17 Arkansas high school football Player of the Year candidates

At the end of the 2020 Arkansas high school football season, SBLive will name a player of the year in the state. SBLive’s Connor Morrissette breaks down 16 of the top contenders nine weeks into the season here.

At the end of the 2020 Arkansas high school football season, SBLive will name a player of the year in the state. SBLive’s Connor Morrissette breaks down 17 of the top contenders nine weeks into the season.

Editor's note: We initially left off Rivercrest senior quarterback Kam Turner. He's been added to the list.

Bryce Bohanon - Conway - WR - Sr.

Bohanon has caught 37 passes for 814 yards and 10 touchdowns for the No. 6 ranked Wampus Cats.

Garrett Brown - Benton - QB - Sr.

Brown leads Arkansas in passing yards with 2,154. He's thrown 17 touchdown passes.

Kareame Cotton - North Little Rock - QB - Sr.

Cotton is the best player for one of the top-three teams in the state. He's a true dual-threat QB.

In North Little Rock's 39-37 win over Conway, Aaron Sims ran 37 times for 197 yds, 2 TDs. QB Kareame Cotton - much more of a run threat this fall - 22 carries, 100 yds, 3 TDs. OL still bending face masks. Conway QB Ben Weese: 27 of 43, 436 yds, 4 TDs. Cats play ultra-fast.

— Robert Yates (@RobertYates1982) October 3, 2020

Ja'Quez Cross - Fordyce - DB - Sr.

Cross, a Purdue commit, leads the state with seven interceptions. Fordyce is the favorite in Arkansas' 2A class.

Jaishon Davis - Arkadelphia - ATH - Jr.

Last week in a 47-20 win over Ashdown, Davis rushed for three scores and caught two more. The week before, he rushed for two touchdowns in a win over Harmony Grove. He's been one of the top players in the state this year on both offense and defense (linebacker).

Tyler Gee - Cabot - QB - Sr.

Gee is a gunslinger. He's passed for 1,697 yards and 20 touchdowns in 2020. He is committed to Central Arkansas.

Joe Himon - Pulaski Academy - RB - Jr.

Himon has rushed for 1,204 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2020. He's also caught 54 passes for 651 yards and four scores. Pulaski Academy is 8-0 and the 5A favorite.

Darryl Kattich - Cedarville - RB - Jr.

Kattich leads the state in rushing yards and touchdowns with 1,582 and 21, respectively. Cedarville is 6-2 and competes in Arkansas' 3A class.

Cole Keylon - Harrison - QB - Sr.

Keylon has led Harrison to a 5-1 record. He's thrown for 1,697 yards and 18 touchdowns.

Austin Ledbetter - Bryant - QB - Sr.

Ledbetter, a University of Arkansas baseball commit, has thrown for 1,476 yards and 22 touchdowns for Bryant, the state's top high school football team.

Corey Platt Jr. - Little Rock Christian - ATH - Sr.

Platt is quietly putting together one of the top statistical seasons in the state. He's rushed for three scores and caught 26 passes for 427 yards and 10 touchdowns. He's intercepted three passes on defense and forced three fumbles, in addition to making 52 tackles.

L.D. Richmond - Greenwood - QB - Sr.

Richmond has passed for 1,766 yards and 19 touchdowns for 7-0 Greenwood.

Keshawn Scott - Rivercrest - WR - Sr.

Scott leads the state in receiving yards with 970. He's caught 12 touchdown passes for a Rivercrest team in contention for a 4A title.

Kam Turner - Rivercrest - QB - Sr.

Turner has passed for 2,072 yards and rushed for 1,040. He's completed 69.2% of his 143 attempts, with 25 of them going for touchdowns. He has been intercepted only twice. He's rushed for 15 scores and caught another.

Ben Weese - Conway - QB - Sr.

Weese leads Arkansas with 25 touchdown passes. He's thrown for 2,152 yards, the second-most in the state. Weese is a Central Arkansas baseball commit.

Jalyn Witcher - Pulaski Academy - WR - Sr.

Witcher leads the state in receiving touchdowns with 15. He's racked up 905 receiving yards.

Tevin Woodley - Lake Hamilton - RB - Jr.

Woodley has rushed for 1,088 yards and 14 touchdowns for 8-0 Lake Hamilton.