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From ‘farm kid’ to football star: How a 4-star 2026 Arkansas tackle caught Ohio State’s eye: Buckeyes recruiting

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From ‘farm kid’ to football star: How a 4-star 2026 Arkansas tackle caught Ohio State’s eye: Buckeyes recruiting


COLUMBUS, Ohio – A little over a year ago, Class of 2026 offensive tackle Evan Goodwin held no scholarship offers and wasn’t sure Division I football was in the cards for him.

Now, the 6-foot-7, 325-pound junior from Arkansas boasts offers from the likes of Notre Dame, LSU, Oklahoma and more, and is now in possession of an offer from the Ohio State Buckeyes.

Goodwin possesses a four-star composite ranking from 247Sports.com, is rated the No. 4 overall player in Arkansas and is a top-30 offensive tackle nationally.

Goodwin announced via social media that he had picked up his offer from the Buckeyes, and talked with cleveland.com

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about how it went down.

He had just left a gathering with friends and was about to go lift at the gym when he got a call from an unknown number. It turned out to be OSU offensive line coach Tyler Bowen.

“I realize it’s Coach Bowen and I’m like, ‘Wow,’ ” Goodwin said.

“We just start having a conversation and it’s flowing really easily– I really like Coach Bowen. We both come from similar backgrounds: he was a farm kid, I’m a farm kid. About 15-20 minutes into the conversation he just said ‘Hey, I want you to know you’re offered by Ohio State and I really want you here.’ That meant a lot to me.”

Goodwin said his initial reaction was to freak out at the realization that the reigning national champions had extended him an offer.

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“And as soon as I got off the phone I went upstairs and started celebrating with my mom, I’ve got to be honest,” Goodwin said. “[My family’s] my No. 1 supporters, so I just went and celebrated with my mom.”

His offer pool has ballooned this winter with power programs around the country taking interest, and his visit schedule has followed suit.

There’s already a visit scheduled with Ohio State for late March, but it’s not just football that Goodwin’s looking forward to learning about while in Columbus.

“Ohio State has really good academics, which is a really big thing for me,” he said. “Football ends and you need to have a degree or something to fall back on. Whether it’s five years or 15 years in the NFL, it ends. It’s not forever.”

He has plenty of visits and offers to consider.

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“What excites me the most about all this recruiting is being able to make my choice of where I want to go and the place where I’m going to be developed for the next level. That’s my main goal – I want to learn,” Goodwin said.

“I strive to get better every day, and that’s just what I want to do. I want to go someplace where I can be developed to my full potential so I can make it to the league someday.”

In terms of high school development, Goodwin spent the past three years in the pro-style offense of Pulaski Academy in Arkansas but has transferred to Bauxite High School, which features a run-heavy offense.

He’s shined in pass protection, but is excited to flash his ground skills on the front foot of a run-first, gap-creating offense. Having such a diverse experience in high school is something his prospective schools will keep an eye on.

Goodwin’s highlights thus are full of plays featuring his strong hands, powerful first step and execution. He’s “pretty athletic” for a guy his size, he says, and the film backs that up.

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“This year, I’m excited to take it to somebody,” Goodwin said.



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Arkansas needs balanced strategy to address educator concerns about AI

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Arkansas needs balanced strategy to address educator concerns about AI


COMMENTARY: While AI can offer transformative support for students who need it, it also risks eroding the foundational skills we are trying to help them acquire. Arkansas needs a balanced strategy that prioritizes accessibility without sacrificing rigor.



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Congressional subcommittee to hold hearing in Little Rock on ‘failures’ of local housing authority | Arkansas Democrat Gazette

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Congressional subcommittee to hold hearing in Little Rock on ‘failures’ of local housing authority | Arkansas Democrat Gazette


Joseph Flaherty

jflaherty@adgnewsroom.com

Joseph Flaherty covers the city of Little Rock for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. A graduate of Middlebury College and Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism, he has worked for the newspaper since 2020.

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11 people arrested in connection with various charges in Northwest Arkansas | Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

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11 people arrested in connection with various charges in Northwest Arkansas | Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette


Arrests

Benton County Sheriff’s Office

Scott Minor, 45, of Elm Street in Jefferson City, Mo., was arrested Friday on suspicion of computer child pornography and sexually grooming a child. Minor was being held Monday in the Benton County Jail with a $150,000 bond set.

Bentonville

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Damond Drake, 52, of West Highland Drive in Rogers was arrested Saturday on suspicion of delivery of methamphetamine or cocaine. Drake was being held Monday in the Benton County Jail with no bond set.

Fayetteville

Cornelius Anderson, 33, of Dawn Street in Fayetteville was arrested Saturday on suspicion of third-degree assault on a family member, third-degree domestic battery, first-degree criminal mischief and theft of property. Anderson remained at the Washington County Detention Center Monday in lieu of $5,000 bond.

Eduard Korshakov, 37, of Prairie Dunes Trail in Fayetteville was arrested Saturday on suspicion of aggravated assault on a family or household member, kidnapping, first-degree false imprisonment, third-degree domestic battery and interference with emergency communications. Korshakov remained at the Washington County Detention Center Monday in lieu of $25,000 bond.

Efrain Quiroz, 29, of North Shamblin Avenue in Fayetteville was arrested Sunday on suspicion of second-degree battery and second-degree endangering the welfare of a minor. Quiroz remained at the Washington County Detention Center Monday in lieu of $25,000 bond.

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Leo Ward, 21, of West Tanner Drive in Fayetteville was arrested Sunday on suspicion of aggravated residential burglary and stalking. Ward was released from the Washington County Detention Center Monday on $25,000 bond.

Rogers

John Jenkins, 21, of Arkansas 351 in Jonesboro was arrested Saturday on suspicion of fraudulent use of credit/debit card. Jenkins was being held Monday in the Benton County Jail with no bond set.

Springdale

Ashlyn Neal, 19, of Powell Street in Springdale was arrested Saturday on suspicion of kidnapping, second-degree battery, endangering the welfare of a minor, resisting arrest and obstruction of government operations. Neal was released from the Washington County Detention Center Saturday on $5,000 bond.

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Jose Neal, 37, of South Powell Street in Springdale was arrested Saturday on suspicion of second-degree domestic battery, third-degree domestic battery, interference with emergency communications and resisting arrest. Neal was released from the Washington County Detention Center Saturday on $5,000 bond.

Skyler Shane, 31, of Highway 62 in Westville, Ok., was arrested Sunday on suspicion of Possession of a Schedule I or II controlled substance with intent to deliver, simultaneous possession of drugs and a firearm, carrying a prohibited weapon and disorderly conduct. Shane was released from the Washington County Detention Center Sunday on $3,500 bond.

University of Arkansas Police Department

Celso Adame-Gallegos, 19 of Jade Street in Springdale was arrested Friday on suspicion of possession of a Schedule VI controlled substance with intent to deliver. Adame-Gallegos was released from the Washington County Detention Center Saturday on $5,000 bond.

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