Video: Brandon Thomas junior highlights
North Little Rock running back is an All-Arkansas preseason selection presented by Suddenlink by Altice.
North Little Rock reached the Class 7A state finals last year and has three players on the Preseason Arkansas All-State Football Team presented by Suddenlink by Altice.
Unfortunately for the Charging Wildcats, two of those players may be out indefinitely, including all-state running back Brandon Thomas, due to injuries incurred during an off-field incident.
MaxPreps is compiling a series of All-State teams over the final
month of August in preparation for the upcoming 2019 season. The Arkansas All-State team is the latest in the series.
First Team Offense
Braden Bratcher, Pulaski Academy
File photo by Richey Miller
Another in a long line of all-state quarterbacks at the school, Bratcher's 4,733 yards passing last year led the state and is the 10th best total in state history, yet it is just the ninth best total in school history.
QB — Hunter Loyd, Rogers | Sr. | 6-4 | 200
Loyd is one of the top-ranked quarterbacks in Arkansas by 247 Sports, coming in as the No. 13 overall player in the state.
RB — Gabe Huskey, Harrison | Sr. | 5-10 | 170
One of only three players in Arkansas to rush for over 2,000 yards last year, Huskey had 2,150 yards on 269 carries with 33 touchdowns.
RB — Brandon Thomas, North Little Rock | Sr. | 5-11 | 195
Thomas ran for over 1,805 yards and 14 touchdowns as a junior while earning all-state honors and leading North Little Rock to the state championship game. According to Arkansasonline.com, Thomas is out indefinitely due to injuries from a fireworks incident on the Fourth of July.
WR — Connor Flannigan, Fayetteville | Sr. | 5-10 | 170
The state leader in receptions last year with 102, Flannigan added 1,695 yards and 20 touchdowns to earn all-state honors.
WR — Chris Hightower, Little Rock Christian Academy | Sr. | 6-0 | 186
Ranked as the No. nine overall player in Arkansas by 247 Sports, he helped lead the Warriors to a Class 5A state championship.
TE — Bryant Burns, Ozark | Sr. | 6-3 | 228
The top returning tight end in the state, Burns caught 27 passes for 637 yards and seven touchdowns.
OL — Chris Morris, West Memphis | Sr. | 6-3 | 285
Ranked as the No. 1 player in the state by 247 Sports, Morris is also the No. 2-rated offensive guard in the nation.
OL — Robert Scott, Conway | Sr. | 6-6 | 295
Headed to Ole Miss next year, Scott ranks as the No. 4 player in the state of Arkansas by 247 Sports and is the No. 43 offensive tackle in the country.
OL — Erin Smith, North Little Rock | Sr. | 6-5 | 280
Smith helped pave the way for running back Brandon Thomas last year and has committed to play at SMU next year.
OL — Dalton Perdue, El Dorado | Sr. | 6-7 | 280
Perdue will join Smith at SMU next year. He is ranked as the No. 12 overall player in Arkansas by 247 Sports.
OL — Ben Gann, Bentonville West (Centerton) | Sr. | 6-1 | 260
An all-state selection as a junior, Gann helped Bentonville West advance to the state semifinals last year.
AP — Jacolby Criswell, Morrilton | Sr. | 6-1 | 220
One of the top dual threats in the country, Criswell missed most of his junior season with a knee injury. He threw for 1,109 yards and 11 touchdowns. He has committed to play at North Carolina.
K — Will Hogue, Conway | Sr. | 5-10 | 165
An all-state kicker last year, Hogue booted 11 field goals and converted 52-of-53 extra points.
First Team Defense
Quade Mosier, Fayetteville
File photo by Richey Miller
An all-state player last year, Haywood was a constant threat in opposing backfields with 38 tackles for loss among his 78 tackles to go along with seven sacks.
DL — Blayne Toll, Hazen | Sr. | 6-5 | 244
Although he also plays quarterback, Toll will likely be a defensive end at the next level. He has committed to play at Arkansas.
