Senior Dylan Soehner will make history on Wednesday by becoming the first player from Prairie Grove to sign a scholarship with a Football Bowl Subdivision program. The 6-foot-7, 270-pound tight end plans to ink with Iowa State after taking an official visit to the school during the Jan. 15 weekend.
Although he could have taken as many as four additional, all-expenses paid official visits, Soehner didn't see any reason to continue flirting with other schools when he already had fallen head over heals for the Cyclones. Soehner sounds like he really enjoyed the weekend.
In-state commitments
FBS
ARKANSAS STATE
PLAYER;POS.;HT.;WT.;SCHOOL
Jacob Atnip;OL;6-5;303;Sheridan
FCS
ARKANSAS-PINE BLUFF
PLAYER;POS.;HT.;WT.;SCHOOL
Kolby McNeal;QB;6-0;184;LR Central
CENTRAL ARKANSAS
PLAYER;POS.;HT.;WT.;SCHOOL
Carlos Blackman;RB;6-1;215;Gosnell
Joe Hampton;WR;6-2;180;LR Christian
Jackie Harvell;RB;5-11;190;Gurdon
Dylan Hays;DL;6-4;280;LR Christian
Justin Meadows;AP;6-1;172;Lonoke
Austin Norris;DL;6-5;223;Conway
Brandon Northcross;DB;5-10;166;Ashdown
Breylin Smith;QB;6-2;186;Conway
DIVISION II
ARKANSAS TECH
PLAYER;POS.;HT.;WT.;SCHOOL
Cole Fritschen;OL;6-6;315;Bryant
Colt Housley;RB;5-11;207;HS Lakeside
Drew Turner;OL;6-3;280;Russellville
HENDERSON STATE
PLAYER;POS.;HT.;WT.;SCHOOL
Zac Despain;LB;5-11;210;Valley View
Amari James;WR;6-2;190;LR Parkview
Johvoni McClendon;DB;6-1;195;LR Parkview
Zachary McFadden;WR;6-3;205;LR Central
OUACHITA BAPTIST
PLAYER;POS.;HT.;WT.;SCHOOL
Jordan Barlow;QB;Van Buren
Brockton Brown;RB;5-10;190;Sheridan
Tevin Jones;DB;5-11;177;Nettleton
Zack Kelley;WR;5-8;161;Pulaski Academy
Jacob Roberts;OL;6-1;305;North Little Rock
Tyrell Robinson;TE;6-3;228;North Little Rock
James Woods;DB;5-10;170;Russellville
DIVISION III
HENDRIX
PLAYER;POS.;HT.;WT.;SCHOOL
Joel Brackett;LB;6-0;202;Rogers Heritage
Jack Bryant;K;5-11;161;LR Central
Jacob Buchanan;DL;6-2;270;LR Central
Chad McGonical;WR;5-11;165;Baptist Prep
Cory McGonical;QB;6-0;160;Baptist Prep
Garrett Sheetz;LB;6-0;203;Rogers Heritage
NAIA
LYON
PLAYER;POS.;HT.;WT.;SCHOOL
Drew Dodson;OL;6-3;280;Springdale Har-Ber
Peyton Noland;DE;Greenwood
……….
OUT-OF-STATE
FBS
AIR FORCE
PLAYER;POS.;HT.;WT.;SCHOOL
Robert Ator;DL;6-4;220;Pulaski Academy
ARMY
PLAYER;POS.;HT.;WT.;SCHOOL
Tre Bruce;ATH;6-1;195;Pulaski Academy
ILLINOIS
PLAYER;POS.;HT.;WT.;SCHOOL
Kenyon Jackson;DL;6-0;295;LR Parkview
IOWA STATE
PLAYER;POS.;HT.;WT.;SCHOOL
Dylan Soehner;TE;6-7;260;Prairie Grove
LOUISIANA-MONROE
PLAYER;POS.;HT.;WT.;SCHOOL
Samuel Williams;OL;6-6;290;Bearden
LOUISIANA TECH
PLAYER;POS.;HT.;WT.;SCHOOL
David Beasley;DB;6-3;195;Pine Bluff
MINNESOTA
PLAYER;POS.;HT.;WT.;SCHOOL
Kiondre Thomas;DB;6-0;170;FS Northside
MISSOURI
PLAYER;POS.;HT.;WT.;SCHOOL
Damarea Crockett;RB;6-0;215;LR Christian
Markell Utsey;DL;6-4;295;LR Parkview
NAVY
PLAYER;POS.;HT.;WT.;SCHOOL
Chris Kershner;DB;5-10;165;Dardanelle
OKLAHOMA STATE
PLAYER;POS.;HT.;WT.;SCHOOL
Cameron Murray;DL;6-3;280;Bryant
TEXAS TECH
PLAYER;POS.;HT.;WT.;SCHOOL
Nick McCann;DL;6-3;290;Texarkana
……….
