Two Southeast Arkansas high school football players are among the 45 finalists for the annual Farm Bureau awards.
Vincent Steppes of Warren is a finalist for the 4A Offensive Player of the Year and Carter Hawkins of McGehee is a finalist for the 3A Defensive Player of the Year.
Fordyce Coach Tim Rodgers, a Monticello native, is one of the three finalists for 2A Coach of the Year.
The Farm Bureau Insurance Awards honor Arkansas’ top offensive player, defensive player and coach of the year for each classification. Hootens staff selected three finalists in each category and each classification, and those 45 finalists and their families will be invited to attend the Farm Bureau Awards Banquet. The finalists for each classification:
7A/6A Coach of the Year
Buck James, Bryant
Mark Kelley, Searcy
Jamie Mitchell, North Little Rock
7A/6A Offensive Player of the Year
Jake Meaders, Bryant
Brandon Thomas, North Little Rock
Hunter Wood, Har-Ber
7A/6A Defensive Player of the Year
Austin Bailey, Bryant
Daylon Land, Bryant
Jashaud Stewart, Jonesboro
5A Coach of the Year
Sean Cockrell, Valley View
Eric Cohu, Little Rock Christian
Kevin Kelley, Pulaski Academy
5A Offensive Player of the Year
Braden Bratcher, Pulaski Academy
Jacolby Criswell, Morrilton
Chris Hightower, LR Christian
5A Defensive Player of the Year
Brooks Both, Harrison
Clay James, Pulaski Academy
Jackson Woodard, Little Rock Christian
4A Coach of the Year
Jeff Conaway, Shiloh Christian
Bobby Engle, Jonesboro Westside
Todd Eskola, Joe T. Robinson
4A Offensive Player of the Year
Vincent Steppes, Warren
Truitt Tollett, Shiloh Christian
Cannon Turner, Arkadelphia
4A Defensive Player of the Year
Bryant Burns, Ozark
P.J. Hall, Joe T. Robinson
Kyren Harrison, Arkadelphia
3A Coach of the Year
Neil Evans, Harding Academy
Robert Hooks, Osceola
Ernie Horstkamp, Camden Harmony Grove
3A Offensive Player of the Year
Xaylon Falls, Camden Harmony Grove
Eli Roberson, Atkins
M.J. Vance, Osceola
3A Defensive Player of the Year
Carter Hawkins, McGehee
Daniel Hicks, Camden Harmony Grove
Derriun Thompson, Prescott
2A Coach of the Year
Tim Rodgers, Fordyce
Kyle Jackson, Gurdon
Brad Smith, Junction City
2A Offensive Player of the Year
Isaac Carver, Foreman
Caleb Jacobs, Parkers Chapel
Jackson Morton, Des Arc
2A Defensive Player of the Year
Jakiron Cook, Junction City
Kyle Kidwell, Junction City
De’Arius Sledge, Fordyce