Bryant Team Preview

For the first time since 1999, Bryant won’t open its season with the Salt Bowl at Little Rock’s War Memorial Stadium. Instead, the Class 7A defending state champions will make the short drive to Saline County rival Benton to play a road game at Panther Stadium.

The two schools announced in the spring that the series was leaving War Memorial Stadium to return as a traditional home-and-home tilt, with Benton receiving the nod as the first host. The game will take place in Bryant next season. 

“I don’t really know what to think about it,” said third-year Hornets head coach Quad Sanders. “When we had 30,000 fans at War Memorial Stadium, it sounded like 5,000 because it was so spread out, but 10,000 is going to be loud in a high school stadium. It is going to be an electric atmosphere. It will be like when we play at Conway. It will be packed and loud.”

With an experienced roster returning from an undefeated club in 2024, most pundits predict the Hornets to win their seventh title in eight years.

Offense

The only possible question mark on the team might be at quarterback. Three-year all-stater Jordan Walker graduated and signed with Ouachita Baptist, leaving junior backup Kyler Shelby (6-1, 175). Shelby started on the JV team and has since become more mature, Sanders said. Senior Jeremiah Motes (6-2, 180) is poised to return for his senior campaign. He passed for over 300 yards as a sophomore backup in 2023. 

Sanders said the QB battle will continue up to the opener, and both QBs could see action. Junior Rowyn Witherspoon (5-10, 170) and sophomore Kace King (6-0, 170) add depth.

Senior Zach Kertis-Jones (5-9, 190) returns to lead a deep running back corps. Kertis-Jones totaled nearly 500 yards rushing in 2024 while sharing carries. Junior Mason Woods (5-9, 175) will see extensive varsity snaps after starting on the junior varsity team in 2024.

The corps got even deeper when Marked Tree’s T.J. Hodges (6-1, 190) transferred in the spring. Hodges is one of the top recruits in the 2026 class in Arkansas and has 17 scholarship offers, including Arkansas, Ole Miss, Oregon, Auburn, and USC. 

Diminutive senior D.J. Gooding (5-5, 150) and sophomore Kaleb Leake (5-9, 190) add depth.

Whoever is under center won’t have a shortage of weapons at receiver. Senior Kamauri Austin (6-4, 205) led the team in receiving with nearly 700 yards and 15 TDs last fall. He committed to Appalachian State in the spring. 

Classmate Caleb Tucker (6-0, 185) ignited the Hornets offense when he returned to the lineup after missing the first half of the year with an injury. He committed to Charlotte this summer. Senior Keenan Latin (6-1, 195) is another track star on the outside running a 10.8 100-meter dash who rotated into the lineup last fall. 

Junior Jakobe Boone (5-8, 165) is another speed merchant who cracked the lineup as a sophomore. He ran a 4.3-second 40 at a camp this summer. Classmate Logan Lee (6-3, 180) will also see time. Juniors Kamron Pickett (5-9, 150) and Dantrell Watkins (5-10, 160) add depth, as do sophomores Evan Hicks (6-0, 160), Crews Thomason (5-10, 150), Bryson Lawani {6-1, 175), and Abram Pendegrass (5-9, 170).

Senior tight end Cooper Billingsley (6-2, 240) was a dominant blocker last fall as a starter and improved his catching ability in the spring, Sanders said. Junior Maumelle transfer Hayden Sublette (6-4, 225) has scholarship offers from Arkansas and Tulsa.

Sanders admits the line is not completely solidified. However, he can count on senior returning starters Chase Trimble (6-1, 270) and Nichael Rucker (5-10, 280) to fill two spots. 

Senior Aiden Allen (6-4, 265) started five games a season ago and seeks a starting job. Seniors Kennedy Perry (6-1, 290) and Kaleb Croom (6-1, 240) also hope for more snaps. 

Sanders said senior Aiden Aldridge (6-2, 275) and junior Lyric Berry (6-1, 285) are locked in a battle for the center job. Sophomores Amari Clary (6-1, 240) and Xavier Freeman (6-1, 240) add depth on the line.

Senior Grayson King (6-1, 185) made an impact on the kicking game last fall. He handled kickoffs and broke the school record for touchbacks in a season. King also handled longer field goals and punting (38 yds. per kick average). King has college interest, including Central Arkansas. 

Junior J.D. Olson (5-10, 195) was the junior varsity kicker and punter last fall and impressed Sanders with his improved punting. Olson, who has interest from Hendrix and Southern Arkansas, may take over the punting chores and handle extra points, which departed senior Jackson Cook kicked last fall. 

Defense

Sanders said eight players could start on the line. Senior Matthew Nelson (6-5, 220), an Oklahoma commit, leads the talented group at defensive end. His younger brother Sam Nelson (6-3, 230) could start opposite him after a handful of starts last fall. 

Senior Jayton Jones (5-10, 230) spot started at end, and classmate Terrence Ellis (6-2, 225) also saw snaps at end in 2024. 

Seniors Ryan Horn (6-1, 255) and Malachi McDonald (5-11, 285) anchor the line’s interior. Classmates Guy Nix (5-10, 210) and Anthoni Matthews (5-10, 225) are also pushing for snaps, along with junior Justin Jones (6-0, 260). 

Seniors Chase Olive (6-2, 215) and Anthony Berkhou (5-11, 250) and sophomores Brendan Hill (5-10, 255), Barndon Harris (5-10, 215), and Evan Kennemer (6-2, 250) add depth.

 Three-year starting linebacker Gavin Momon (6-0, 200), an all-stater, led the team with 60 tackles and five forced fumbles last fall. He has offers from Ball State and Tulane, among others.

The group got even deeper and talented when former Little Rock Parkview standout senior linebacker Jakore Smith (6-0, 190) transferred in the offseason. Smith, ranked as a four-star recruit by Rivals, is an Oklahoma commit. Senior Bryant Davis (6-2, 195) returns after seeing significant snaps, and juniors Jake Elliott (5-10, 185)—who was an all-conference baseball player in the spring—and Kaveion Smith (6-1, 215) also seek more snaps after rotating last fall.

Senior Thomas Cornelius (5-11, 205) is the incumbent at middle linebacker. Classmate Kollin Robinson (5-11, 185) started at linebacker as a sophomore but missed last season with a knee injury. Classmate Mason Noel (5-10, 190) is undersized but impresses Sanders with his tenacity. Sophomore Brandon Johnson (6-0, 200) starred on the ninth-grade team last year and may earn varsity snaps in 2025. Senior Evan Rodgers (5-6, 165) adds depth.

Senior Matthew Ferguson (6-1, 195) started every game at cornerback last fall. Classmate Ryan Young (6-4, 180) and junior Aaron Austin (5-10, 160) are battling for the other corner spot. Austin, Kamauri’s younger brother, spot started at safety last fall and could play there this year, too. Senior Bryson Hardin (5-10, 170) and sophomores Malik Shipp (5-9, 160) and Jeremiah Smith (6-0, 150) add depth. 

Sanders was high on senior TaDayVuan Wilson (6-0, 200) before last season, but the physical safety was lost for the season with a knee injury late in the summer after starting as a sophomore. He is now healthy and returns to lead a safety group which includes junior Terriun Jones (5-11, 160), who made the tackle that clinched the 7A state title win against Bentonville late in the game. 

Sophomore Anthony Ellis (6-1, 145) has impressed and may see snaps this season. Seniors Jaylon Brewster (5-11, 170) and Ty Anthony (5-10, 160) work in the secondary.

It’s shaping up to be another impressive season for the Hornets.