Arkansas ATH having big year

Fayetteville (Ark.) High safety Brent Phillips is having a standout senior season, according to his coach, David Patton.

"I love him to death," Patton said. "He's having a great season for us."

Rated the No. 19 overall prospect in Rivals.com's preseason Arkansas top 20, the 6-foot, 190-pound athlete has rushed for 793 yards and 10 touchdowns and piled up 215 yards and 23 catches and two touchdowns. He also has 125 yards in kick returns for Fayetteville, which has been ranked in the top five for most of the year.

"We've got a lot of really talented offensive players," Patton said. "So he's not the focal point of our offense."

Even so, Patton said that they turn to their senior leader in key situations. In a recent contest, Patton had 197 yards on 29 carries.

Phillips has been recruiting heavily by the hometown Razorbacks. But, according to Patton, the Hogs want him to walk-on because they are short on scholarships this season.

Phillips, who ran the 40-yard dash also has drawn the attention of Division I-AA Southwest Missouri State and Division II Missouri Southern, among others.

"He's just got to decide what he wants to do," Patton said.