Arkansas Class 6A high school football team previews: Greenbrier moving up in class without departed stars from historic 2021 team

By Kyle Sutherland | Photo by Jimmy Jones

SBLive is previewing the Arkansas high school football teams from the three largest classifications. Today, we feature the Greenbrier Panthers from the 6A-West Conference.

GREENBRIER PANTEHRS

HEAD COACH

Randy Tribble, 15th Season, 104-59 Record

2021 AT A GLANCE

Overall Record: 12-1

Conference Record: 7-0, First in 5A-West

Playoffs: Def. Maumelle 31-28; Def. Wynne 14-0; Lost to Pulaski Academy 38-28 in semifinals

KEY DEPARTURES

QB Cooper Wilcox, all-state, Central Oklahoma signee

RB/LB Nick Huett, all-state

WR/LB Jacob Mathis, all-state

RB/LB Dawson Spencer, all-state

WR Reid Nixon

WR Thatcher Strack

OL Josh Robinson, all-state, Murray State signee

OL Dustin Hall

OL Jackson Spears

OL Nick Winberry

NG Bryce Allison

DE Gabe Rowe

DB Preston Riddle

DB Jaxson Harp

S Shannon Howard, all-state

K Bradley Turnage, all-state

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Junior QB/DB Kane Griffin - Griffin played some last season behind Wilcox, expected to be one of three competing for the starting job

Sophomore QB/LB Kane Richardson - Richardson transferred in from Conway and is competing for the starting QB job.

Sophomore QB/DB Owen Scribner - Scribner led the very successful Panther junior high team last year and is in the competition to start under center.

Senior WR Carter McEIhany - McElhany is possibly the fastest player in Arkansas on the gridiron with 4.35 speed, but definitely the fastest Tribble has ever coached. Last season he hauled in 32 passes for 786 yards (24.6 YPC) and 10 touchdowns. He currently holds Division I offers from Air Force, Army

Senior OL Eli Ruple - Ruple is the only returning starter on the offensive line after contributing some as a sophomore.

Senior DE Jacob Hardgrave - Hardgrave returns at defensive end after collecting 42 tackles (7 for loss) as a junior.

Sophomore LB/WR Eric Huett - Huett impressed during the offseason and should earn a starting role at linebacker. He also lines up at receiver.

Sophomore LB Parker Roberts - Tribble mentioned if Roberts does not start he has a great chance of being a key reserve.

Junior LB Eli Weaver - Weaver was relied upon heavily on both sides of the ball as a sophomore rushing for over 500 yards and 9 touchdowns while collecting 29 tackles on defense.

Senior DB Matthew Barnard - Barnard took over a starting role in the secondary last season and is the only one with heavy experience returning on the backend of the defense for 2022.

OUTLOOK

On paper, Greenbrier is facing an uphill climb coming off of the best season in school history while losing a bulk of the production to graduation and moving up to a rugged, revamped 6A-West that also added private school powers Little Rock Christian and Pulaski Academy.

The Panthers were rolling throughout the 2021 season and put together a 12-game win streak averaging 42 points per game before falling to eventual Class 5A state champion Pulaski Academy.

Central Oklahoma signee Cooper Wilcox was outstanding for the Panthers despite playing part of the season injured, including in the postseason, throwing for 2,436 yards and 28 touchdowns while also rushing for 1,000 yards and 19 scores.

The Panthers will also be tasked with replacing their second-leading rusher Nick Huett, along with top receivers Jacob Mathis and Thacker Strack, plus four of five offensive lineman including tackle Josh Robinson who signed with Murray State.

Tribble mentioned there is a quarterback competition between Griffin, who has experience taking snaps in varsity games, along with sophomores Richardson and Scribner.

Tibble said the Panthers do not plan on making a final decision on who will take over for Wilcox until later in fall camp, but if the situation presents itself they are not opposed to running a two-quarterback system.

Weaver was effective running the ball as a sophomore and his role should increase in a big way during the fall.

Blazing fast and sure-handed wideout McElhany will be relied upon heavily as one of just two returning starters on offense along with lineman Eli Ruple.

Ruple will be the only returner along the offensive line after that unit took a blow from the graduation of Robinson.

The Panthers’ defense also took a big hit graduating two defensive lineman, most of the secondary, plus Huett and Mathis at linebacker. Tribble spoke very highly of junior Eli Weaver and expects him to be the leader at linebacker, along with seniors Hardgrave at defensive end and defensive back Barnard.

COACH SAID

“It will really be a challenge for us moving up to Class 6A. We will have an extremely young football team, but they are guys who are going to be really good football players and it will be fun to watch them grow up and develop as the season progresses. It will be interesting for us coaches as we have got to know these other opponents year in and year out, now from a conference standpoint everybody is new. I am just excited to see what we can be before the year is over.”

-Randy Tribble