — somebody with that much experience. He can be physical in the run game, then go out and catch a pass if needed.” — Bentonville offensive coordinator Aaron Danenhauer.
JORDAN DENNIS
SCHOOL: Fayetteville
CLASS: Senior
POSITION: Wide Receiver/Cornerback
HEIGHT: 6-1
WEIGHT: 175
NOTABLE: Had 64 receptions for 1001 yards and 10 touchdowns as a junior. .. Recorded 32 tackles and four interceptions in a part-time role on defense last year. .. Receiving interest from several Division-I schools.
QUOTABLE: “The coaches that come in here like him as a cornerback more than a receiver. They think he can be a big-time cornerback in college.” — Fayetteville coach Daryl Patton