FAYETTEVILLE — One of the state’s best 2021 high school football prospects is making a move for his senior season.
Former Searcy star Marlon Crockett (6-4, 190 pounds) announced Saturday via Twitter he will be playing at Cabot next season.
Crockett caught 65 passes last season for 1,080 yards and 13 touchdowns for Searcy (12-1), which won the Class 6A state championship with a 28-27 victory over Benton in the title game.
“The only person I actually know (in Cabot) is (quarterback) Tyler Gee,” Crockett said. “We were both selected for the Arkansas Elite 100 7v7 team, so we have a great connection already.
“(The) same energy I brought to Searcy is the same energy I will bring to Cabot. It's my senior year and I’m aiming for another ring, but it's going to take the whole team. Everyone has to bring that championship attitude and it starts in summer workouts and team camps.”
Crockett, who also had nine tackles and two passes broken up last season, has offers from Kansas, Arkansas State, UMass, Louisiana-Monroe, Southern Miss and Murray State, and has also drawn interest from Arkansas and others.
“I've been up to (Fayetteville) meeting the old staff members and it was a great experience,” Crockett said. “Great environment and fans.”
Crockett was named the district 15-5 newcomer of the year while playing at Gregory-Portland (Texas) High School as a sophomore.
His father was as an assistant coach at Gregory-Portland before taking a job in Searcy and moving the family to Arkansas.
Now the Crocketts have moved within the state.
“It was a family decision,” Crockett said. “I love Searcy (and) we had a great year. Don’t think I just traded on the school. The thing that got us to move was my dad's job. He was only able to get a teaching job in Little Rock. It takes an hour and 30 minutes to get to his school and then has to drive back. We save money being closer and makes it easier.”