Clarendon tight end and Arkansas 2022 commit Dax Courtney’s season came to an end shortly after it started.
Courtney (6-6, 212) suffered a torn ACL on Friday in the first quarter of his team’s 34-22 season-opening win over Barton.
Courtney, who had caught one pass for 10 yards before the injury, remains in good spirits despite the setback.
“Get ready for the comeback,” Courtney said Tuesday. “It’s coming. “I’m doing good mentally. Trying to keep my faith and remember everything happens for a reason.”
Courtney, who played the last two years at DeWitt when his dad was the head coach, was Arkansas' second commit of the 2022 class.
He pledged to the Razorbacks on Aug. 8, 2020, two weeks after Greenland defensive end JJ Hollingsworth (6-4, 250).
Courtney was looking forward to playing the season at Clarendon with Arkansas wide receiver commit Quincey McAdoo.
“This is one of the only times in my career that I have ever gone into the season feeling like we really do have a chance to win a state championship,” Courtney said before Friday night’s game.
McAdoo had 15 carries for 110 yards, caught 2 passes for 40 yards and also had 11 tackles in the win.
Courtney attended the Razorbacks’ 38-17 season-opening win over Rice and plans to be at Arkansas' game against Texas on Saturday.
“Just let the Razorback family know that I will be back and we will still be chasing that (national championship) on the Hill," he said.
Courtney had 36 receptions for 623 yards and 7 touchdowns as a sophomore.
Mark Courtney is understandably disappointed with the injury, especially since his son battled through a dislocated knee last season, although he rehabbed and played the last half of the 2020 season.
The younger Courtney had surgery in January and was fully cleared this summer.
“It sucks, but it is what it is,” Mark Courtney said. “Just get back to work and get ready for next year for him.”