Preseason Arkansas All-State high school football team

Bryant is the defending 7A champion in Arkansas and riding a 17-game win streak heading into the 2020 season. Though the Hornets lost a lot of talent to graduation, with quarterback Austin Ledbetter and receiver Hayden Schrader returning to lead the MaxPreps preseason All-State team, they should be just fine.

Ledbetter threw for 43 touchdowns last season and Schrader, who played tight end and receiver, caught eight of them. Ledbetter leads a group of seven quarterbacks on the All-State team which includes three players from a Bentonville team that finished 11-1 last year and starts the season at No. 4 in the preseason team rankings.

The wealth of talent is spread throughout the state with no more than three players from any squad. This elite squad also includes a strong cast of juniors, including first team running backs Travelle Anderson and James Jointer and second-team wide receivers Quincey McAdoo and Isaiah Sategna, all of whom rank among the top 10 junior recruits in the state, according to 247Sports.

The 2020 season begins tonight in Arkansas, though two of the state's top programs, Bryant and Pulaski Academy, squared off in an Aug. 17 scrimmage (see video above).

2020 Preseason All-State Arkansas First team offense

QB — Austin Ledbetter, Bryant | 6-foot-1 | 195 pounds | Sr.
Also a baseball standout, Ledbetter threw for 3,322 yards and 43 touchdowns last season, leading his team to a 13-0 championship season.

The state's No. 6 top senior recruit according to 247Sports, is an Arkansas commit. He threw for 1,661 yards and 19 touchdowns in 2019.

Ranked the sixth top junior recruit in the state according to 247Sports, rushed for 1,025 yards and nine touchdowns in just 111 carries as a sophomore. Already has offers from Kansas, Colorado State and Arkansas State.

Ranked the eighth best junior overall in the state, Jointer has offers from Florida State, Kansas, Arkansas and Memphis.

Played both wide receiver and tight end for the defending 7A state champions, hauling in 55 passes for 837 yards and nine touchdowns.

The Arkansas State commit is ranked the 10th best senior in the state by 247Sports after starring for state 6A champion Searcy as a junior. Transferred to 7A power Cabot for his senior year.

Ranked the No. 8 senior recruit in the state, Outley had 48 catches for 721 yards and eight TDs in 2019.

Ranked the No. 2 senior recruit in the state, the Arkansas commit picked the Razorbacks over Miami, Kansas and Southern Mississippi, among others.

The Arkansas State commit also is a track and field standout for the Tigers, who went 6-5 in 2019. He's ranked the No. 13 senior player in the state by 247Sports.

First team All-State as a sophomore led his team to a state Class 4A state championship game.

An All-State selection, Chamblee is rated the No. 3 junior in the state according to 247Sports. He has 12 college offers,

including Michigan State, Arkansas, Mississippi State, Nebraska, Tennessee and Virginia Tech.

Threw for 3,502 yards and state-best 56 touchdowns last season for the Class 3A state champions. First team defense

The state's No. 3 senior recruit is a Virginia Tech commit.

The state's No. 7 senior recruit had 76 tackles last season, including a remarkable 32 behind the line of scrimmage. He led his team to a 4A state title in 2019, and is headed to Kansas.

Recorded a staggering 50 tackles for loss among his 81 total tackles last season, including 11 sacks for the 2A power.

The state's No. 5 junior recruit has offers from Auburn, Georgia and Arkansas among others.

The state's No. 4 senior recruit has 150 career tackles in two seasons, 18 of those for loss. He's committed to Arkansas.

Super fleet, the University of Central Florida commit has run a 11.10 10-meters and gone 22.66 in the 200. He led the Tigers to an 11-1 record in 2019.

Don't be fooled by the lack of size. An All-State performer as a sophomore was even better last season when he had 140 tackles, 19 for loss.

The state's No. 13 junior recruit has offers from Indiana, Arkansas and Kansas. He had 87 tackles, 10 for losses and six sacks as a sophomore.

Ranked the top senior recruit in the state, Norwood has 14 college offers including Arkansas, Georgia, Missouri, Notre Dame and Oklahoma. He played quarterback as a junior as well.

