The wait until the 2023 high school football season keeps getting shorter, but it is still talking season for at least a couple more weeks. In honor of that, Best of Arkansas Sports has put a spotlight on who we deem as the 20 best high school football players in the state.
We searched every corner of the Natural State to find the overall best at their positions, regardless of class. Six of the 20 listed are committed to play for the Arkansas football program, while each of them has already received offers to play at the next level.
Here is 11-20 in our countdown:
20. Bryson Adamoh | Bryant | 6-0, 180 | DB | 2024
Bryson Adamoh shared the same defensive backfield as the Graham twins – Malachi and Miguel – who both signed with Central Arkansas, so it is understandable that he’s been a bit under the radar. He helped Bryant win its fifth consecutive 7A state title last year while collecting 36 tackles, including four for a loss, and nabbing three interceptions with four pass breakups.
Originally committed to former Razorback defensive coordinator Barry Odom and UNLV in April, Adamoh reopened his commitment on Aug. 2. The three-star prospect also owns Division I offers from Arkansas Pine-Bluff, Central Arkansas, Jackson State, Mississippi Valley State and Navy.
19. Alex Martin | LR Parkview | 6-2, 300 | DL | 2024
In his first varsity game as a sophomore, Alex Martin made his mark with a scoop and score. As a starter on both the offensive and defensive lines last season, he helped Parkview win the 5A state championship. He graded out at 93% with 52 knockdown blocks on offense, while collecting 39 tackles, seven tackles for loss, two sacks, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery on defense.
He committed to Arkansas State on Aug. 2 after receiving offers from Cincinnati, Kansas State, Arkansas-Pine Bluff and Jackson State.
18. Antonio Jordan | Warren | 6-4, 215 | WR | 2025
The next high-profile wide receiver prospect to come out of Bradley County, Antonio Jordan hauled in 43 passes for 1,041 yards and 14 touchdowns while helping the Lumberjacks win 12 games and finish the 2022 season in the 4A quarterfinals.
Jordan earned his first offer from Arkansas in November, while Florida State, South Carolina and Tennessee have also offered the rangy pass catcher. On3 ranks Jordan as the 70th-best receiver in the 2025 class.
17. Joseph McVay | Earle | 6-0, 180 | WR | 2024
A gem tucked away in the Northeast Arkansas Delta, Joseph McVay excels on the gridiron, as well as in basketball and track. He led Earle to eight wins in 2022, making 69 catches for 1,573 yards (23 yards/catch) and 22 touchdowns, while also collecting multiple interceptions on defense.
The three-star prospect committed to Vanderbilt on June 28 and also holds offers from Arkansas State, Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Penn State, Purdue, South Carolina, Texas A&M and others.
16. Jalen Dupree | Malvern | 6-0, 225 | RB | 2024
Jalen Dupree was named Player of the Year by multiple media outlets last year, as well as being named the Most Valuable Player in the 4A state championship game. He compiled more 3,000 yards of total offense, including over 2,800 on the ground, and 41 touchdowns while averaging 9.4 yards per carry.
He committed to Colorado State on June 30 over offers from Air Force, Alcorn State, Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Arkansas State, Army, Austin Peay, Boston College, Central Arkansas, Eastern Michigan, Grambling State, Kansas State, Liberty, Navy, Purdue, Tulsa and UNLV.
15. Brian Huff | Valley View | 6-4, 225 | LB | SR
Brian Huff is a natural linebacker who can play the position at a high level, as well as come off the edge and rush when the situation arises. The four-star prospect had offers from the likes of LSU, Notre Dame and Oklahoma before trimming his list to Arkansas, Missouri, UCF and UNLV. He ultimately committed to Alma native Eli Drinkwitz and Missouri in July.
As a junior, Huff helped Valley View win its first conference championship since 2019. He collected 92 total tackles, seven tackles for loss, three fumble recoveries, one forced fumble and two pass breakups.
14. Drake Lindsey | Fayetteville | 6-5, 220 | QB | 2024
Following the graduation of Bladen Fike, there were many questions surrounding Fayetteville’s quarterback situation entering last season. Drake Lindsey quickly showed the Purple Dog faithful what they were getting, passing for 334 yards and two touchdowns in a loss to Cabot in the season opener. For the remainder of 2022, Lindsey led one of the top offenses in the state while also being one of the best statistically, completing 260 of 388 passes for 3,620 yards and 37 touchdowns with just three interceptions.
Lindsey committed to Minnesota in May over offers from Alabama-Birmingham, Colorado State, Missouri State, South Alabama, Tulsa and UNLV.
13. Austyn Dendy | Pine Bluff | 6-1, 200 | ATH | 2024
While still a little green, Austyn Dendy produced at multiple spots on both sides of the ball for the Zebras and will only continue to improve with one more prep season. He averaged five yards per carry on the ground and hauled in 38 passes for 515 yards and six touchdowns, while snagging three interceptions on defense last year.
The three-star prospect took multiple visits to Division I programs over the summer and owns FBS offers from Arkansas State, Mississippi State, Liberty, Michigan State, Missouri, Ole Miss, Purdue, Tulsa and UNLV.
12. Wyatt Simmons | Harding Academy | 6-3, 220 | LB | 2024
Social media has been proven to provide a platform for athletes and Wyatt Simmons is one of the more recent examples of that. His father, Paul Simmons, is the head coach at Harding University and was really the only one recruiting him prior to this summer. He decided to put a highlight tape together to send out to coaches and then the offers started rolling in.
Simmons created his Twitter account on May 9 to share his highlights and, at the time of this publication, has posted 23 times since – all to announce various Division I offers. A three-star prospect, he has an offer list that includes Arkansas, Auburn, Clemson, Florida State, Oklahoma, Texas and USC among others. Simmons is coming off a junior season in which he made 84 tackles, 15 tackles for loss and six sacks while leading Harding Academy to its fourth straight state title game appearance.
11. Vinny Winters | Malvern | 6-4, 305 | OL | 2024
Malvern was one of the top offenses in the state last year regardless of classification, finishing with nearly 7,000 yards of total offense, and it all began with Vinny Winters & Co. up front. He has started at left tackle since his freshman season and last year helped the Leopards win their first state championship since 1993.
Arkansas offered the three-star prospect in January of his freshman year while his current list also includes Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Arkansas State, Central Arkansas, Kansas State, Memphis, Missouri, Southeast Missouri State, Tennessee-Martin and UNLV.
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