State’s top quarterbacks absent from challenge

— Jason Allen isn’t concerned with the top quarterbacks who aren’t participating in his Arkansas Athletes Outreach Top Gun Challenge this weekend.

The threeday competition began Thursday and finishes with four on-field events tonight at Springdale High School. The challenge has attracted a who’s wholist of top quarterbacks in the state since its inaugural event in 2004.

The state has three quarterbacks who have made oral commitments to Division I schools: Fayetteville’s Brandon Allen (Arkansas), Shiloh Christian’s Kiehl Frazier (Auburn) and Springdale’s Joseph Calcagni (Tulsa). None willcompete in the Top Gun, an event Frazier won in 2009 as a junior.

This year, because of injuries and schedule conflicts, the challenge has more quarterbacks. Allen, a former Arkansas quarterback, said he was absolutely not disappointed tohave some big names missing.

“I’m in it for the kids,” Allen said. “I don’t care if they’re stars. We’ve got kids who drove six hours to make a name for themselves. That’s exciting.”

Harrisburg’s Zach Davis and Clarksville’s Trey Schucker were the top finishers from 2009 who were expected to compete this year. Davis, second to Frazier last year, withdrew Tuesday with an injury, leaving Schucker the top returner after his fourthplace finish in 2009.

Schucker, 6-4, 220 pounds, has impressed Allen in the early days of the camp, when quarterbacks do drills and study defenses in a classroom setting. Schucker had a great camp at LSU earlier this summer, Allen said.

“Trey Schucker is probably the biggest quarterback in the state,” Allen said. “He’s impressive when he throws the football. He’s paying the price to get recognized.”

Other quarterbacks Allen expects to contend for the TopGun title are Greenbrier’s Neal Burcham, Texarkana’s Kierra Harris and Jonesboro’s Moe Malugen.

“We wanted to impact as many kids as we can,” Allen said. “We wanted to invite as many as possible who wanted to come.”AAO Top Gun Challenge WHAT Quarterback competition featuring several of the top high school quarterbacks in the state. Players will go through physical testing, mental testing and take part in an on-the-field skills competition.

WHEN On-field competition begins at 7 p.m. today.

WHERE Shiloh Christian’s Field of Champions, Springdale ADMISSION $5. Children younger than 7 admitted free.

Top Gun quarterbacksNAME SCHOOL Neal Burcham Greenbrier Ryan Chambers Magazine Colton Davis Gravette Clayton Davis GCT Austin Fitts Hamburg Presley Griffith Fouke Dallas Hardison Bentonville Kierra Harris Texarkana Sebastian Irvin Hoxie Gage Jensen Alma Brandon Keaton Camden Fairview

Drew Knowles Vilonia

Spencer Langston Bigelow

Moe Malugen Jonesboro

Brock May Booneville

Austin McCourt Alma

Cole Moore Nashville

Garrett Rucker Arkadelphia

Trey Schucker Clarksville

Dezmond Stegall Searcy

Cody Stevens Huntsville

Robert Teague Elkins

Cheyenne Vaughn Lincoln

Sports, Pages 23 on 07/24/2010

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