Arkansas Class 7A high school football team previews: Cabot looking to replace talented skill players

A veteran defense could keep the Panthers in contention.

SBLive is previewing the Arkansas high school football teams from the three largest classifications. Today, we feature the Cabot Panthers from the 7A-Central Conference.

By Jeff Halpern | Photo by Jimmy Jones  

CABOT PANTHERS

HEAD COACH

Scott Reed, fourth year, 22-13

2021 AT A GLANCE

Overall record: 8-4

Conference record: 4-3

Playoff results: Def. Springdale Har-Ber, 53-7; Lost to Fayetteville, 34-27.

KEY DEPARTURES

WR Braden Jay, All-Star, Harding University signee

QB Grant Freeman

RB Masson Bell

DE Justin Sobczak, All-Star, Harding University signee

DT Eric Masterson, all-state

DL Jose Lopez, Harding University signee

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Senior LT Caleb Shirron

Returning starter, the 6-4, 240-pound senior has drawn the attention of Central Arkansas is a 3-year starter.

Senior C Jett Snyder

Returning starter, the 6-1, 285-pound senior might move to tackle and is a college prospect according to Reed.

Junior HB/TE Gavin Reardon

Returning starter, the 6-4, 225-pound junior will play multiple positions for the Panthers. He caught 6 passes for 83 yards a year ago.

Junior TB Evion Jimmerson

Returning starter, the 5-9, 190-pound junior rushed for 468 yards and scored 5 touchdowns as a sophomore.

Junior WR Hayes Cox

The 5-10, 170-pound junior has 4.5 speed in the 40-yard dash and rushed for 72 yards in limited duty a year ago. Will also return kicks.

Junior WR Austin Ryals

The 5-7, 150-pound junior is competing for a wide-receiver spot and has 4.5 speed in the 40.

Junior WR Quinn Hawkins

The 5-9, 155-pound junior cleared 15-11 in the pole vault during track season.

Senior QB Abe Owen

The 6-2, 210-pound senior played significant snaps as a backup and is a run threat who has shown improvement as a passer.

Senior OL Nick Hazeslip

The 6-5 1/2, 290-pound senior is projected to start on the offensive line.

Junior OL Carson Gray

The 6-0, 255-pound junior is expected to start on the offensive line.

Senior OL Gabe Staggs

The 5-10, 255-pound senior is competing for playing time on the offensive line.

Senior OL Nick Purdy

The 6-0, 295-pound senior is competing for playing time on the offensive line.

Senior DE Chris Leaks

Returning starter, the 6-4 1/2, 260-pound senior has drawn the interest of the state’s NCAA Division II schools and Central Arkansas.

Senior DE Caden Mimms

Returning starter, the 6-2, 225-pound senior had 15 tackles in 6 games and has drawn the interest of the state’s NCAA Division II schools.

Junior LB Gavin Vest

Returning starter, the 6-0, 195-pound junior had 36 tackles, including 4.5 for losses as a sophomore.

Junior LB Logan Eason

Returning starter, the 6-1, 195-pound junior had 34 tackles as a sophomore.

Senior LB Noah Yates

Returning starter, the 5-9 1/2, 185-pound senior had 14 tackles as a junior.

Senior S Cole Flynn

Returning starter, the 5-7, 170-pound senior played in nine games had had 32 tackles as a junior.

Junior S Ross Baxter

Returning starter, the 5-9, 175-pound junior had 37 tackles and 3 interceptions as a sophomore.

Senior CB Jayden Whaley

Returning starter, the 5-10, 180-pound senior had 4 tackles as a junior.

Senior DT Brock Jay

The 5-9, 230-pound senior saw part-time duty a year ago.

Junior DT DeKalb Rudolph

The 5-9, 300-pound junior saw part-time duty a year ago and expected to share time at defensive tackle.

Junior DT Brent Beene

The 5-9, 265-pound junior is expected to share time at defensive tackle.

OUTLOOK

The Panthers have a lot of valuable skill players to replace from last year such as wide receiver Braden Jay, who caught 60 passes for 1,236 yards and 12 touchdowns and rushed for 464 yards and 9 touchdowns; quarterback Grant Freeman, who threw for 2,044 yards and 23 touchdowns; and running back Mason Bell, who rushed for 794 yards and 8 touchdowns and caught 13 passes for 175 yards and 1 touchdown, but head coach Scott Reed believes his club will be in the playoff contention again.

He looks at an offensive line that has two returning starters in Shirron and Snyder, who are college prospects, Jimmerson, who rushed for 468 yards a year ago, two receivers in Cox and Ryals who have 4.5 speed in the 40-yard dash and Owen, who is a running threat at quarterback.

On defense, the Panthers have eight players — Vest, Eason, Flynn, Baxter, Whaley, Yates, Leaks and Mimms — who either started or saw significant action a year ago.

“We have a lot of kids (162 on the roster, including 34 seniors), but we have to replace part of our defensive line and our offensive skill players,” Reed said. “We’ll be different in how we play, but we should be more balanced.”

In addition, he cites a system he’s developed that requires depth that allows the Panthers to be able to replace a lot of players from the previous year.

“One thing I’ve learned is when you play a fast tempo, you have to have depth and when you practice, you have to have multiple offensive units so you can be prepared for the tempo and early in the season when it is hot, you have to be able to rotate players in because the games now have 80 snaps without a lot of time to recover.”

What Reed hopes to do is break though the logjam at the top of the conference created by Bryant, North Little Rock and Conway, which handed Cabot three of its four losses a year ago.

“Two years ago, we lost to North Little Rock in the semifinals and last year we lost to (state finalist) Fayetteville in the quarterfinals,” said Reed. “We’ve got to find a way to get through against Bryant, Conway and North Little Rock.”

COACH SAID

“When I took over, Coach (Mike) Malham developed a great tradition, and the kids were used to hard work and being physical. That part was easy because we have great kids who have great work ethic and a great culture, he developed that features blocking, tackling and fundamentals. Our culture is good, and we have a lot of kids playing which is awesome.” — Scott Reed