With the Arkansas high school football season a few weeks away, the SBLive staff is looking at each classification’s conferences. We will predict the order of finish in each league. In this installment, we dive into Class 3A.
3A-1
1. Booneville
2. Mansfield
3. Charleston
4. West Fork
5. Lavaca
6. Hackett
7. Greenland
8. Cedarville
Why Booneville?
The defending Class 3A champions lose some big contributors from last season, including two-way star Dax Goff, but with a core group of starters returning on both sides, the Bearcats are gunning for a repeat. The perennial power always has state-title goals, and this year won’t be different, but the 3A-1 will be tough to navigate with a rejuvenated Mansfield and rival Charleston challenging at the top and other teams improving.
3A-2
1. Salem
2. Mayflower
3. Melbourne
4. Quitman
5. Atkins
6. Mountain View
7. Yellville-Summit
8. Episcopal
Why Salem?
Salem is the logical pick after winning 11 games for the first time in more than 10 years last fall. The Greyhounds must replace some key cogs but have a veteran defense returning. The toughest conference game will be at Mayflower in Week 9. The Eagles could win the league title as they drop down from 4A, but the Greyhounds have a slight edge in experience.
3A-3
1. Rivercrest
2. Newport
3. Walnut Ridge
4. Hoxie
5. Osceola
6. Manila
7. Harrisburg
8. Piggott
Why Rivercrest?
Walnut Ridge is a trendy pick with a group of veterans returning. Rivercrest was the runner-up in Class 4A last season and now moves down a class with some stars returning, including veteran senior quarterback Cavonta Washington, who accounted for more than 2,300 yards of offense last year. Newport will challenge after Penn State running back commit Kiandre Barker transferred there this summer. This league will be very competitive, and the games with these three teams will be highly anticipated, and Hoxie and Osceola won’t go quietly, either. Rivercrest gets the nod with successful head coach Johnny Fleming leading the charge.
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3A-4
1. Perryville
2. Glen Rose
3. Jessieville
4. Paris
5. Magnet Cove
6. Cutter Morning Star
7. Danville
8. Two Rivers
Why Perryville?
It’s hard not to go with Glen Rose considering its tradition, but the Beavers are inexperienced and the Mustangs could be on the brink of something special, returning 16 starters from a team that finished 8-4 a season ago. Connor Frith is one of the most complete football players in the state engineering the offense at quarterback and patrolling the defense at safety, where he intercepted 12 passes last year. Glen Rose at Perryville on Oct. 18 will be a great game.
SEE ARKANSAS HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL SCORES HERE
SEE ARKANSAS ARKANSAS HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL SCHEDULES HERE
3A-7
1. Prescott
2. Bismarck
3. Harmony Grove OC
4. Centerpoint
5. Smackover
6. Fouke
7. Parkers Chapel
8. Horatio
Why Prescott?
The defending state runners-up are loaded again and should be back in Little Rock in December. The league schedule might be a bit tougher than last season, however. If some of these teams do take lumps from the ultra-talented Curley Wolves, who feature Tulsa commit Decari Prater at quarterback, they could make some noise in the playoffs because the likes of Bismarck and Camden Harmony Grove Ouachita County have talented, veteran squads.
3A-8
1. Fordyce
2. McGehee
3. Dumas
4. Barton
5. Rison
6. Drew Central
7. Palestine-Wheatley
8. Lake Village
Why Fordyce?
Some will pick McGehee because the Owls are moving down to 3A after some great success in 4A. McGehee, though, is coming off an uncharacteristic down year at 5-5 and returns just 10 starters from that club. Conversely, Fordyce returns a veteran club from a squad that won a playoff game and lost to Prescott, 7-6, in the second round of the playoffs. The Redbugs were 6-6 but take a bigger jump this year under veteran coach Tim Rodgers, whose teams have won two state titles at the school. The Fordyce-McGehee game is the final week of the regular season at Fordyce and will likely be for the league title.
The Arkansas Court of Appeals released opinions Wednesday. The court’s ruling and the names of the cases are reprinted here. The full opinions and other court proceedings, including per curiam decisions, orders and submissions, can be found on the internet at arcourts.gov.
PROCEEDINGS OF Jan. 7, 2026
CHIEF JUDGE N. MARK KLAPPENBACH
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CR-23-821. Kenneth Steward v. State of Arkansas, from Benton County Circuit Court. Affirmed. Gladwin and Brown, JJ., agree.
