With the high school football regular season coming to a close in the state of Arkansas, we have selected eight individuals who have stood out this season. These players have showcased great individual success as well as helping guide their team successfully throughout the season. We ask you, the fans, to vote on who you think has been the Arkansas High School Football Player of the Year for the high school football season this year.
High School on SI voting polls are intended to be a fun way to create fan engagement and express support for your favorite high school athletes and teams. Unless expressly noted, there are no awards for winning the voting. Our primary focus is to highlight the abilities and accomplishments of all the athletes and teams included in our poll. You can vote as often as you wish and are encouraged to share our polls with others. The use of voting bots and other forms of automated voting are not allowed. Individuals will be removed from the poll if any form of automated voting can be verified. – SBLive Sports
Voting closes at 11:59 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 30. The winner will be announced in the following week’s poll. Here are the nominees:
Cobb has the Bruins playing some of the best football in the state leading them to a 6-2 record so far this season. He has completed 230 passes on 368 attempts for 2,720 yards and 34 touchdowns. He can also make plays with his feet when the play breaks down. Cobb has rushed the ball 96 times this season for 538 yards and six touchdowns.
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Through eight games, Ohman has helped led the Rams to a 7-1 record this season with his play from the running back position. He has 1,428 yards and 20 touchdowns on 167 carries. Ohman is averaging 178.5 yards per game and over eight yards per rush. His rushing ability should help the Rams potentially make a deep playoff run this season.
Archer has put together one of the more impressive seasons in terms of efficiency in the entire country this season. He is completing just shy of 80 percent of his passes with only one interception. On the year, he is 150/189 with 2,340 yards and 35 touchdowns. He also has 400 rushing yards and four touchdowns on 40 carries this season.
Sanderson has shown that he is one of the top defensive linemen in the entire state this season. He has recorded 31 solo tackles, 43 total tackles and 13 tackles for a loss. He has been vital as a pass rusher too. Sanderson has 12 sacks and nine quarterback hurries this season. Look for him to continue to create havoc at the line of scrimmage the rest of the season.
Assan is another running back who has shown elite playmaking skills from the running back position this season. He has rushed for 1,530 yards and 18 touchdowns on 177 carries this season. He is difficult to tackle as he is averaging almost nine yards per rush.
Like Assan and Ohman, Holmes is another fantastic running back from the state of Arkansas this season. He has rushed for 985 yards with a staggering 27 touchdowns on 131 attempts this year. Holmes is averaging 7.5 yards per rush, and he has five, 100-yard plus games this season.
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Cooley has been one of the best receivers in the state so far this season. He has 55 receptions on the season for 866 yards and nine touchdowns. Cooley has big play potential which he has shown averaging almost 16 yards per reception while averaging 108 yards per game. His longest reception is 81-yards which came in a loss versus Greenbrier. He has six games where his longest reception was at least 39-yards, and Cooley has three games where his longest reception went over 70-yards.
In six games this season, McLaughlin has rushed for at least 100-yards in each of the six games. He has 164 carries for 1,288 yards and 16 touchdowns this season. He is averaging 7.9 yards per rush with his best average coming in at 24.2 yards per rush in the win over Cave City. He has shown to be reliable out of the backfield too catching the football. In three games, he has six receptions for 106 yards and three touchdowns. As Southside prepares for the playoffs, you can expect McLaughlin to step up for his team with his rushing attack.
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.
