Arkansas Class 7A high school football team previews: Little Rock Southwest looking for more improvement in third season
SBLive is previewing the Arkansas high school football teams from the three largest classifications. Today, we feature the Little Rock Southwest Gryphons from the 7A-Central Conference.
By Jeff Halpern
LITTLE ROCK SOUTHWEST GRYPHONS
HEAD COACH
Daryl Patton, 2-15, third season
2021 AT A GLANCE
Overall record: 2-8
Conference record: 1-6
Playoffs: Did not qualify
KEY DEPARTURES
QB/P Jordan Brown, All-state, 721 yards rushing, 7 touchdowns
FB Orlando Jones, All-conference 397 yards rushing
FB/LB Michael Graylor, All-conference
WR Martini Robinson, Honorable-mention, all-conference
TE/DE Messiah Shorter, Honorable-mention, all-conference
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Junior LT Brandon Bryant
Bryant, 6-3, 275, was a full-time starter as a sophomore.
Senior LG/DC Kalen Shelton
Shelton, 6-0, 245, was a full-time starter as a junior.
Junior C/NT Daylon Jackson
Jackson, 6-1, 275, was a full-time starter as a sophomore.
Senior RG/DE Sherrod Shephard
Shephard, 6-0, 245, was full-time starter as a junior.
Junior RT Ja’shawn Egston
Egston, 6-3, 225, was part-time starter as a sophomore.
Junior RB/SS Jabron Lewis
Lewis, 6-1, 195 was a part-time starter as a sophomore.
Junior OLB Jalen Waits
Waits, 5-10, 175, was part-time starter as a freshman.
Junior OLB Marsol Rogers
Rogers, 5-9, 195, was a full-time starter as a sophomore.
Junior CB Terquan Anderson
Anderson, 5-10, 170, was a full-time starter as a sophomore.
Junior FS Ke’von Jones
Jones, 5-10, 145, was a part-time starter as a sophomore.
Senior CB Braylon Stovall
Stovall, 5-11, 165, was a full-time starter as a junior.
OUTLOOK
The Gryphons, who are in their third-year of existence, had their first on-field victory when they defeated Little Rock Central 6-0 in the next-to-last game of the season. They received a forfeit when Little Rock Parkview had to concede a 47-0 victory for using an ineligible player.
The good news is the Gryphons have seven players back on offense and nine players back who started either on a full- or part-time basis. With four starters back on the offensive line, Patton hopes that unit can help direct the offense and show some consistency. On defense, with his starting line and secondary coming back, he hopes those units can continue to step up in a very competitive 7A-Central.
On the other hand, Patton says his team’s weaknesses are quarterback and linebacker where sophomore Mokai Mohammed is listed as the team’s starter on offense and two projected starters — senior Devin Osburn and junior Bryan Ussery did not play much a year ago on the defensive side.
Patton is accustomed to success having led Bryant to the playoffs three times in his five years there and led Fayetteville to four state championships. Taking over a team that started from scratch after the consolidation of Little Rock Fair and LR McClellan, can be a long process. As is the case with a team that is in its third year in existence, building depth and consistency doesn’t come overnight
COACH SAID
“We’re getting stronger and getting better day by day, but we’re still a year away from being where we want to be.” — Daryl Patton.
