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51 PREP RALLY: THE LIST | 8.30.2020 THE LIST? WHO Gary Phillips will make a bold state- ment this season for the Van Buren Pointers, even if he never says a word. His shoes do plenty of talking. The orange, yellow and black cleats are bold and bright, and that mirrors Phillips' play on the field. There is plenty of dash with this flash, and the senior quarterback to ready to lead the Pointers as the full-time starter for the second straight year. "They say Drip on them," Phillips said of his dazzling footwear. "If you play with style, you play better and that's what I try doing. I don't want to be too flashy, but I saw these and I just had to get them." There's more to Phillips' game than just electric shoes. His play at quar- terback last season helped the Point- ers enjoy the program's best season since 1999, posting a 6-5 record in the 7A-West Conference. Phillips passed for 2,000 yards, ran for 800 and ac- counted for 31 touchdowns. "I just want to have a good season for my senior year," Phillips said. "Covid has kind of altered that a little bit, but I think if we can just continue to go out there and play our hearts out, I'll be happy." Phillips headlines the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette's The List, the top 11 prep football players in the 12-county coverage area of the NWADG. Heading into the season, he is mulling multiple Division I schol- arship offers including both Army and Navy. The List is stacked with playmakers and top recruits. Several scouting services have Fort Smith Northside quarterback/defensive back Dreyden Norwood as the No. 1 recruit in the state. Texas A&M would agree with that as the Aggies earned a verbal commitment from Norwood earlier this season. "I just got to know coach (T.J.) Rushing really good," said Norwood of his Texas A&M recruitment. "When I did the virtual tour, I really liked it a lot." Norwood will lead the Grizzlies this season at quarterback, but he was recruited by the Aggies as a defensive back, where he hopes to have an im- mediate impact in College Station like his first cousin Tre Norwood had at the University of Oklahoma two seasons ago when he earned a starting position as a true freshman. Jaiden Henry successfully made the jump from 4A to 7A last season when he transferred from Shiloh Christian to Van Buren. Henry, the son of Pointers' defensive coordinator Moe Henry, is a Swiss Army Knife for the Point- ers. Henry plays virtually every skill position on offense and is a lockdown defensive back. "Jaiden is a guy offensively that we are going to use everywhere from slot receiver to wide receiver to running back to some quarterback sets for him," Pointers coach Crosby Tuck said. "In terms of skill positions on offense, literally every position except tight end … and I guarantee you, he thinks he can play tight end, too." Jordan Hanna doesn't fit the proto- typical linebacker in terms of bulk. But the numbers the Greenwood senior put up last season would fill any stat sheet. Hanna compiled more than 100 tackles and almost 20 tackles for loss to lead the Bulldogs' defense. The List features plenty of flash in Fayetteville junior Isaiah Sategna, the Bulldogs' track star who already has multiple Division I offers and team- mate Kaiden Turner, a linebacker who has verbally committed to Arkansas. Springdale Har-Ber's Errington McRae is verbally committed to the University of Memphis and will be an early enrollee. McRae caught 41 pass- es for 801 yards and 6 touchdowns last season and will take on an even bigger role in 2020. — Chip Souza • @NWAChip MADE 1803 SW REGIONAL AIRPORT BLVD. • BENTONVILLE, AR 72712 • (479) 595-5552 • www.mcmullenrealtynwa.com McMullen Realty Group WISHING YOU A WINNING SEASON! From your friends at McMullen Realty Group