The Natural State football recruiting class for 2022 is loaded and we are beginning to hear more hype as we inch closer to the 2020 football season. So far, nine players from The Natural State have received an offer from the Hogs and Greenland Defensive End JJ Hollingsworth was the first from the class to give his pledge to the hometown team on July 24th.
Here are a handful of prospects who could be next:
Tim Dawn (6’4, 280) Camden Fairview OT 2022: Per 247 Sports, Dawn is the 32nd-ranked OT in the country and 13th in Arkansas. While the Razorbacks have not extended an offer, he did tell me that Offensive Line Coach Brad Davis has talked with him. “Right now I’ve got Arizona State, Kansas, and Louisiana Tech” Dawn said. “I am also receiving interest from others.”
Mark Welch (6’3, 290) Camden Fairview OT 2022: Welch plays tackle on the opposite side of Tim Dawn for the Fairview Cardinals. He is the state’s 17th-ranked player and has an offer from the Kansas Jayhawks, but mentioned he has also spoken with Coach Davis. “Kansas is my only offer as of now, but I have talked with Coach Davis and they are working through the ’21 class with it still being this early.”
Fairview has high expectations coming into the season returning 8 starters on both sides of the ball and lost 4 games by just a combined 11 points. Dawn and Welch will pave the way offensively for the Cardinals who are picked 2nd the 5A-South per Hooten’s Arkansas Football. Already on film, both are explosive off of the ball and drive opponents to the ground while doing a great job at sealing the edge. With two years to continue to improve, expect them to join already highly recruited Andrew Chamblee (Maumelle) and E’Marion Harris (Robinson) as some of the top offensive line prospects in-state for ’22.
Daryl Searcy (6’0, 215-2022) & Hunter Smith (6’0,190-2021) Joe T. Robinson: Searcy and Smith come into 2020 as possibly the state’s best backfield in all classifications.
Smith, who possesses 4.4 speed, exploded for 1,922 yards (148 YPG) including an eye-popping 200+ yards in 4/5 playoff games. Smith, who also excels at safety on the defensive side, says he feels like he can play anywhere on the field but just wants to play where he can help his team win. Smith has offers from North Texas, Arkansas State, Louisiana-Monroe, Missouri State, Southeast Missouri State, Austin Peay, and Illinois. “Most schools have been recruiting me to be an all-around athlete” Smith stated. He is the only senior in this article so the others have more time, but with a strong final season he should get big division one looks.
Searcy (4.4 speed) is just a junior and has not had the chance to display his full ability coming off of a broken ankle injury which caused him to miss 6 games. Despite the injury, Searcy still rushed 82 times for 634 yards (7.7 YPC) and 7 touchdowns including 229 yards against Harmony Grove Haskell. Searcy currently has offer from Arkansas State, Memphis, and North Texas.
Talking with both of them, Searcy and Smith agreed that they compliment each other well. Smith said, ” I’m a speed back and Daryl is more the combo back. I also go to the slot, can catch out of the backfield, etc.” “Daryl and Hunter are two of the kids on our team I am most excited to see this year” Robinson assistant coach Brian Maupin said.
Travelle Anderson (6’1, 195) Gosnell RB 2022: Anderson is another electric runner in the ’22 class along with the previously mentioned Daryl Searcy. While sharing the backfield for Gosnell in 2019, Anderson rushed for 9 touchdowns on 111 carries for 1,025 yards, and an incredible 9 yards per carry. Also a great basketball player, Anderson possesses 4.3 speed and was clocked at 10.7 seconds in the 100 meters. His current offer list includes Arkansas State, Colorado State, Kansas, and North Texas.
Published by Kyle Sutherland, @sutherland54WPS on Twitter