Week 1 Prime Time Players

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Saturday afternoons bring college football and the weekly Prime Time Players article from Prep Redzone Arkansas. We highlight the players that had tremendous performances on Friday night. The talent in the Natural State is impressive and the players, teams, and coaches do a great job of putting in the work to prepare for Friday night. This our time to highlight the prospects that lit it up.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='637665' first='Trenton' last='Cooley']-Wide Receiver-Van Buren -5'10” 165-Pounds-2025</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Over the past few years, [player_tooltip player_id='637665' first='Trenton' last='Cooley'] has been a wide receiver that you can count on to make a big play. The multi-sport prospect has the quickness to create separation from opposing defenders. Which is a talent he put on display on Friday night against Springdale. On Friday, Cooley hauled in 14 receptions for 251 yards and 2 touchdowns. Cooley is a wide receiver that I expect to have a big season for the Pointers this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='221259' first='Cash' last='Archer']-Linebacker-Greenwood-6'2” 222-Pounds-2025</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='221259' first='Cash' last='Archer'] has started the season in impressive fashion. He is doing a good job of showcasing his speed at the linebacker position for the Bulldogs. Archer excels at diagnosing the play and putting himself in position to make the tackle. Against Fort Smith Northside on Friday, Archer had another impressive outing. Archer had 9 tackles, 8 tackles for loss, 1 sack, and 1 forced fumble on the night. The Greenwood linebacker is off to a strong start this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1316501' first='Kevin' last='Young Jr.'] -Running Back-Forrest City-5'11” 225-Pounds-2026</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Forrest City running back continues to play at a high level as the season starts to heat up early in the season. [player_tooltip player_id='1316501' first='Kevin' last='Young Jr.'] does a good job of finding the rushing lanes and exploding through the hole. He had another strong performance against Wynne this week. Young Jr. rushed for 176 yards on 13 carries. Meanwhile, he was able to punch the ball in the end zone 2 times on the night.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='361302' first='Grayson' last='Wilson']-Quarterback-Conway-6'4” 200-Pounds-2025</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='361302' first='Grayson' last='Wilson'] got off to a great start and has kept the momentum rolling this week. The Wampus Cats took on the Bentonville Tigers this week. [player_tooltip player_id='361302' first='Grayson' last='Wilson'] was able to pick apart the opposing secondary this week. Wilson as 19 of 26 for 337 yards and 4 touchdowns on the night. Meanwhile, he was able to churn out 11 yards on the ground. Wilson continues to light up the scoreboard each week and is a player to watch this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='441618' first='Jeremiah' last='Dent']-Running Back-Marion-5'10” 160-Pounds-2027</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='441618' first='Jeremiah' last='Dent'] is a big play waiting to happen each time he carries the ball for the Marion Patriots. Dent is a patient running back that allows the rushing lane to develop before exploding through the hole. He makes the most of his carries and racks up big chunks of yardage in the process. Dent has 2 carries for 85 yards on the night. He is a player to watch out for over the next couple of seasons for Marion.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='789982' first='Micah' last='Gamble']-Athlete-Fordyce-5'9” 170-Pounds-2027</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Fordyce athlete is one of the most dynamic prospects in the class of 2027. Gamble has the versatility to line up all over the field for the Redbugs. He is a player that is productive on both sides of the ball for Fordyce. Against Magnet Cove, Gamble had 3 carries for 124 yards on the ground. Meanwhile, he did damage as a wide receiver as well. Gamble caught 2 passes for 88 yards on the night.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1158067' first='Ty' last='Menard']-Linebacker-Pocahontas-6'0” 210-Pounds-2025</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Over the past few years, [player_tooltip player_id='1158067' first='Ty' last='Menard'] has been a linebacker that rarely comes off of the field for the Redskins. He reads the play well and puts himself in position to make the tackle. Menard has the speed needed to get sideline to sideline. He knows when to drop back into coverage and disrupt the passing game. Against Greene County Tech on Friday, Menard had 12 tackles on the night. I look for him to have a strong 2024 season for Pocahontas this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='392413' first='Christian' last='Battles']-Running Back-Fayetteville-5'11” 226-Pounds-2025</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Fayetteville Bulldogs have an explosive offense that can beat a team in a variety of ways. Fayetteville running back [player_tooltip player_id='392413' first='Christian' last='Battles'] has gotten off to a great start to the season. Battles is a running back that gets stronger as the game progresses. He is a decisive runner that seems to always pick the proper rushing lanes. On Friday night, Battles racked up over 200 yards on the ground and 3 touchdowns. Battles is setting the stage for a big season for the Bulldogs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='777109' first='Pierre' last='Pickens']-Wide Receiver-Little Rock Christian-6'3” 197-Pounds-2027</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Little Rock Christian wide receiver is a prospect that is nightmare for opposing defensive backs to account for on the field. He has the athletic ability to grab the football at its highest level. Pickens works his way open to catch the football in impressive fashion. Pickens was on the receiving end of 3 receptions for 51 yards and a touchdown. He is a wide receiver to watch out for over the next few years.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='401190' first='Isiah' last='Reese']-Linebacker-Joe T. Robinson-6'0” 200-Pounds-2026</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='401190' first='Isiah' last='Reese'] opens eyes every time he steps on the field. He is a linebacker that sheds blocks quickly and gets to the ball carrier. He has the speed to drop back into pass coverage. The Robinson linebacker plugs up rushing lanes. He does a great job of bringing down the ball carrier. On Friday night, Reese had 18 tackles and 2 tackles for loss on the night. He is a prospect to watch out for over the course of the season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1192186' first='Tavien' last='Clegg']-Running Back-Malvern-5'9” 155-Pounds-2026</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Malvern does an excellent job of producing talented running backs. Clegg just gets stronger the more carries he gets in the games. He does a great job of allowing his blockers to open up rushing lanes. On Friday night, he rushed 15 times for 203 yards and 3 touchdowns. Meanwhile, he had 2 receptions for 7 yards and 1 touchdown this week. Clegg is a running back with the potential to put up some big numbers this season for the Leopards.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='202575' first='Kane' last='Archer']-Quarterback-Greenwood-6'1” 207-Pounds-2026</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Greenwood signal caller has not slowed down one bit this season. He has no problem slicing up opposing defenses with his arm as well as his legs. On Friday night, he was 21 of 27 for 318 yards and 3 touchdowns. However, he was not finished, Archer rushed for 2 touchdowns on the night. Archer is setting the stage for a big season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->