Armed and dangerous : Top Gun Challenge field grows to 23 of state’s best QBs
Posted on Thursday, July 10, 2008
ROGERS — When Gus Malzahn and Jason Allen dreamed up the Top Gun Challenge five years ago, the idea was simple.
Find the best and pick a select few of Arkansas’ elite high school quarterbacks and have them compete against each other in various skill competitions for the right to be named the state’s top signal-caller.
Quarterbacks such as Kodi Burns (Auburn ), Mitch Mustain (Southern California ) and A. J. Whitmore (Tulsa ) passed through along the way.
Twenty-three high school stars will get the chance to add their name to the elite list today at 7 p. m. at Shiloh Christian when the fifth edition of the Top Gun Challenge takes place.
Without Malzahn, who left Springdale High School soon after the event’s inception to take on jobs at the University of Arkansas and University of Tulsa, Allen and the competition have since teamed with the Darin Slack Quarterback Academy. This year, the quarterback skills event has nearly doubled and stretches across the country in nine states.
The event remains practically the same as it starts up its fifth edition in Arkan- sas. Of the 23 quarterbacks competing, seven hail from Northwest Arkansas schools.
“ From my perspective, I think it’s neat we can start something like this, ” said Allen, a former University of Arkansas quarterback. “ For it to withstand the concept that it comes from Arkansas, which is perceived as a running state, I think it’s pretty cool. But I’m more interested in getting these kids to the next level and getting better. That’s what it’s about. ”
The competition, which normally was split into five events, is separated into seven events this year. Two of the competitions — mental testing and a mini-combine consisting of the 40-yard dash and shuttle run — were conducted Wednesday at the All-Star Sports Complex in Springdale.
Competitors will compete in five on-the-field events tonight at Shiloh Christian. The newest and most interesting competition, Allen said, is the addition of coverage call.
In the competition, quarterbacks will go head-tohead and line up against four defensive backs. After dropping back in the pocket, the first quarterback to vocally identify the type of defensive coverage he is facing wins. The quarterback who names two out of three defensive alignments will advance, Allen said.
The usual events of speed and mobility, stationary accuracy, deep ball and onthe-move accuracy will also be conducted tonight.
Local quarterbacks competing include West Fork’s Daniel Holiday, Springdale’s Ashton Glaser, Springdale Har-Ber’s Zach Faust, Gravette’s Ethan McKinzie, Shiloh Christian’s Kiehl Frazier, Fayetteville’s Brandon Allen and Gentry’s Caleb Ramsey.
There’s plenty of talent on hand, which may seem a bit intimidating to smaller school quarterbacks.
“ There’s a bunch of good players, ” Holiday said. “ I don’t know. I’ll try my best and hope I can compete with them. ”
Frazier, who transferred from West Fork to Shiloh Christian after the 2007-08 school year, will compete with David Matthews for the starting position with the Saints in August. Both are sophomores.
Frazier competed at a Malzahn quarterback camp in Tulsa last month and won the short-game accuracy competition. He also threw a deep ball 60 yards with his feet set and one of his throws was clocked at 50 mph.
Strong-armed quarterback Phillip Butterfield of Lake Hamilton will also compete tonight. Butterfield led Lake Hamilton to championships in the three 7-on-7 tournaments this summer. He also threw for 2, 795 yards and 30 touchdowns against 5 interceptions last season as Lake Hamilton finished as the Class 6 A runner-up.
“ I think it’s going to be a great deal, ” Shiloh Christian head coach Josh Floyd said. “ We’re just excited to host it. I think it’s a pretty big honor. It’s a lot more than just the Thursday night deal in front of the fans. ”
Allen will spend one-onone time with the quarterbacks and provide instruction before tonight’s competition. The top two finishers will advance to the Top Gun Challenge championship on July 25-26 in Jenks, Okla.
Admission to tonight’s event is $ 5 and a free quarterback clinic for children 12-and-under will be held from 10: 30 a. m. to 11: 30 a. m. at Shiloh Christian. One fan will also be selected tonight to compete in a throwing contest with the opportunity to win $ 10, 000. The winnings will be split in half — one for the winner to keep and the other $ 5, 000 to be awarded to the high school of their choosing.
FEEDBACK:
Something to say about this topic? Submit a Letter to the Editor online
