Players from the Texarkana region have already made an impact on their Power 5 conference teams during the first week of college football.
No. 19 Arkansas kicked off its season in fashion with a win over 23rd-ranked Cincinnati on Saturday and a couple of Texarkana graduates were on the field to help the Razorbacks seal their 31-24 victory.
Pleasant Grove's Landon Jackson had five tackles -- two for a loss -- and helped teammate Zach Williams bring down Bearcat QB Ben Bryant for a sack. He put pressure on Bryant again later for a QB hurry. Ashdown graduate and defensive back LaDarrius Bishop also made contributions in Arkansas' win, collecting a tackle. Kai Hamilton, who is a freshman on the offensive line and a graduate of Hope, Arkansas, is also on the roster.
Arkansas will play host to SEC foe South Carolina at 11 a.m. on Saturday. ESPN will televise the game.
MORE COLLEGE FOOTBALL: Will a bigger College Football Playoff be better?
No. 12 Oklahoma State University began its 2022 campaign with a 58-44 victory over Central Michigan and former Pleasant Grove standout Xavier Benson made an impact right away for the Cowboys. Benson, who plays linebacker, recorded eight tackles, two of which for loss, and knocked down a pass attempt. Nickolas Martin, who is another Pleasant Grove graduate and was recruited to play linebacker, is a freshman for OSU.
Oklahoma State will host Arizona State next week at 6:30 p.m. Game will be televised on ESPN 2.
Oklahoma's Clayton Smith also made an appearance this weekend, where he kept pressure on UTEP QB Gavin Hardison, and helped lead the Sooners to a 45-13 win. Smith is a Texas High graduate.
The Sooners will be back in action on Saturday at 6 p.m. on ESPN plus.
Dee Brown, who is a Texas High graduate and part of the linebacking crew at the University of Texas, is another local player to keep on your watch list. The Longhorns defeated University of Louisiana-Monroe, 52-10, on Saturday night.
Texas next plays No. 1 Alabama at 11 a.m. on Saturday. Game will be televised on FOX.
_____
(EDITOR'S NOTE: If there is a student-athlete playing college football from the Texarkana region that is missing from the following list, please email the name and college they play for to [email protected]. Beginning Sunday, the Gazette will also add player stats to this list.)
PLAYERS TO WATCH
DIVISION I
Arkansas State University
• Te'Vailance Hunt, WR, Senior, Texas High
New Mexico State
Braylon Stewart, RB, Freshman, Texas High
Texas State University
• DeJordan Mask, S, Junior, Arkansas High
• Kylar Cooks, OL, Junior, Liberty-Eylau
University of Central Arkansas
• Demetrias Charles, LB, Sophomore, Arkansas High
• Tra Green, DB, Junior, Ashdown
• Shuntori Montue, DB, R-Freshman, Ashdown
University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff
• Mike Riley, LB, Freshman, Liberty-Eylau
University of Northern Iowa
• Quan Hampton, WR, Senior, Texas High
DIVISION II
East Texas Baptist University
• Elias Gawreih, DB, Freshman, Genoa Central
• Cade Fant, TE, Junior, Atlanta
Henderson State University
• Derriun Thompson, DB, Junior, Prescott
• Jeffery Williams Jr., WR, R-Freshman, Prescott
• Luis Rabadan, K, Freshman, Prescott
• Jacaylon Zachery, WR, Freshman, Prescott
• Jordan White, LB, Sophomore, Nashville
• Robert Dunham, OL, Junior, Nashville
• Keyshawn Stewart, RB, R-Freshman, Nashville
Northeastern State University
• Christian Torres, DL, Freshman, Arkansas High
• Rickie Williams, DB, Freshman, Arkansas High
Oklahoma Baptist University
• Johnny Murphy, Freshman, OL, Arkansas High
Ouachita Baptist University
• TJ Cole, RB, Senior, Pleasant Grove
• Gaylon Williams, OL, Freshman, Arkansas High
• Jacobi Nolen, LB, Sophomore, Prescott
• Jacolby Williams, DB, Freshman, Ashdown
• Jason Jackson, DB, Senior, DeKalb
• Whitt Sparks, OL, Freshman, DeKalb
• Omarion Dickens, DB, Freshman, Prescott
Southern Arkansas University
• Kendall Reid, TE, Junior, Texas High
• Nate Mennie, TE, Freshman, Texas High
• Keilin Benton, DB, Freshman, Pleasant Grove
Southern Nazarene University
• Cameron Wells, DB, Junior, Pleasant Grove
Southeastern Oklahoma State University
• Riley Russell, QB, Sophomore, Texas High
• Tyriq Robinson, DB, Freshman, Texas High
• Necoma Sanders, RB, Junior, Hooks
University of Arkansas at Monticello
• Isaiah Cross, WR, Sophomore, Liberty-Eylau
• Keyvuntae Featherson, DB, Freshman, Texas High
• Hunter Grimes, OL, Senior, Prescott
University of North Alabama
• Cam Collier, RB, Sophomore, Arkansas High