Springdale Five
Posted on Monday, January 2, 2006
URL: http://www.nwanews.com/nwat/Sports/36030/
Who would have thought a bunch of high school kids would rate as the area’s No. 1 College Sports Story of the Year?
But then again the Springdale Five aren’t just another quintet, are they?
Nothing has kept the state talking, speculating, laughing, crying and cussing more than the recruitment of Springdale High football players Mitch Mustain, Andrew Norman, Damian Williams, Ben Cleveland and Bartley Webb.
Since April, recruiting buffs have been enamored with the talented group that proved to be the nucleus of a team that will go down in history as one of the best, if not the best, high school football teams in state history.
With Mustain at quarterback, Norman and Williams at receiver, Cleveland at linebacker and tight end and Webb at offensive tackle, the Bulldogs marched through their schedule like Sherman through the South, leaving only bruised egos and awe in their wake.
The Bulldogs finished the season 14-0 after pummeling West Memphis, 54-20, in the state title game, leaving no question that they were by far the best team in the state this season.
But people still question just where the Springdale Five will play their collegiate football, despite the fact that four of the five held to their summer pledges to various universities.
Norman, who caught 63 passes for 1,180 yards and 11 touchdowns, remains solid in his commitment to Arkansas.
Though Hog fans desperately hope they will renege on pledges to Florida, Williams, who caught 62 passes for 1,471 yards and 24 touchdowns and rushed 32 times for 463 yards and 12 touchdowns, and Cleveland, who caught 22 passes for 356 yards and 5 TDs as well as spearheading the SHS defense, remain committed to play for the Gators.
Likewise, the 6-7, 291-pound Webb, considered one of the state’s two top offensive line prospects, is staunchly committed to Notre Dame.
However, Mustain, who originally committed to Arkansas in late August, is rethinking that decision.
Mustain, who completed 189 of 292 passes for 3,846 yards and 47 touchdowns and has been named national player of the year by Gatorade and Parade, is reportedly considering Notre Dame, Tennessee and Alabama, as well as Arkansas.
While recruiting never stops on the major college level, January is the highintensity month.
With oral pledges being non-binding, the recruitment of the Springdale Five will remain the state’s hottest topic until each of them puts their name on the dotted line of some lucky university’s letter-ofintent.