The Hot Springs Trojans have put up a strong front the past couple of years. It's now a little weaker but there's cause for happiness.
Hot Springs linemen Dante Ibarra and Jacob McNeill signed with Henderson State on Wednesday, the first day of the football signing period. Ibarra and McNeill, close friends, are thrilled they get to play together again on the next level.
"We're very excited to be attending the same college for football," said McNeill, who plans to be Ibarra's roommate. "We're about to go down there and show these college kids how we play ball."
Both played two ways seniors after Ibarra was mainly an all-state defensive star as a junior and McNeill a standout at offensive guard. They'll return to opposite sides of the ball at Henderson, Ibarra on defense and McNeill on offense.
"The only reps that really helped me are when I was going up against (McNeill)," Ibarra said. "Whenever we weren't having to play offense, I was at my best whenever I was going up against somebody who was my equal."
McNeill added: "I like being able to compete with him because he's a hell of an athlete, too. It's good experience, and it makes me a better player, as well."
Ibarra was one of Garland County's most prized recruits heading into his senior year, receiving offers from nearly every in-state Division II school and one from D1 Air Force. McNeill going to Henderson helped Ibarra finalize his decision.
"I was really on the border between (Southern Arkansas) and Henderson because both of their offers were really good," Ibarra said. "Him going to Henderson was basically the nail in the coffin for me to go there just because I've had a lot of friends who go to Henderson and I've been playing with him since we were sophomores. We've both started on the line and we've rotated on the O-line. He's always been dominant where he's been, so I'm just hyped to be playing with my friend."
McNeill- and Ibarra-led lines helped Hot Springs experience its two best seasons under the six-year leadership of coach Chris Vereen. The Trojans went 7-5 with their first outright conference championship since 1988 and first playoff victory since '84 during their junior year. Despite not making postseason this year, Hot Springs went 6-4 with a second consecutive victory over rival Lakeside.
"You're talking about a couple of guys who are not just great football players," Vereen said. "One of them scored a 28 on the ACT and the other one a 29. Not only were they great players, but they were very smart and both of them were leaders for us. We felt like our strengths this year were our offensive and defensive line, and those two were the biggest part of that. We've got some big shoes to fill."
Ibarra and McNeill become the third and fourth Hot Springs linemen to sign with HSU in recent years, joining Jojo Grant in 2014 and Clifford Jackson in 2015. They'll also join running back Rolando Johnson, a 2013 Hot Springs graduate.
"That's three we have playing for Henderson, and we're adding two more," Vereen said. "I told their coaches, 'Y'all owe us because before too long, you're going to have a Hot Springs football team down there.' But I'm tickled to death for them. Henderson has been a very good program the past few years."
McNeill and Ibarra are both enthused about going to a football program that has captured three of the past four Great American Conference championships and won its first D2 playoff game this past season.
"I'm looking forward to getting me a ring there," McNeill said.
Absent from the signing ceremony was the school's most sought recruit, running back/safety Cleo Floyd. Vereen said Floyd will sign with a junior college because of grades.
"Right now we're looking at some jucos," Vereen said. "One of them is Hutchinson Community College in Kansas, and then there are a couple in Mississippi he's talking to. I told him today, 'Don't panic.' Most jucos don't sign on signing day. They kind of wait."
In addition, D'Andre Hood, Hot Springs' quarterback in 2010 (Vereen's first season), will sign as a wide receiver at D2 Nebraska-Kearney at 10 a.m. Friday at Hot Springs High after making first-team all-conference at NAIA Bacone College in Muskogee, Okla.
Sports on 02/04/2016