SHERIDAN – Sheridan High School experienced several milestones in football during the 2011 season.
It won a playoff game for the first time in 21 years. It won at White Hall for the first time in 20 years. And it signed three players to college scholarships on Wednesday.
Those three elements are obviously connected.
Bailey McIver (Central Arkansas), Josh Miller (Henderson State) and Justin Rose (Ouachita Baptist) each signed letters in the school library in front of a select group of friends and family.
“I think we had four or five kids here that had a chance to play at the next level,” said Sheridan football coach Louis Campbell. “Anytime you have size and height, you have a chance to play. That’s what everybody’s looking for. But these are great kids with great families. They had the backing and the God-given talent to make it.”
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Miller was an all-around athlete for Sheridan. He performed duties on both sides of the ball, lining up at wide receiver and linebacker to begin the year. He settled in at wide receiver and also returned kickoffs and punts.
“I think this gives the young kids something to think about,” Miller said. “I hope they see us and it will make them want to work harder. This team is going to be young next year. They are going to have to play up.”
Miller is projected to be a tight end in college which may allow him to line up opposite of Rose when Henderson State and Ouachita Baptist play each other in the future.
Rose is expected to play defensive end at Ouachita. Rose lined up all along the offensive and defensive lines at Sheridan while also serving as personal protector for the punter. He also showed leadership qualities that should propel him to success at the college level.
“I just want to say thank you to my teammates,” Rose said. “One player can’t win a game and one player can’t get a college scholarship on their own. I remember asking the team before going into the locker room before our playoff game this year how they wanted to be remembered. Did they want to go out as the team that made it to the playoffs or the team that won in the playoffs?”
McIver was primarily a defensive end for the Yellowjackets but also spent time at linebacker and safety early in his prep career. He is expected to play at defensive end at UCA.
“I’ve grown into that position,” McIver said. “I’m at 6-4, 230 right now but would like to get to 240. I also played some receiver. But I expect to play defensive end when I get there.”
McIver said it was a team effort to accomplish this goal, including Campbell, who just completed his second year at the school.
“I think it was the three of us along with the whole team,” McIver said. “And (Coach Campbell) promoted me well. He helped me through the whole process. I just want to thank everyone for being here and putting this together. I really do appreciate it.”
— Chan Davis
Two Cardinals sign with Arkansas Baptist
Arkansas Baptist College landed two recruits from Dollarway on Wednesday in defensive linemen Michael Brown and Terrence Randall.
Both players said they made their decisions after visiting the Little Rock junior college this past weekend. They made Dollarway the only Pine Bluff-area high school to have more than one player sign football letters of intent on National Signing Day.
“It was kind of something to check out and see if I liked it,” Randall said. “It seemed like the best opportunity for me. I’m very excited. I didn’t see myself going to college until Arkansas Baptist.”
Brown also was a linebacker and fullback for the Cardinals, who reached their third state semifinal since 2007 in Class 4A this past season. He expects to play linebacker and defensive end for the Buffaloes.
“It seemed like a good school, just like Dollarway, basically,” Brown said. “I could see myself starting there.”
Dollarway coach Cortez Lee said he thought Arkansas Baptist was impressed with the players’ workouts. Lee said the main thing for the players is getting the chance to further their education.
— I.C. Murrell
Fordyce standout lands with Ouachita Baptist
Fordyce’s Markel Bulliner wanted a place he could be comfortable with, and after receiving interest from four different universities, he chose Ouachita Baptist.
“It’s a big privilege and I am really excited about it,” he said. “I am going to take advantage of it.”
Bulliner said he received interest from Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Henderson State and Arkansas-Monticello, as well.
But Ouachita Baptist came out on top.
“I just liked the enviroment and football-wise, I think I have an advantage at Ouachita,” he said.
Bulliner said he will not be redshirting and will play either safety or cornerback and maybe wide receiver.
— Justin Rust
Thorton chooses Arkansas Tech
MONTICELLO — Monticell0’s Edwin Thorton had one main word to describe Arkansas Tech — nice.
So it was no surprise he offically signed with Wonderboys Wednesday.
“The campus is nice, school’s nice, facilities are nice,” Thorton said. “Basically, everything about Arkansas Tech is nice and I am looking forward to getting on campus and being a part of the Wonderboy family.”
Thorton will play defensive back and he does not know if he will redshirt this upcoming seaosn or not.
“There’s lots of opportunity since they run a 3-3-5, so lots of defensive backs,” he said. “Come out the two weeks of spring, if I bust my butt, I could possibly see some time as a freshman.”
— Justin Rust