RECRUITING : High school headliners meet in season’s 1st week

OTIS KIRK

Posted on Sunday, July 6, 2008

URL: http://www.wholehogsports.com/adg/230583/

FAYETTEVILLE — The July 4 weekend signals that high school football is nearing, and it can’t get here too quickly for many.

Sept. 5 will have some outstanding games around the state and give fans a chance to see the talent that is in Arkansas this year.

The Arkansas Razorbacks open the previous Saturday in Fayetteville against Western Illinois, but they will be in Little Rock on Sept. 6 to take on Louisiana-Monroe.

The high school headliner Sept. 5 could be Pulaski Academy at Helena-West Helena Central in a game that will feature several Division I prospects on both sides of the football. The Bruins won 40-25 last season in Little Rock.

Pulaski Academy Coach Kevin Kelley has said this might be his best team ever, and he’s 55-12-1 heading into this season. That doesn’t bode well for opponents.

Senior wide receiver Neal Barlow, 6-7, 200 pounds, 4. 6 seconds in the 40-yard dash, is the headliner for the Bruins. Arkansas, LSU and others have offered scholarships to Barlow after a junior season that saw him catch 81 passes for 1, 164 yards and 11 touchdowns.

Senior quarterback Spencer Keith, 6-2, 195, 4. 7, is one of the best at his position in the senior class. As a junior, Keith completed 371 of 623 passes for 4, 768 yards and 51 touchdowns. Keith also showed his mobility by rushing for another 189 yards and four touchdowns.

Senior tailback D. J. Daniel, 6-0, 185, 4. 5, is another to keep an eye on this fall.

Daniel rushed for 940 yards and 11 touchdowns on 157 carries as a junior last season and caught 47 passes for 482 yards and 4 touchdowns. He is drawing interest from various colleges.

The Bruins’ sleeper might be senior wide receiver Carson McKnight, 6-0, 185, 4. 5, who will replace Cruz Williams, who is headed to Louisiana Tech. McKnight caught 38 passes for 674 yards and 9 touchdowns last year but could explode on the scene this fall. McKnight is considered an even better deep threat than Barlow, who is the top receiver in Arkansas.

Another reason for Kelley’s optimism could be that his offensive line has a chance to be among the best in the state regardless of classification. Senior Austin Noonan, 6-4, 285, 5. 4, junior Parker Mack, 6-4, 305, 5. 3, and senior Dave Grundfest, 6-3, 270, 5. 4, will all play at the college level.

The defense features senior lineman Trent Peterson, 6-2, 235, 5. 0, who had 46 tackles, including 12 for losses, last season and is the younger brother of former Razorbacks center Skye Peterson. Senior linebacker Andrew Newell, 5-11, 210, 4. 7, also had 106 tackles, 9 tackles for loss and 3 forced fumbles as a junior.

Helena-West Helena Central is led by five-star cornerback Darius Winston, 6-1, 180, 4. 37. Winston has more than 20 scholarship offers and is looking at Michigan, Arkansas, Clemson and others. He will be at Arkansas on July 19 for the Seniors Camp, and he is the state’s top prospect.

Quarterback Deondre Johnson, 5-10, 165, 4. 5, has offers to smaller colleges and is on the radar of some larger schools. He can run or pass, as evidenced by a junior season that saw him total 2, 494 yards rushing and passing.

Senior tailback Turell Williams, 6-2, 205, 4. 52, has orally committed to Arkansas. He battled injuries last fall but still rushed for 700 yards and had 300 yards receiving.

It initially appeared the Cougars would be extremely deep on the defensive line, but that depth took a hit when senior Eric Smiley moved. Senior Jeff Amey, 6-3, 260, 5. 0, returns and will end up playing in college.

Helena-West Helena Central will follow its game with Pulaski Academy with a trip to Marianna the next week. The Bruins will make a trip across town to face Central Arkansas Christian on Sept. 12.

The Bruins are considered the favorites by most in the 5 ASouthwest, while the Cougars are expected to challenge Batesville, Forrest City, Blytheville and others in the 5 A-East.