Five of the Top Under the Radar Recruits in Arkansas

The class of 2021 for the state of Arkansas is well represented with talent. A surprising number of high school recruits in Arkansas, however, will still go under the radar. The task of picking out five under-the-recruiting-radar talents in Arkansas is a challenge but everyone we highlight in this article is well worthy of recognition. From the Arkansas Delta to the Ozark Mountains this list is one that has been a fun one to put together. <strong><span style="font-size: 14pt;">[player_tooltip player_id="75012" first="Peyton" last="Carter"]-Wide Receiver </span></strong> The first player that we will examine is Greenwood High School wide receiver [player_tooltip player_id="75012" first="Peyton" last="Carter"]. It is somewhat of a surprise that Carter has remained under the radar for as long as he has. Carter is a tall wide receiver at 6-5 and 203 pounds. With a wide receiver Carter’s size, the obvious thing to do is throw fade routes to him in the end zone all day. Carter has the frame to put on about another 25 to 30 pounds and line up as a tight end at the next level. Carter currently has offers Henderson State, Austin Peay, and Pittsburg State. The Greenwood wide receiver can close out his career in a strong fashion in the state playoffs this month. Look for Carter to earn more scholarship offers before the early signing period starts in December. <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="75029" first="William" last="Ross"]-Quarterback</strong></span> Quarterback [player_tooltip player_id="75029" first="William" last="Ross"] out of Lakeside High School in Hot Springs is the second player flying under the radar. Ross has had the opportunity to learn from former Arkansas quarterbacks Clint Stoerner and Jared McBride. McBride also happens to be the head coach for Ross at Lakeside. Both Stoerner and McBride have each helped Ross develop his abilities at the quarterback position. Ross has thrown for 1,377 yards, 15 touchdowns, and just four interceptions this season. At 6-1- and 180-pounds Ross has the height to play on Saturdays, although adding a little bit of weight will likely be needed. However, Ross has displayed a strong, accurate arm and will not force the football into a risky situation. He has earned all-conference honors and has helped the Lakeside Rams improve tremendously while he has been the signal caller. Lakeside and Ross will each have an opportunity to impress even more people in the state playoffs this season. <strong><span style="font-size: 14pt;">[player_tooltip player_id="74969" first="Kam" last="Turner"]- Athlete</span></strong> One of the best athletes in the state is on the eastern side of the state in the Arkansas Delta and attends Rivercrest High School in Wilson, AR. [player_tooltip player_id="74969" first="Kam" last="Turner"] does a little bit of everything for the Rivercrest Colts. Turner finished the 2020 regular season with 2,473 yards, 31 touchdowns, and only three interceptions. Turner is not just limited to the offensive side of the ball. The young man plays on the defensive side of the ball as well, where he has quickly become a defensive back that opposing quarterbacks want to stay away from. Turner has the speed teams are looking for at the quarterback or defensive back spots. At 5-11- and 195-pounds Turner can play either position at the next level. From a passing perspective Turner has the arm strength to make the throws needed to be successful. Meanwhile, on the defensive side of the ball, Turner has excellent range and does an impressive job of playing the ball in the air. With an undefeated regular season record, Turner and the Colts are gunning for a state championship. Turner currently has several scholarships offers from Arkansas Baptist University, East Central University, and Northeastern State University. Turner has the potential to pick up more offers before the early signing day period starts in December. <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="75031" first="Jordan" last="Owens"]- Linebacker</strong></span> Meanwhile, on the defensive side of the ball [player_tooltip player_id="75031" first="Jordan" last="Owens"], out of McGehee has the traits scouts look for at the linebacker position. Over the years, McGehee has been a powerhouse and for Owens to occupy a starting linebacker spot is proof of his skill set. Owens displays good instincts in diagnosing the player and is quick to the ball carrier. Owens has the size at 6-0 to play the linebacker spot on Saturdays. One area that will need some attention is his ability in the pass coverage department. Many teams McGehee plays prefer to use the ground game rather than the passing attack as the bulk of the offense. Owens having stayed under the radar this long is something that surprises me, he seems to have all the ingredients to be an impact player on Saturdays. <strong><span style="font-size: 14pt;">[player_tooltip player_id="75023" first="Cam" last="Wiedemann"]- Running back</span></strong> The final player in the spotlight today is [player_tooltip player_id="75023" first="Cam" last="Wiedemann"] out of Shiloh Christian High School in Springdale. Wiedemann is one of those running backs that defenders have a tough time bringing down. His offensive statistics reflect that fact, with Wiedemann averaging 6.6 yards per carry. Wiedemann has the speed and the moves to make good defenders look silly. Shiloh Christian is creative in how they use Wiedemann. The Saints line up Wiedemann all over the football field. He has been on the receiving end of 51 passes and racked up over 580 yards receiving. He has a nose for the end zone having racked up 25 total touchdowns on the season. Wiedemann does not currently have scholarship offers, but that is a problem that will be resolved soon as universities look to finish strong on signing day. The five players featured in this article have, for the most part, unrecognized talent and should have no problem finding a college to play on Saturdays. This article will serve as launch point for other recruits that are flying under the radar and will become a weekly addition to Prep Redzone Arkansas.