FCS
ALABAMA A&M
PLAYER;POS.;HT.;WT.;SCHOOL
Arthur Seaton;DL;5-11;230;LR Central
AUSTIN PEAY
PLAYER;POS.;HT.;WT.;SCHOOL
Dillon Daniels;TE;6-6;229;Batesville
EASTERN ILLINOIS
PLAYER;POS.;HT.;WT.;SCHOOL
Iziah Gulley;DB;6-2;180;Camden Fairview
STEPHEN F. AUSTIN
PLAYER;POS.;HT.;WT.;SCHOOL
Chris Leaks;DL;6-4;212;Rison
DIVISION II
CENTRAL OKLAHOMA
PLAYER;POS.;HT.;WT.;SCHOOL
Tyrone Mahone;DB;6-0;175;Bentonville
Tyson Morris;WR;6-2;180;Fayetteville
Kennedy Wade;DB;6-3;180;Fayetteville
MISSOURI SOUTHERN
PLAYER;POS.;HT.;WT.;SCHOOL
Jaylynn Dye;WR;5-11;160;Van Buren
NORTHEASTERN STATE
PLAYER;POS.;HT.;WT.;SCHOOL
Brice Waggle;QB;6-3;195;Farmington
SOUTHERN NAZARENE
PLAYER;POS.;HT.;WT.;SCHOOL
Kyron Sanders;QB;5-11;180;LR Christian
SOUTHWEST BAPTIST
PLAYER;POS.;HT.;WT.SCHOOL
Drake Wymer;TE;6-6;220;Fayetteville
NAIA
CINCINNATI CHRISTIAN
PLAYER;POS.;HT.;WT.;SCHOOL
Eric Perry;DL;6-5;238;LR Central
NOTE Oral commitments are nonbinding. National signing day is Wednesday.
For any additions, e-mail Jeremy Muck at jmuck@arkansasonlin…
"They had a pretty cool thing set up when we got there in the indoor facility," Soehner said. "The lights were off and there were strobe lights and sirens going off. They had all of their current players lined up in kind of a tunnel that we all went through as they were all yelling.
"It was fun to experience something like that."
After the visit, Soehner quickly pulled the trigger on a verbal commitment, which he said "felt like a huge weight had been lifted" off of his massive shoulders.
"The [Iowa State] coaching staff is phenomenal," Soehner said. "The've all been coaching together for a long time and it shows because they're all really god friends. It's hard to explain, but you have to be around them to get a feel for it ... It's a good environment to be around."
While NCAA rules prohibit college coaches from commenting publicly on a prospect until after they have signed a National Letter of Intent, Prairie Grove coach Danny Abshier said the Cyclones plan to try Soehner at tight end. During the recruiting process, several schools showed an interest in Soehner as an offensive tackle, but he wanted the opportunity to play tight end.
"College coaches are looking for guys who fit their needs and [the Cyclones] are looking for a tight end," Abshier said. "I don't think they intend on redshirting him. They plan on putting him on the field right now."
Abshier said Soehner has all of the qualities that college coaches desire in a pass-catching tight end -- and then some. Of course, he has more than enough size and continues to improve his speed. Soehner ran a 4.9 second, 40-yard dash at a Memphis camp this past summer and already appears to be faster as he grows into his frame. Abshier said he has "excellent hands, good grades and the right attitude," as well.
"The thing I like the most about Dylan is how sharp and witty he is," Abshier said. "He has football savvy and wants the ball in his hands. About the only thing that held Dylan back this year was probably me. It was the first time I had a 6-7 guy like that, so I wasn't sure how to best utilize him.
"But now that he's at Iowa State, they'll know how to use him better and get him the ball."
Soehner's signing ceremony is scheduled for 11:25 a.m. in the Prairie Grove High cafeteria.
Sports on 02/03/2016