Ragsdale in running for award
Posted on Friday, January 9, 2009
Daily Record photograph by Charles Fowler Bentonville senior Erik Ragsdale is one of 14 players from across the state nominated for the Landers Award.
BENTONVILLE - Bentonville senior Erik Ragsdale is in the running for a statewide award and the voting is open to fans.
Ragsdale is one of 14 nominees for the Landers Award, which markets itself as the most prestigious high school football award in Arkansas. The annual award presented by KATV - an affiliate station of ABC serving the Little Rock television market and central Arkansas - and Landers Toyota "recognizes superior athletic achievement on the football field and embodies the spirit of courage and dedication all studentathletes must master to become the best of the best." Voting is open on KATV's Web site at cfc.katv.com/katv/marketplace/ landersaward.cfm.
Family members, coaches and players will be invited to Little Rock to watch the live broadcast of The Landers Award Show at the KATV studios Wednesday night at 9 p.m. The winner will be announced at that time and awarded a signature ring and a $3,000 scholarship towards his school.
The other nominees are: Mayflower running back Deshaun Bagby, Lake Hamilton quarterback Phillip Butterfield, Fountain Lake running backs Andrew Davis and Quinton Lindsey, Little Rock Christian running back Michael Dyer, Springdale quarterback Ashton Glazer, Pine Bluff Dollarway quarterback Jesse Grandy, Cabot fullback Michael James, Pine Bluff quarterback Claude Johnson, Pulaski Academy quarterback Spencer Keith, Fort Smith Southside running back Daniel McGee, Little Rock Central running back Mayborn Peters, Bryant running back Chris Rycraw and Nashville quarterback Pierre Vaughn.
Ragsdale, a 6-foot, 190-pound twoway player for the Tigers, was named the MVP of their 32-20 state championship victory. He finished the year with 135 tackles, six interceptions, three sacks and two punt blocks to go with 807 yards rushing and 16 touchdowns.
Ragsdale, who was named The Benton County Daily Record's Player of the Year and the 7A-West Conference's Lineman of the Year, rushed for three touchdowns in the title game against Fort Smith Southside.
The winner of the Landers Award will join several college and professional standouts from Arkansas.
Former winners are: De'Arrius Howard (West Memphis, 2000), Reed McKinney (Warren, 2001), Landon Leach (Russellville, 2002), Peyton Hillis (Conway, 2003), Darren Mc-Fadden (Oak Grove, 2004), Damien Williams (Springdale, 2005), A.J. Whitmore (Nashville, 2006) and Tyler Wilson (Greenwood, 2007).
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