Bret Bielema suggested recently the idea of a high school all-star game involving Arkansas and Missouri to generate interest for the “Battle Line Rivalry” between the Razorbacks and Tigers. Missouri coach Barry Odom supports the idea as well.
If it happens, we’d be comfortable in taking the field with players on our All-Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette preseason team.
Arkansas fans would enjoy the sight of quarterback Connor Noland of Greenwood throwing to receiver Sean Michael Flanagan of Charleston. Both are Razorback commits and exceptional all-around athletes. Noland is a returning all-state player who threw for over 2,000 yards and 18 touchdowns last season. He is also a top baseball prospect who will play for the Razorbacks if he doesn’t turn pro after his senior year.
Flanagan frustrates opponents with his ability to score in a variety of ways from anywhere on the field. He scored 31 touchdowns last season, including a combined seven TDs on punt and kickoff returns. He can also line up and take a direction snap from center, if asked.
Flanagan isn’t the only playmaker an all-star team from Missouri would have to worry about. Kam’Ron Mays-Hunt of Bentonville caught 77 passes for nearly 2,000 yards last season while Brayden Johnson of Alma hauled in 88 passes for 1,153 yards. Both are deep threats and Johnson completed two of his four passes for touchdowns last season.
On defense, our All-Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette team is loaded with talent from front to back.
The trenches are anchored by two players from Spring-dale, Alejandro Ramirez of Springdale Har-Ber and Isaiah Nichols of Springdale High. Nichols recently committed to Arkansas over a dozen other schools after leading the Bulldogs with 50 tackles last year.
The secondary is headed by players with familiar last names, Blaze Brothers of Springdale Har-Ber and Jadyn Loudermilk of Benton-ville High. Brothers, a three-year starter at cornerback, is the son of Richard Brothers, a former cornerback with the Razorbacks. Loudermilk is a returning all-conference player who made 52 tackles last year. He is the son of Hubert Loudermilk, who was a wide receiver and kick returner for the Razorbacks.
If the outcome of a game hinges on special teams, our Arkansas team can trot out Jesus Zizumbo, a soccer star and placekicker at Har-Ber. The all-state performer made 6 of 8 field attempts last season, including a 51-yarder against rival Springdale.
OK, Missouri, this is our team. Just name the time and place.