Fayetteville and coach Daryl Patton have enjoyed a wealth of quarterback talent suiting up for the Bulldogs in recent years.
Brandon Allen threw for more than 10,000 yards in three seasons at Fayetteville and is set to enter his second year as a starter at Arkansas, while younger brother Austin led the Bulldogs to state championships in 2011 and 2012 before also signing with the Razorbacks. And Mitch Marshall was solid as a senior starter last year, throwing for 2,834 yards and 29 touchdowns.
Now, Patton is tasked with finding the Bulldogs' next big-time quarterback, a process that will continue today and Saturday at the Southwest Elite 7-on-7 Showcase hosted by Shiloh Christian.
Junior Jack Lindsey, grandson of former Razorback star Jim Lindsey, is one candidate to assume the starting job. Sophomore Taylor Powell has generated excitement around the program after breaking Woodland Junior High records previously held by the Allen brothers last fall.
"Taylor kind of fits the mold of the kids we've had in the past, Brandon and Austin Allen," Patton said. "Same type kid. Jack is a little more like Mitch Marshall."
Powell and Lindsey are set to alternate each series this weekend. Powell has thrown a few more touchdown passes this summer, while Lindsey has a higher completion percentage.
"Jack has improved as much as any quarterback I've been around from one year to the next," Patton said. "He's a very smart young man. His arm's gotten stronger. He's gotten bigger. Taylor has got an arm as strong as any quarterback I've had since I've been here. Comes up with a great deal of talent. He's still learning the system.
"We'd love to have a starter after 7-on-7 season. But, if not, we'll go into the fall and we'll let them battle it out."
Junior Drake Wymer could also compete for playing time after transferring from Springdale High following the spring semester.
The Bulldogs aren't the only 7A-West team that will be evaluating quarterbacks this weekend as they search to replace a graduated starter.
Springdale Har-Ber senior Caleb Daniels and junior Brandon Still are competing to replace Kyle Pianalto. Both bring promising skill sets and size to the table.
"One thing you can tell with Caleb is he has that game experience," Har-Ber coach Chris Wood said. "Understanding our offense and reads, because he's been in the action, he has a good feel for it. Brandon has one year of quarterback under his belt, but he's got a lot of natural ability and is just real smooth with the football. It's not a bad problem."
Wood and the Har-Ber coaching staff are still in the process of weighing the options at quarterback with the season opener nearly two months. The 7-on-7 showcase will provide another valuable opportunity to watch the duo compete.
"Both are getting equal reps through the spring and our 7-on-7 that we've played so far," Wood said. "They will this weekend. Our plan is one will have the morning session Friday and the other will have the afternoon session."
At Rogers Heritage, Jacob Qualls is battling fellow junior Joel Brackett and sophomores Joe Britton and Luke Heiligenthal to replace his graduated brother, Josh, at quarterback. Josh threw for more than 2,000 yards last season, but the War Eagles' offense could look a little different this year.
"We're going to be in more Pistol," Heritage coach Perry Escalante said. "And we're going to ask our quarterbacks this year, until we get to the point where we can start flinging it all over again, to be in the mix running, more of a runner than a thrower. And that'll change, depending on who it is, as the season progresses until we get back to 50-50 (pass-run)."
The quarterback quartet also has the ability to play other positions. Brackett will play outside linebacker, Britton will play safety and Qualls can play tight end and receiver.
"They're all going to play on Friday for sure," Escalante said. "Then we may narrow that to one or two on Saturday for tournament play. ... Obviously just playing this weekend isn't going to make a determining factor on who the guy is, but it will steer us in the right direction."
Sports on 07/11/2014