Shootout of the South 7-on-7 features familiar names, Arkansas recruit Braylen Russell on new team

By Kyle Sutherland 

Friday the 22nd Shootout of the South 7-on-7 tournament held at Pulaski Academy featured traditional powers and some new faces. Twenty-four teams from four different states- Arkansas, Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Texas-met at Joe B. Hatcher stadium to kick things off.

Several players were looking to impress as they tune up for the position battles of fall camp. One player officially traded his yellow and blue for maroon and gray as Arkansas commit Braylen Russell is now suiting up for Benton after transferring from Hot Springs Lakeside.

Russell is ranked 187 in his grade in the naition Rivals.com and was the first pledge to Arkansas in November for the 2024 class.

He has only been with the team since June 6, so he is working on getting familiar with the offense, but it is just a one day at a time process.

“It has been good,” Russell said. “I’m still working in it, still trying to learn all of the schemes they got.”

Benton won the 6A-West championship last season and will slide over to the East for the new cycle, but for Russell he will be playing in an entirely new class after competing in the 5A-South with Lakeside.

“I look forward to it,” Russell said. “Better competition, and I got to do what I got to do to get better.”

Brad Harris is preparing for his seventh season with the Panthers and led them to the state quarterfinals last season. Though he felt confident with his backfield before the addition of Russell, Harris knows having him will add another powerful dimension especially as he continues to get more reps.

“When you get a player that moves into your district like that guy, he is a game-changer for you,” Harris said. “We were going to be good running the football with the backs and line we got, but he takes us to a different type of offense. The guys that we got are solid, but he’s a banger and we are excited to have him.”

The Panthers lost their top player at four other positions: linebacker Beau Wright, the school’s all-time leading tackler, safety Cain Simmons, receiver Cam Harris, and quarterback Stran Smith.

Currently, the quarterback battle is down to two according to Harris and looks to remain that way until the Panthers open the regular season.

“We have got Cline Hooten, who will be a junior, and Jack Woolbright, who will be a senior, and we are giving them equal reps right now,” Harris said. “We are just letting them battle it out, see what falls. We are going to let the best guy go. We are going to keep that going all the way through the summer and all the way up to the Salt Bowl. It is just back and forth, but that is our two leaders right now.”

Woolbright looked to be the starter last year before Smith moved to Benton in July.

Benton went 2-3 on Friday playing in Pool A starting 0-3 against Heritage Hall (Okla.), Marion, and Conway, but were able to rebound with two straight wins to close out the day over Monticello and Miami (Okla.).

Last year’s Shootout of the South champion Keller (Texas), as well as runner-up Madison-Ridgeland Academy from Mississippi, are also back and looking to make another deep run.

From Arkansas, there are four defending 2021 state champions competing with 6A’s El Dorado, three-time 5A champ and host Pulaski Academy, three-time 3A champ Harding Academy, and four-time 7A champ Bryant.

The tournament will conclude Saturday evening when the champion and runner-up will be crowned, along with the outstanding quarterback, receiver, and defensive back.

You can keep up with all of the results through the Shootout of the South’s Facebook and Twitter pages.