A free safety, still managed 14 sacks as part of his 61 tackles.

Had seven interceptions as a sophomore, including two in the state finals against Benton.

Was among the state leaders with eight interceptions as a junior.

Ranked the No. 9 player in the state according to 247Sports, the Arkansas State commit was best defensive player for 13-1 Warriors. He also is a dynamic receiver and offensive threat. Second team offense

Has thrown for 4,154 career yards and 42 touchdowns and rushed for 1,253 career yards and 13 more scores.

Has thrown for 5,031 career yards and 54 touchdowns while completing 61 percent of his passes.

In his first year as starter, the University of Central Arkansas commit threw for 2,319 yards and 24 touchdowns.

Rushed for team-best 1,300 yards and 16 touchdowns as a sophomore for the Bruins, who are ranked No. 5 in the state entering 2020.

Rushed for more than 1,000 yards and 11 touchdowns, earning All-State honors as a junior when Hurricanes finished 8-4. Jonesboro opens 2020 at No. 11 in the state.

The state's top junior recruit already has 14 offers, including Arkansas, Baylor, Florida State, Miami, Oklahoma, Oregon and Tennessee.

The state's No. 4 junior recruit has eight offers, including Arkansas, Auburn, Baylor, Mississippi, Penn State and Nebraska, among others. A remarkable athlete, Sategna has long jumped 24 feet, 1.5 inches, ran a 10.8 100 meters and 21.96 200. He had 35 catches for 691 yards as a sophomore.

The Kansas-bound standout is the 10th top senior recruit in the state.

Ranked the state's 10th best junior recruit, Dawn has offers to Arizona State, Kansas and Louisiana Tech.

The Kansas commit is the state's No. 14 junior recruit, according to 247Sports.

First-team All-State for 13-2 Redbugs who open 2020 as the No. 19 team in the state.

Was second-team All-State as a sophomore for the 8-4 Wildcats, who open 2020 at No. 14 in the state rankings.

AP — Austin Myers, Vilonia | 6-4 | 185 | Jr.
Ranked the No. 12 junior recruit in the state, Myers has committed to Kansas. The quarterback threw for 1,303 yards and 12 touchdowns as a sophomore.

Did it all for the 8-4 Wildcats last season, including 41 catches for 801 yards and six touchdowns from his tight end spot. Ranked the 11th best senior in the state by 247Sports. Second team defense

Ranked the No. 7 junior recruit in the state, Hollingsworth has offers from Arkansas, Akron and Kansas. He committed to the Razorbacks on July 24.

First-team All-State for 12-1 Tigers in 2019.

Had 118 tackles, including nine sacks last season at defensive end for the 10-2 Bulldogs, who open 2020 at No. 21 in the state.

Had 39 tackles, eight sacks, a pass deflection and fumble recovery for the 9-3 Warriors in 2019.

Had team-high 108 tackles for Charging Wildcats who made their fourth straight 7A state championship game.

First-team All-State as a junior for the 8-3 Hornets, who open 2020 at No. 10 in the state.

All-State linebacker has 259 career tackles for the state's No. 18 team.

All-State linebacker had 146 tackles (13.3 per game) for the 7-4 Tigers in 2019.

All-State safety as a junior for the 11-1 Tigers who open the 2020 season as the No. 4 team in Arkansas.

Not only the team's top rusher with more than 1,100 yards and 18 touchdowns, but also contributed more than 60 tackles and three interceptions from his strong safety spot.

One of the top sophomore running backs in the state with 1,892 rushing yards and 23 touchdowns, Miller also was a hard-hitting strong safety. The Wolves finished 9-3 in 2019 and open 2020 as the No. 20 team in the MaxPreps preseason rankings.

Led the state with 10 interceptions last season for the 2A state champion Red Bugs (13-2). Cross also had 58 catches and scored 20 touchdowns, two on pick 6s.

Ranked the No. 9 junior recruit in the state, Courtney committed to Arkansas over 15 other offers. Largely a tight end, the three-sport athlete had 36 catches for 623 yards and seven touchdowns as a sophomore.

The Kansas commit can play on either side of the ball, but figures to be a physical and fleet receiver in college.