FAYETTEVILLE -- Drake Wymer knew many of the names and faces of his new football teammates at Fayetteville even before his first practice with the Purple Bulldogs.

Now that he's had one month to adjust to his new surroundings, it's Wymer who is the familiar face around the Fayetteville program.

And more than just a new face, he's sure to be an impact on the field as well.

Wymer, a 6-foot-4, 210-pound rising junior, spent last school year at Springdale High, where he started one game at quarterback and played tight end and free safety for the Red Bulldogs. With the move to Fayetteville this spring, Wymer is sticking primarily with offense so far and getting a look at both tight end and quarterback, playing both positions during Monday's Northwest Arkansas Passing League 7-on-7.

"It's going to help me a lot, getting over here and learning the whole system," Wymer said. "I'm trying to learn all the plays out there, and I just got here a few weeks ago. So I'm just trying to get in there and do everything I can and learn a little bit."

Fayetteville coach Daryl Patton expects Wymer to have some opportunities as a Wildcat-style quarterback behind regular signal callers Taylor Powell and Jack Lindsey. But the spot where Wymer might benefit the Purple'Dogs the most is tight end. As a sophomore at Springdale, Wymer caught seven passes for 65 yards and hauled in a game-winning 24-yard touchdown with one second left against Rogers High.

With Fayetteville featuring Arkansas commit C.J. O'Grady at one tight end position, putting Wymer in as a second tight end is a potential matchup nightmare for opponents.

"Drake is a smart kid, he's very talented and it's been a pleasure to be around him these last three or four weeks," Patton said. "He can run well, and he's got great hands. And I've always said C.J. has some of the best hands in America, but Drake is right there with him.

"So we'd like to see him helping us with some Wildcat stuff, but I really think his future and the way he can help us in a big way is seeing us in some two tight ends. Teams will really have to double cover C.J., and that's really going to put Drake in a lot of one-on-one situations."

Wymer has seen enough from his Fayetteville teammates to know the goals this year will be high. He knows plenty about lofty expectations, having played for a 7A state basketball championship this past school year at Springdale.

"It was a great experience to be in a basketball championship and to compete for that championship," Wymer said. "I was the only sophomore in that situation, and I feel like I have a little bit of experience with that right now and it will help me out there (in football)."

Sports on 07/15/2014