DL — Rashad Muhammad, North Little Rock | Sr. | 6-3 | 260
An all-state selection headed to the University of Louisiana Monroe, Muhammad is out indefinitely after injuring his hand during a fireworks incident in Fourth of July.
LB — Quade Mosier, Fayetteville | Sr. | 6-2 | 225
University of Central Florida will be Mosier's home next year. He is the No. 14 player in Arkansas by 247 Sports after posting 115 tackles with 13 tackles for loss.
LB — Catrell Wallace, Bryant | Sr. | 6-6 | 215
Ranked as the No. 6 player in the state, Wallace had 79 tackles and two sacks last year.
LB — Jashaud Stewart, Jonesboro | Sr. | 6-2 | 225
University of Arkansas landed Stewart, the No. 5 player in the state by 247 Sports. He had 89 tackles and 24 tackles for loss last year.
LB — Kendarrius Moore, West Memphis | Sr. | 6-1 | 210
Headed for Tulane next year, Moore had 69 tackles as a junior with 17.5 tackles for loss.
DB — Kevin Compton, Watson Chapel (Pine Bluff) | Sr. | 6-2 | 165
Compton was among the national leaders in interceptions last year with 10, earning Class 5A all-state honors.
DB — Dreyden Norwood, Northside (Fort Smith) | Jr. | 6-0 | 175
The No. 1 player in the Class of 2021 in Arkansas, according to 247 Sports, Norwood will play quarterback and defensive back.
DB — Ben Pankau, Bentonville | Sr. | 6-2 | 175
The potential starting quarterback at Bentonville, Pankau was an all-state safety as a junior.
DB — Anthony Newman, Watson Chapel | Sr. | 5-10 | 165
Joins Compton to give Watson Chapel one of the top secondaries in the state. Newman had 37 tackles and an interception last year.
AP — Beau Stuckey, Fayetteville | Sr. | 5-11 | 175
One of the leading returning receivers in the state with 991 yards on 63 catches, Stuckey was also an outstanding return man on kickoffs. Also among the state's best baseball players.
P — Quinn McClain, Fayetteville | Sr. | 6-1 | 215
The former Elkins quarterback threw for 2,700 yards last year and has 5,463 yards in his career while also averaging 43 yards per punt.
Second Team Offense
Hunter Wood, Har-Ber
File photo by Richey Miller
An all-state quarterback as a sophomore, Jumper threw for 2,413 yards and 28 touchdowns and rushed for 707 yards and seven touchdowns.
QB — Daedrick Cail, Marion | Jr. | 6-0 | 195
One of the top players in the Class of 2021 in Arkansas, Cail threw for 2,336 yards and 24 touchdowns and made the Class 6A all-state team.
RB — Derriun Thompson, Prescott | Sr. | 6-0 | 170
The No. 11 player in Arkansas by 247 Sports, Thompson rushed for 963 yards and 15 touchdowns last year.
RB — Jay Burns, Har-Ber (Springdale) | Sr. | 5-10 | 175
Already committed to Bowling Green, Burns ran for 867 yards last year on 80 carries with eight touchdowns.
WR — Hunter Wood, Har-Ber | Sr. | 6-1 | 180
An all-state player last year, Wood averaged nearly 20 yards a catch in grabbing 29 passes for 568 yards and seven touchdowns.
WR — Jaqueze Modica, Smackover | Sr. | 6-0 | 175
The Class 3A all-state selection caught 51 passes for 859 yards as a junior. He also averaged 23 yards on punt returns and had two interceptions on defense.
TE — Merritt Jones, Pulaski Academy | Sr. | 6-3 | 200
Could Jones be the next great tight end at Pulaski Academy? Played tight end along with All-American Hudson Henry and still managed to catch 37 passes for 545 yards and eight touchdowns.
OL — Zaul Vences, Conway | Sr. | 5-8 | 245
Vences earned Class 7A all-state honors for the Central Region as a junior.
