Players to Watch in the Big Games of Week 1

<p>The opening week of football in Arkansas brought forth all the excitement and adrenaline we have been waiting for all summer. In last week's game of the week we saw Greenbrier's junior [player_tooltip player_id='1283877' first='Enoch' last='Assan'] stake his claim as a name for collegiate coaches to note, however, in this week's game of the week we,re looking at two young players who have bright futures ahead. </p>   <p>Additionally, we have five other games we are bringing you players to watch for. Buckles up, if week 0 was any indication we are in for a ride this season, talent pool in Arkansas is deep.</p>   <h1 class="wp-block-heading">Prep Redzone's Game of the Week: Ozark v. Booneville</h1>   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1219120' first='Dane' last='Tedford'] | Defensive Lineman | Ozark | 2027</h3>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1219120' first='Dane' last='Tedford'] (6-6, 275) showcases an impressive combination of power, agility, and strength in the trenches. His ability to engage quickly with opponents is highlighted by his precise hand placement, timing, and reach that allows him to gain leverage and either disengage from blocks or drive offensive linemen back to pressure the quarterback. Tedford also demonstrates a keen ability to read and react off blocks, consistently making plays in the backfield. His solid lower and upper body strength, combined with a strong burst upfield, makes him highly effective against both the run and the pass.</p>   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='771990' first='Hunter' last='Warren'] | Running Back | Booneville | 2026</h3>   <p>The Booneville Bearcats consistently produce a formidable running game, and [player_tooltip player_id='771990' first='Hunter' last='Warren'] (6-1, 195) is a standout running back within their system. Warren is known for his ability to break tackles and gain significant yardage on the ground, making him a difficult ball carrier to bring down. Warren's ultra-tough running style plays well in needed yardage as he drives piles with his legs while also staying balanced through contact.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">7A Game of the Week: Bentonville v. Conway</h2>   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='382974' first='Trevor' last='Grant'] | Quarterback | Bentonville | 2025</h3>   <p>The Bentonville signal caller, [player_tooltip player_id='382974' first='Trevor' last='Grant'] (6-0, 165), continues to garner attention with his impressive play. Known for his exceptional accuracy, Grant demonstrates strong command of the pocket, making smart decisions on when to utilize his legs to evade pressure. His recent performance at Bentonville's team camp further showcased his skills, leading to a scholarship offer from Evangel University. As a quarterback with growing potential, Grant is certainly a player to watch closely in the upcoming season.</p>   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='915702' first='Jacoby' last='Wade'] | Defensive Back | Conway | 2025</h3>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='915702' first='Jacoby' last='Wade'] (5-10, 180) is a highly athletic defensive back with impressive speed in the secondary. He demonstrates excellent footwork, fluidity, and the ability to dip and transition smoothly from his backpedal to flipping his hips. Wade has a keen instinct for tracking the ball in the air, thanks to his strong awareness and quick read-and-react ability. His closing speed allows him to consistently disrupt plays at the catch point, often leading to pass breakups or turnovers. </p>   <p>Additionally, Wade excels in staying tight to his man, rarely allowing separation on breaks due to his solid change of direction and fluid movement, making him a formidable presence in coverage.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">6A Game of the Week: Shiloh Christian v. Little Rock Christian</h2>   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='191607' first='Hudson' last='Ball'] | Defensive Lineman | Shiloh Christian | 2025</h3>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='191607' first='Hudson' last='Ball'] (6-2, 235) is a relentless force in the trenches with a plethora of approaches to win his match-ups. As a powerful bull rusher, he leverages his strong lower body, acceleration, and precise hand placement to quickly engage and drive back offensive linemen, converting speed into power with a well-maintained pad level to pressure the pocket. His processing skills allow him to diagnose base and reach blocks effectively, using proper technique to control and overpower blockers. </p>   <p>Ball's sideline-to-sideline motor enables him to chase down ball carriers with physicality on the edge. His explosive burst off the line of scrimmage, combined with athleticism and quick feet, makes him a consistent threat to win 1-on-1 battles and apply pressure on the quarterback.