Page 10 - All Arkansas Preps 2020

10M Sunday, June 28, 2020 | All-Arkansas Preps | Advertising Supplement to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
OUTSTANDING PLAYER OF THE YEAR:
LJAYCNOELBHYATCRHISERWELL SENIOR / MORRILTON HIGH SCHOOL
>> WHY HE WON
In the very first play in the first scrimmage of his junior year in 2018, Jacolby Criswell tore his ACL, causing him to miss the majority of the year. “So my senior year, I had some things to prove to a lot of people in the community,” Criswell said. The dual-threat quarterback for Morrilton led the Devil Dogs to an 8-5 record in 2019 and to the third round of the state tournament. He threw for more than 2,800 yards with 28 touchdowns and rushed for more than 1,200 yards with 24 touchdowns. For his efforts, Criswell is the All-Arkansas Preps Outstanding Player of the Year for Football. “He is extremely accurate and has a tremendously strong arm,” Morrilton head coach Cody McNabb
said. “He was very difficult to tackle because he was big and fast.” Criswell was able to return in Week 8 of his junior year and helped his teammates reach the semifinals. His dad, Zach Watson, said that during the eight-week layoff when Criswell was hurt, he was able to get his body back into shape. “Cameron Lane, [Criswell’s] physical therapist in Russellville, has worked with some high-caliber athletes, and Colby really wanted to get back his junior year,” Watson said. McNabb
said that when Criswell was healthy, Morrilton had a chance against anybody. Criswell graduated last fall and enrolled early at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Criswell said that when he was a sophomore, he and his dad discussed the possibility
of him graduating early. That way, he could be ahead of most of the players arriving for football in June and July. He said it gives him an opportunity to compete for the starting job. Criswell said he plans on majoring in public speaking and sports management. “After football, I plan on becoming a sports broadcaster or a motivational speaker. I’d like to build a training facility for the kids in Morrilton or maybe one day become a coach,” he said.
FOOTBALL
JACOLBY’S
■ 2019-2020 Gatorade Player of the Year
■ Landers Award Winner, 2019
■ Arkansas Democrat- Gazette Offensive Player oftheYear
■ 2019 Elite 11 Finalist ■ Height: 6-1
■ Weight: 212 pounds ■ GPA: 3.4
■ Threw for more than 2,800 yards with
28 TDs, rushed for more than 1,200 yards with 24 TDs
■ FUTURE PLANS: Jacolby enrolled early at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE FILE PHOTO