JUDGE ROBERT J. GLADWIN
CR-25-24. Bryce Anderson v. State of Arkansas, from Benton County Circuit Court. Affirmed. Virden and Harrison, JJ., agree.
JUDGE CASEY R. TUCKER
CV-24-537. Flywheel Energy Production, LLC v. Van Buren County, Arkansas; and Van Buren County Judge Dale James, in His Official Capacity as Van Buren County Judge, from Van Buren County Circuit Court. Reversed and dismissed. Abramson and Harrison, JJ., agree.
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JUDGE WENDY SCHOLTENS WOOD
CV-24-209. LRS South, LLC v. Benton County Solid Waste Management District and the Benton County Solid Waste Management District Board, from Benton County Circuit Court. Reversed and remanded. Hixson and Murphy, JJ., agree.
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Arkansas continued its offseason roster work by adding a transfer defensive back and securing a future offensive line piece from Texas, addressing both immediate depth and long-term development.
The Razorbacks announced the signing of Georgia State defensive back Tyler Scott, a transfer with multiple years of eligibility remaining, while also landing Carey Clayton, an offensive lineman from Southlake Carroll High School, as part of the 2026 recruiting class.
Scott joins the Hogs after spending the 2025 season at Georgia State, where he appeared in two games and recorded four tackles. He arrives in Fayetteville with three years of eligibility remaining, giving Arkansas flexibility in how he’s developed and used in the secondary.
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Before his time at Georgia State, Scott spent two seasons at Auburn. One of those seasons was cut short due to an ACL injury, limiting his opportunity to contribute on the field.
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The Razorbacks now provide him with a chance to reset and compete in a defensive back room that continues to evolve.
At 6 feet tall, Scott adds experience to a secondary that has seen significant turnover through the transfer portal. His addition gives the Hogs another option at defensive back as the staff works through spring and fall evaluations.
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Clayton strengthens 2026 offensive line class
Arkansas also added a future piece up front with the commitment of Carey Clayton, a 6-foot-3, 270-pound offensive lineman from Southlake Carroll, one of Texas’ most consistent high school programs.
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Clayton helped Southlake Carroll complete an undefeated regular season last fall and reach the state semifinals. He enters college football as a consensus three-star prospect, ranked among the top offensive line recruits in Texas.
In addition to Arkansas, Clayton held offers from Air Force, Arkansas State, Florida Atlantic, UAB and UTEP. He ultimately chose the Razorbacks, becoming the 16th commitment in the Hogs’ 2026 recruiting class.
Clayton is ranked around No. 251 nationally and No. 141 in Texas. While not among the highest-rated prospects in the class, his high school experience and physical development make him a long-term project for Arkansas’ offensive line.
Hogs continue roster building
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The additions of Scott and Clayton reflect the Hogs’ continued focus on roster balance. Scott becomes the 23rd transfer portal addition this offseason, reinforcing a secondary that has emphasized competition and depth.
Clayton’s commitment adds to a growing 2026 class that prioritizes size and developmental upside, particularly along the offensive line.
Arkansas has steadily worked to build future depth in the trenches while supplementing current needs through the portal.
While neither move is designed to generate immediate headlines, both fit into a broader plan aimed at improving roster stability.
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Scott offers experience and flexibility in the defensive backfield, while Clayton provides a long-term option at a position that often requires patience.
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As the Razorbacks move through the offseason, these additions help establish depth at key positions and give the coaching staff more options heading into the coming seasons.
Key takeaways
Arkansas added Georgia State transfer defensive back Tyler Scott, who brings experience and remaining eligibility to the secondary.
The Razorbacks signed 2026 Texas offensive lineman Carey Clayton, adding size and long-term depth up front.
The Hogs continue balancing immediate roster needs with long-term development through recruiting and the portal.
John Brummett’s career in news began when he was in high school, as a part-time reporter for the Arkansas Democrat. He moved to the Arkansas Gazette in 1977.
He wrote a political column for the Gazette from 1986 to 1990. He was an editor for the Arkansas Times from 1990 to 1992.
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In 1994, his book, “High Wire: From the Back Roads to the Beltway, the Education of Bill Clinton,” was published by Hyperion of New York City. He became a columnist with the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette in 1994. In 2000, he signed a deal with Donrey Media Group, now known as Stephens Media, and wrote for them for 11 years.
He rejoined Democrat-Gazette as a columnist on Oct. 24, 2011.
