ROGERS -- Two Rogers High football players signed letters of intent Wednesday to continue their football careers in college, and one of the Mounties may be making a position switch.
Two-year starter Collin Mayer signed with Hendrix, and the 6-foot-1, 208-pound linebacker is expected to stay on the defensive side of the football for the Warriors. Teammate Bryan Grigsby was the second leading rusher in the 7A-West Conference last season, but the 6-0, 208-pound fullback is expected to make the switch to defensive end after signing with Harding.
Mayer had 59 tackles last season, 67 as a junior and 22 as a sophomore, and he said Hendrix is a perfect fit both athletically and academically. Hendrix will be starting its third season of football after a decades-long hiatus.
"When I took my official visit, it just reiterated why it will be a great college for me," Mayer said. "I will be kind of a swing guy at linebacker for them. It just depends where they need me."
Grigsby rushed for 1,365 yards on 194 carries last season, and he set the single-game conference rushing record with 446 yards against Siloam Springs.
"I just loved the environment down there," Grigsby said. "They recruited me at defensive end, but I may move around some. Defensive end will be a new position for me, so I will see how it works."
Mounties coach Shawn Flannigan said he expects both Mayer and Grigsby to excel in college.
"Bryan was a big-play threat in the backfield at one of our most important offensive positions," Flannigan said. "The Harding coaches think he can be an outstanding rush in. In the last three years, they have sent two guys to the NFL. Collin was one of the most intelligent players on the field for us. Collin made all the defensive calls, and he is just a student of the game."
Paul Nielsen can by reached by email at [email protected] or on Twitter @NWAPaul.
Sports on 02/05/2015