Bryant pipeline to University of Central Arkansas flows on
BRYANT – Two more Bryant High School football players added to what is already an impressive lineup of former Hornets on the Bears roster.
Wide receiver Mytorian Singleton and defensive back Brenden Bennett joined seven other teammates in inking with college programs Wednesday. Teammate Bryson Adamoh, who was injured early in the season, signed with UCA in December after originally committing to UNLV.
“Knowing that we have teammates already there, and other [Bryant] alumni and the relationship that [UCA assistant coach Keith Scott] and [Brynt head coach Quad Sanders] have really encouraged me to go to UCA," Bennett said.
University of Central Arkansas signees Mytorian Singleton (left) and Brenden Bennett (right) (Photo by Nate Olson)
The trio of Hornets were all key in helping Bryant since early in their careers and their fingerprints were all over the two Class 7A state championships BHS won along with helping amass a 54-game winning streak that was snapped by Parkview in Week 3. Last season Bryant finished 10-2 with a semifinal loss to Bentonville. That snapped a streak of five state titles.
Singleton, who had an early offer from Arkansas State, is a three-year starter and two-time all-stater. Last season, the 5-foot-10, 200-pounder totaled more than 800 yards receiving and 12 TDs, leading Hornets receivers. He gained a reputation as a clutch performer, making big catches when Bryant needed them, including a go-ahead TD catch to secure a comeback win over Conway as a sophomore and a catch to prolong a winning drive and the go-ahead TD in the 2021 state championship game against Fayetteville.
Bennett, who is 6-foot-1, 190 pounds, was an all-conference safety last season. Adamoh entered 2023 as one of the top defensive backs in Arkansas but a broken leg sidelined him.
“Those guys are going to be hard to replace,” Sanders said. “Anytime you have a three-year guy, they are going to be hard to replace. “Especially Brenden Bennett — I don’t think people know how smart Brenden is. He could have graduated last year as a junior. He is that smart. Not just in the classroom but on the field as well. He can could play all 11 positions as far as knowing how to play them and can line anyone up. That’s hard to replace.
“And Mytorian, when we get in trouble, you throw it up and [Singleton] is down there. You know he is going to come up with the ball for us. He is ‘Mr. Big Play.’ He is sure-handed, and I think UCA is getting two special guys. You also have Bryson, who is a phenomenal talent that we lost. We really missed him. I am so excited.”
Bryant head coach Quad Sanders is a UCA alum. Wednesday two of his players, including Brenden Bennett (pictured), signed with the Bears. (Photo by Nate Olson)
The 2023 Bears roster featured four former Hornets – sophomore offensive lineman Will Diggins, senior receiver Andrew Hayes, junior defensive back TaMuarion Wilson, redshirt freshman kicker Brock Funk and twin freshman defensive backs Malachi and Miguel Graham.
And going back in time, defensive back Dillon Winfrey (2012-15), who has enjoyed a long career in indoor football, and former Bears all-conference kicker Hayden Ray (2017-22) were instrumental in beginning the relationship with Bryant and UCA.
Another added connection between the programs is Quad Sanders, who made his debut as the BHS head coach last fall, coached with UCA assistant head coach and special teams/defensive backs coach Keith Scott at the University of Arkansas at Monticello where the two were defensive assistants. Sanders, a Mississippi native, played defensive end at UCA.
“[UCA] is definitely turning into ‘Bryant North,’ and I am definitely excited about it,” Sanders said. “They are not recruiting those guys because I went there and [Keith Scott] and I coached together. You look at the history they have had with Will Diggins being named all-conference and TaMuarion Wilson has been a three-year All-American for them. Those are guys that no one wanted to take a chance on because of an inch height and Andrew Hayes played corner for them. He’s a starter who is going to have a chance at the next level. [UCA] has had some success with guys from there, and they are just trying to continue to grow that pipeline because some of these guys are under-recruited. UCA does a good job of developing and taking chances on guys.”
Sanders said former Hornets also enjoy the proximity of the campus to the Bryant. Because of the short, 30-minute drive many of the former Hornets will attend Bryant home games and then return to campus that night for team meetings ahead of UCA home games.
“I like that is close, and you are going from one winning program to another,” said Bennnett, who had several other offers including FBS Eastern Michigan. It just felt like home since Day 1. They were the first school to give me an offer, and they have been on me really heavy and interested in me since the start of my high school career.”
Mytorian Singleton (right) started at receiver for three seasons for Bryant and made some historic catches as BHS won two state titles and three conference titles during his career. (Photo by Nate Olson)
David Pagliante is the only Bryant player iheaded to a FBS program and that is as a preferred walk-on to Arkansas State. Sanders told the large crowd assembled at the Bryant fieldouse for the festivities that many of the players have been undersold and will go on to star at their respective schools and will then be courted by bigger schools but loyalty will keep them where they are including the three UCA signees.
“Arkansas will come in and if you don’t run a [4.3-second 40-yard dash] or you are an inch short, they think they can find other guys,” Sanders said. “The problem with that is, they are great football players. When they go to the next level and have success like TaMaurion Wilson and Daylon Land, who went to a Division II school but is now entering the portal because he graduated early. Now, every team is blowing us up.
“They don’t get them in the beginning, but then when they start having success, they all want to call and get them, but are kids are loyal. Nate Wallace was an All-American and won a [Division II] championship at Harding and all of these other schools were calling for him, but he told me Harding was on him from the beginning, and he wanted to stay. Teams are going to have problems if they don’t take our kids on the front end.”
--Nate Olson I nate@scorebooklive.com I @ndosports
