Arkansas Class 7A high school football team previews: Bryant eyeing fifth straight state crown

By Jeff Halpern | Photo by Jimmy Jones 

SBLive is previewing the Arkansas high school football teams from the three largest classifications. Today we feature the Bryant Hornets from the 7A-Central Conference.

BRYANT HORNETS

HEAD COACH

Buck James, seven years, 68-9

2021 AT A GLANCE

Overall record: 12-1

Conference record: 7-0, first place 7A-Central

PLAYOFFS: Def. Fort Smith Northside, 42-10; def. North Little Rock, 28-13; def. Fayetteville, 42-38, Class 7A State Champions

KEY DEPARTURES

QB Carson Burnett, all-state

LB Gavin Burton, all-state

OT Will Diggins, all-state, 3-year starter

OT Brooks Edmondson, all-state, 3-year-starter

G Hayden Walsh

G Jason Shifflett, all-state

DE Brandon Jones, all-state

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Senior RB Chris Gannaway

The 5-11, 180-pound senior has 4.5 speed in the 40-yard dash and rushed for 1,288 yards and 12 touchdowns a year ago. He also caught 12 passes for 170 yards and 2 touchdowns.

Junior RB James Martin

The 5-8, 180-pound junior runs the 40 in 4.5 seconds and rushed for 421 yards and 9 touchdowns as sophomore.

Senior RB Brandon Johnson

The 5-8, 180-pound senior transferred from Benton, where he rushed for nearly 1,000 yards for the Panthers last fall.

Junior WR Mytorian Singleton

The 5-10, 185-pounder caught 64 passes for 1,150 yards and 9 touchdowns as a sophomore.

Senior WR Jodan Knox

The 5-10, 165-pound senior caught 15 passes for 215 yards and 1 touchdown as a junior.

Junior QB Gideon Motes

As the Hornets try to replace Burnett, the 6-4, 215-pound junior, who is a University of Arkansas baseball commit, got the most playing time in a backup role, completing 12-of-18 passes for 148 yards and 1 touchdown in 4 games a year ago.

Junior C Matthew Elder

A 5-10, 285-pound junior is the lone returning starter on the Hornets offensive line.

Senior S/P Malachi Graham

The 5-11, 185-pound senior was named MVP of the Class 7A State championship game when he had 5 tackles, a forced fumble, fumble recovery, returned a blocked field goal for a touchdown and averaged 42.4 yards per punt. He earned all-state honors as a safety.

Junior S Drake Fowler

The 6-2, 175-pound junior is a returning starter in the secondary.

Senior CB Miguel Graham

The 6-2, 175-pounder led the Hornets with 6 interceptions a year ago.

Senior LB Traylon Russ

The 5-10, 170-pound senior expected to see a lot of action at linebacker.

Senior LB Jaylon Brown

The 6-2, 190-pound senior is a 2-year starter.

Senior LB Will Cornelieus

The 5-10, 185-pound senior is a returning starter at linebacker.

Senior DE T.J. Lindsey

The 6-5, 260-pound senior is a returning starter on the defensive line and considered a major Division I prospect, who is also a starting post player on the basketball team.

Senior DL Tyler Moseley

The 5-11, 270 pound senior played a lot as a junior and is expected to see more time as a senior.

Senior DL Jaylon Russ

The 6-0, 265 pound senior blocked a field goal in the Class 7A State Championship game.

Senior K Stephen Fuller

The 5-9, 155-pounder is a 3-year starter.

OUTLOOK

The Hornets won their fourth consecutive state championship and are probably most pundits’ favorite to win a fifth.

Bryant returns a plethora of starters on defense, including Malachi Graham, Fowler, Lindsey, Jaylon Russ, Cornelius.

While the offensive line has one starter back in Elder, key offensive playmakers such as Gannaway and Singleton are back. Four players — sophomore Jordan Walker, Pinney, Moats and sophomore Ridge Sutherland — are battling for playing time.

“There’s no secret we’re going to have to hang our hats on the defense,” said James. “We’re going to have them set the tone for us.”

When it comes to the offensive line, James said he expects the line to get better. While the Hornets might lack experience, he doesn’t feel like they have lack talent.

“It’s a concern having one starter back, but we have other guys who can step up. We need to develop chemistry from working together,” James said.

When it comes to finding a quarterback, James described the competition as wide-open and likes what he’s seen from his players in the various team camps the’ve participated in.

Replacing a lot of players from one unit is nothing new to James. He pointed out a year ago, the Hornets replaced nine starters on defense. 

“The big thing is we have to jell and mesh and play well while the offense gets adjusted, but that is the way it is in high school football,” James said. 

With 150 players in the program, including 42 seniors, the Hornets, who have not lost to an in-state school since losing to North Little Rock in the 2018 season, have a lot of talent to make another trip back to Little Rock in December.

COACH SAID

“We want to win five in a row. Our goals are the same as they are every year. We want to get back. We have a great group of guys back but have lost four of our five offensive linemen. If those guys can jell and mesh and play well, we’ve got a great chance.” — Buck James