Little Rock Parkview hasn't reached the state playoff semifinals since 1983.
But the Class 6A Patriots appear poised for a deep postseason run this fall since 18 starters return for a program that has produced three consecutive quarterfinal appearances.
Little Rock Parkview
COACH William Hardiman
CONFERENCE 6A-South
2014 RECORD 6-6
KEY RETURNERS DL Kenyon Jackson, 6-0, 270, Sr.; DL Markell Utsey, 6-3, 290, Sr.; DB Denzel McElroy, 5-11, 185, Sr.
SCHEDULE
DATE;OPPONENT
Sept. 4;at Mills
Sept. 11;LR Fair
Sept. 18;LR Catholic
Sept. 25;at Benton*
Oct. 2;Pine Bluff*
Oct. 9;LR Hall*
Oct. 16;at Sheridan*
Oct. 23;Texarkana*
Oct. 30;at Lake Hamilton*
Nov. 6;El Dorado*
*6A-South game
Parkview, 6-6 last season, will lean heavily on one of the school's largest senior classes in years, a 24-man contingent armed with size and speed.
Two players are orally committed to FBS programs, and a handful of others have a chance to play college football, said William Hardiman, Parkview's coach since 2007.
"I'm hoping it's the best team I've ever had," Hardiman said. "We'll see. I know defensively we're going to be stout."
Parkview's defensive headliners are senior linemen Kenyon Jackson, 6-0, 270 pounds, and Markell Utsey, 6-3, 290.
Jackson orally committed last month to Illinois and will be a four-year starter this fall. Utsey orally committed last month to Arizona.
They would be the first Little Rock School District football players to sign out of high school with an FBS program since Parkview linebacker Michael Johnson signed with Louisiana-Monroe in 2011.
Jackson is a son of former Parkview and Oklahoma tight end great Keith Jackson.
Keith Jackson, a senior on Parkview's 1983 state runner-up team, has been tapped to direct the offense this fall after working behind the scenes the past few years at this alma mater.
Hardiman said Jackson will have a much more active role in the program because the Arkansas Activities Association, the state's governing body for high school athletics, is allowing "registered volunteer" coaches for football this season.
Hardiman, who had called plays, will now run the defense.
"It's not going to be a big transition," Hardiman said. "Keith knows what I want to do. The AAA passing that rule helped us out tremendously."
Jackson's son, junior Koilan Jackson, 6-1, 195, returns at quarterback. He ran for three touchdowns and threw a touchdown pass in last year's 41-20 victory over tradition-rich Lake Hamilton, one of the signature moments of the Hardiman era.
Hardiman said Parkview will continue to run the Spread and believes Jackson will be much more comfortable this fall.
"He's a lot more experienced and recognizes things a little easier," Hardiman said.
Senior wide receiver Amari James, 6-2, 185, finished second in the 110 hurdles at last spring's Class 6A state track and field meet. Another senior wide receiver, Kolby McNeil, ran on Parkview's 400-meter relay team last spring.
Junior running back Jason Green, 6-1, 200, ran for 224 yards in a first-round playoff victory over Searcy last fall.
Senior cornerback Lamar Hardiman didn't play last season (shoulder injury), but William Hardiman said his son possesses good coverage skills.
William Hardiman said he believes senior defensive back Denzel McElroy, 5-11, 185, is a college prospect because of his outstanding speed.
"We feel good about what we've got coming back and what we've got around us," Hardiman said.
Sports on 08/20/2015