OL — RJ Long, Rogers | Sr. | 6-2 | 290
Long was the lone all-state pick for Rogers last year and he reportedly boasts a 545-pound squat.
OL — Jason Lambel, Malvern (Malvern, Ark.) | Sr. | 6-4 | 315
One of the bigger returning offensive linemen in the state, Lambel ranks as the No. 23 player in the state by 247 Sports.
OL — Jaxson Sanders, White Hall (White Hall, Ark.) | Sr. | 6-2 | 275
Tennessee State has already received a commitment from Sanders, who is ranked as the No. 26 player in Arkansas.
OL — Deshaun Alexander, McClellan (Little Rock, Ark.) | Sr. | 5-10 | 255
A three-sport athlete who also competes in wrestling and track and field, Alexander was an all-state football selection as a junior.
AP — Corey Platt, Jr., Little Rock Christian Academy | Jr. | 6-1 | 185
Ranked as one of the top players in the Arkansas Class of 2021 by 247 Sports.
K — Riley Jones, Rivercrest (Wilson, Ark.) | Sr. | 6-0 | 140
One of the leading field goal kickers in the state last year, Jones had nine field goals and connected on 51-of-56 extra points.
Second Team Defense
Coleman Johnson, Fayetteville
File photo by Richey Miller
The future Idaho Vandal racked up 25 tackles for loss among his 58 total sacks and also added 11 sacks.
DL — Jaden Muskrat, Bentonville West (Centerton) | Sr. | 6-4 | 275
Bound for Tulsa, Muskrat is ranked as the No. 20 player in Arkansas by 247 Sports. He had 29 tackles as a junior.
DL — Landen Stephens, Harrison | Sr. | 6-0 | 190
One of the top defenders for a team that went 12-1, Stephens posted 54 tackles on the season and earned all-state honors.
LB — Chandler McIntosh, Robinson (Little Rock) | Sr. | 6-1 | 210
An all-state and all-conference linebacker, McIntosh is ranked as the No. 25 player in the senior class in Arkansas by 247 Sports.
LB — Marco Avant, Forrest City | Jr. | 6-2 | 190
Ranked as one of the top players in the junior class in Arkansas by 247 Sports, Avant had 67 tackles and four sacks as a sophomore.
LB — Cole Joyce, Bentonville | Jr. | 6-0 | 212
As a sophomore on the varsity, Joyce racked up 80 tackles. He is ranked as one of the top players in the Class of 2021 by 247 Sports.
LB — Reed Hughes, Conway | Sr. | 6-2 | 215
One of the top defenders in Class 7A last year, Hughes had 121 tackles and seven tackles for loss in earning all-state honors.
DB — Travis Graf, Valley View (Jonesboro, Ark.) | Sr. | 5-11 | 150
A three-sport standout, Graf earned all-state honors last year with 74 tackles and seven interceptions.
DB — Rilee Jones, Harrison | Sr. | 5-11 | 150
Jones played all over the field, including offense as a receiver, defense as a defensive back and on special teams as a punter. He earned Class 5A all-state honors.
DB — Logan King, Greenbrier (Greenbrier, Ark.) | Sr. | 5-11 | 150
A Class 5A all-state selection on defense, King intercepted five passes and had 55 tackles as a safety.
DB — Colton Shaver, Harrison | Sr. | 5-11 | 185
Besides catching 30 passes for 515 yards and eight touchdowns, Shaver also earned all-state honors by picking off five passes in the secondary.
AP — Jonas Higson, Bentonville West | Sr. | 6-3 | 2100
A tackling machine on defense, Higson will likely find action on both sides of the ball this year. He finished with 117 tackles and also had a touchdown on a punt return.
P — Ethan Foster, Ozark | Sr. | 6-2 | 172
A receiver and defensive back, Foster was also one of the state's top punters last year with a 43.1-yard average.