</p>   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='503573' first='Ronny' last='Anokye'] | Running Back | Little Rock Christian | 2025</h3>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='503573' first='Ronny' last='Anokye'] showcases impressive vision, awareness, and bursts out of the backfield. Anokye's athleticism allows him to excel as a north-south runner, with a quick first step and strong acceleration through the tackles. His one-cut ability enables him to get upfield efficiently. He demonstrates good footwork and patience at the line of scrimmage, consistently finding running lanes. Additionally, Anokye is a physical runner with solid contact balance, making him difficult to bring down.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">5A Game of the Week: Harding Academy v. Marion</h2>   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='370460' first='Kaynan' last='Harris'] | Defensive Lineman | Harding Academy | 2025</h3>   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='468365' first='Mitrell' last='Lewis'] | Wide Receiver | Marion | 2025</h3>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='468365' first='Mitrell' last='Lewis'] (6-3, 180) consistently impresses every time he steps on the field. His ability to create separation from defenders, combined with his exceptional athleticism, makes him a standout player. Lewis excels at high-pointing the football, making him a difficult matchup for opposing defensive backs, he's one of the better overall athletes you'll find lined up out wide. </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">3A Game of the Week: Batesville v. Newport</h2>   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1353145' first='Camden' last='Cline'] | ATH | Batesville | 2025</h3>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1353145' first='Camden' last='Cline'] (5-11, 165) showcases a high football IQ on both sides of the ball, excelling in pre-snap positioning and read-and-react skills in the secondary. His quick reaction and closing speed make him a formidable presence, consistently causing pass breakups. On offense, Cline's athleticism shines through in his ability to make difficult catches. Expect Cline to bring intensity and impact to the Pioneers this week on both offense and defense.</p>   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='231812' first='Aamonii' last='Wren'] | ATH | Newport | 2026</h3>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='231812' first='Aamonii' last='Wren']'s (6-0, 160) versatility as a running back, wide receiver, return specialist, and defensive back has already drawn significant attention from Division 1 programs. His athletic ability is highlighted by quick footwork, impressive change of direction, acceleration, and balance. Wren exhibits excellent post-snap vision, reading first-level defenders with patience and exploding through openings with a powerful burst. </p>   <p>As a smooth route runner, he is a YAC threat due to his elusiveness, lateral agility, and ability to accelerate sharply up-field. His body control and hand-eye coordination allow him to adjust mid-route, further enhancing his effectiveness. Wren's combination of speed, athleticism, and explosiveness makes him a dangerous vertical threat, capable of stretching the field and attracting attention from collegiate coaches looking for a versatile and dynamic player.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">2A Game of the Week: Junction City v. Carlisle</h2>   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='806080' first='Brady' last='O. Penister'] | Running Back | Junction City | 2026</h3>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='806080' first='Brady' last='O. Penister'] (5-10, 200) has incredible athleticism and potential, his change of direction and elusiveness is something of note as he demonstrates solid fluidity in his hips and quick footwork. With his impressive build and physical attributes, Penister has all the potential to be a top running back to come out of the 2026 class. </p>   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1235749' first='Gabrial' last='Boyle'] | Linebacker | Carlisle | 2025</h3>   <p>Carlisle linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='1235749' first='Gabrial' last='Boyle'] (5-11, 205) is a dynamic play-maker known for his ability to positively impact both aspects of the running and passing game. Boyle exhibits exceptional sideline-to-sideline speed and his agility and strength enable him to evade blocks. His angles and intuition in the game lead to quite a few quick reaction plays that create momentum for his defensive unit. </p>

The opening week of football in Arkansas brought forth all the excitement and adrenaline we have been waiting for all summer. In last week's game of the week we saw Greenbrier's junior Enoch Assan Enoch Assan 5'8" | 190 lbs | RB Greenbrier | 2026 State AR stake his claim as a name for collegiate coaches to note, however, in this week's game of the week we,re looking at two young players who have bright futures ahead.