Bentonville Tigers 2023 Team Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 2023 football season is quickly upon us. I am starting off coverage and previews with a look at teams that call the 7-A West Conference home. We kick off our coverage with a look at the state runner up Bentonville Tigers. Bentonville has the talent this year to make another deep playoff run this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Looking first at the offensive side of the ball. Bentonville has experience returning at the quarterback position. Bentonville signal caller [player_tooltip player_id='392411' first='Carter' last='Nye'] opened plenty of eyes last season. Nye makes great decisions with the football. He can fit the ball into his wide receivers. Last season, Nye threw for almost 3,000 yards and 28 touchdowns. I look for Nye to have another strong season this upcoming season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Shifting gears, to a look at the Bentonville rushing attack. The Tigers have plenty of talented running backs in the system that can tote the rock this season. [player_tooltip player_id='386125' first='Jason' last='Gilmore'], [player_tooltip player_id='392413' first='Christian' last='Battles'], and [player_tooltip player_id='227421' first='Chris' last='Ficklin'] are all backs to watch. Gilmore and Battles are two backs that can take it between the tackles or cut it down the sidelines. Look for the Tigers' running backs to be used in the passing game as well. This group has the potential to be special this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Speaking of the passing game. Bentonville is loaded with talented wide receivers this season. [player_tooltip player_id='320933' first='CJ' last='Brown'] is a wide receiver that can stretch the field vertically. He is a major division one prospect and an Arkansas Razorbacks commitment. La'Quarius Brown hauled in 22 passes last season and took two for touchdowns. One more wide receiver to watch out for in this unit is [player_tooltip player_id='321739' first='Luke' last='Coon']. Coon has tremendous speed and is a wide receiver to watch out for this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On the defensive side of the ball, the Tigers have some talented prospects that snatch momentum from the opposing offense in the blink of an eye. Edge rusher [player_tooltip player_id='928531' first='Ben' last='Pearson'] is a pass rusher that amassed 16 sacks a year ago and is looking to surpass that number this season. Pearson is a player that is always around the ball carrier. [player_tooltip player_id='928532' first='Kellen' last='Wrona'] is a major plug in the rushing attack. Wrona is a sophomore and has impressive quickness for a 325-pound lineman. Linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='1100477' first='Rivers' last='Wiseman'] earned all-state honors a season ago and I expect a strong season from him this season. The talent is there for a strong season on the defensive side of the ball.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Players to Watch this Season</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='570745' first='Christian' last='Farrow']-Cornerback-6'0” 160-Pounds 2024</strong></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>La'Quarius Brown-Athlete-6'0” 155-Pounds 2024</strong></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='320933' first='CJ' last='Brown']-Wide Recevier-6'1” 190-Pounds 2024</strong></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='349870' first='Trason' last='Hunt']-Offensive Tackle-6'5” 275-Pounds 2024</strong></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Jack Corey-Left Guard-6'2” 315-Pounds 2024</strong></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1100477' first='Rivers' last='Wiseman']-Linebacker-6'4” 190-Pounds 2024</strong></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='928532' first='Kellen' last='Wrona']-Defensive Lineman-6'0” 325-Pounds 2026</strong></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='928531' first='Ben' last='Pearson']-Defensive Lineman-6'2” 205-Pounds 2024</strong></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='392411' first='Carter' last='Nye']-Quarterback-6'1” 175-Pounds 2024</strong></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='321739' first='Luke' last='Coon']-Wide Receiver-6'0” 160-Pounds 2024</strong></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='386125' first='Jason' last='Gilmore']-Running Back-5'8” 180-Pounds 2024</strong></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='392413' first='Christian' last='Battles']-Running Back-5'9” 210-Pounds 2025</strong></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='227421' first='Chris' last='Ficklin']-Running Back-5'8” 135-Pounds 2026</strong></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='466187' first='Kyndrick' last='Williams']-Athlete-6'0” 175-Pounds 2026</strong></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='392414' first='Eli' last='Brooks']-Tight End-6'3” 205-Pounds-2025</strong></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list -->