MaxPreps 2017 Arkansas preseason high school football Fab 5, presented by the Army National Guard

Video: Layne Hatcher highlights
Watch the Pulaski Academy quarterback in action during the Bruins' state championship season.


1. Pulaski Academy (Little Rock)
2016 record: 13-1
Head coach: Kevin Kelley

Pulaski Academy has had one of the winningest programs in Arkansas over the past 13 seasons and 2017 could be the best season yet. The Bruins return nine starters on offense, including second team All-State quarterback Layne Hatcher and second team All-State lineman Luke Jones (6-5, 305). The Bruins have also gone 165-25 during that 13-year span with six state titles including the past three in a row.

Hatcher has the chance to become the Bruins' all-time leading passer. He needs 4,007 yards to surpass Stefan Loucks (13,711) as the school's leader. Hatcher has already thrown for over 4,500 the past two seasons.

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2. North Little Rock
2016 record: 12-1
Head coach: Jamie Mitchell

This could be the year North Little Rock takes that extra step to a state championship. The Charging Wildcats reached the Class 7A state finals last year, falling to Fayetteville for their only loss of the season. North Little Rock last won a state title in 1970 and has won six in its history.

North Little Rock returns one of the state's top kickers in Savana Melton, who earned All-State honors as a junior. Also back is defensive tackle Zavion Moore (6-2, 250), who also earned All-State honors last year.

 North Little Rock has won four league championships in the past six seasons. They also outscored their opponents by 26 points an outing last year

See the MaxPreps Arkansas football stat leaders

3. Fayetteville
2016 record: 12-1
Head coach: Bill Dawson

The Purple Bulldogs lose four All-State players from last year's team, including state Player of the Year Taylor Powell, who quarterbacked Fayetteville to the Class 7A state championship. Fayetteville had won two straight state crowns and four of the past six.

Fayetteville has a new coach in Bill Dawson, who led Russellville to a Class 6A state title in 2016. He replaces Bill Blankenship, who coached just one season at Fayetteville before accepting a coaching job in Owasso, Okla. Dawson reportedly has a career record of 174-57 with four state titles at several schools.

The Purple Bulldogs open the season with a nine-game winning streak and will play at Blue Springs (Mo.).

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4. Greenwood
2016 record: 12-1
Head coach: Rick Jones

Greenwood has been one of the top Class 6A programs in the state under former national coach of the year Rick Jones. The second-winningest active coach in the state with a winning percentage of nearly 90 percent, Jones has led Greenwood to seven state titles, including three in a row from 2005-2007 and 2010-2012.

Greenwood returns one of the state's top quarterbacks in Connor Noland, who is ranked as the No. 2 prospect in the state by 247Sports.

5. Bryant
2016 record: 9-4
Head coach: Buck James

Long a baseball powerhouse, Bryant has never won a state championship in football. However with 14 total returning starters, including seven on both sides of the ball, 2017 could be a record season for the Hornets.

Bryant has one of the top junior quarterbacks in Ren Hefley, who threw for 1,770 yards last year and earned All-Sophomore honors by All-Arkansas Preps. Luke Curtis (6-3, 225) also returns at tight end, while Cameron Vail leads the defense at defensive back.