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UCA’s Brown Updates Rotary Club on progress near end of camp

Glad to get senior linebacker David Walker to come back and now he’s drawing NFL scouts to UCA.

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CONWAY, Ark. — As a physical fall camp winds down, Central Arkansas coach Nathan Brown gave the fans at the Rotary Club an update Thursday. It was all positives for the Bears right now.

After a 7-4 season last year, UCA is ranked in the preseason FCS polls and is the coaches’ choice to win the UAC this year.

“It goes to show we recruited and retained well,” Brown said. “We have 17 of 22 starters back and when you have that, it’s a big deal. [High ranking] is great, a good place to be. The goal is to still be there in December.”

He also took that opportunity to talk about getting a key piece of the defense back. While the casual fan only looks at the offense, Brown noted getting linebacker David Walker back. He’s a two-time defensive player of the year.

“He is such a committed Bear,” Brown said. “He had opportunities to leave, but he decided he was committed to UCA, his team and coaches. He’s nine sacks away from the all-time sack record at UCA.”

Linebacker David Walker in practice drills (Ted McClenning | AllBears+ Images)

Walker, from Stuttgart, started his college tenure at Southern Arkansas and transferred to UCA in 2022 and kept playing at a high level.

“He is on the radar for the Senior Bowl,” Brown said. “He’s had dozens of NFL scouts coming to check him out. No. 8, keep an eye on him.”

Brown also took the opportunity to tell the fans how important they are to the program as well.

“We have five home games this year,” Brown said. “I want you to understand your importance to our program, come out and support these young men.”

The Bears open the season Aug. 31 in Jonesboro against Arkansas State at 6 p.m. on ESPN+. The first home game will be Sept. 14 against Austin Peay on The Stripes at First Security Field. That one will also be broadcast on ESPN+.

Former UCA athletics director Vance Strange with Nathan Brown at Rotary Club.

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2024 UCA Football

Sat, Aug 31@ Arkansas StateL, 34-31
Sat, Sep 7@ LindenwoodW, 34-13
Sat, Sep 14Austin PeayW, 45-17
Sat, Sep 21@ Arkansas-Pine BluffW, 56-17
Sat, Sep 28vs LamarW, 34-14
Sat, Oct 5@ Abilene ChristianL, 41-34
Sat, Oct 12vs West GeorgiaW, 34-33
Sat, Oct 26vs North AlabamaW, 24-19
Sat, Nov 2@ Utah TechL, 34-21
Sat, Nov 9@ Eastern KentuckyL, 31-24
Sat, Nov 16vs Southern UtahL, 38-31
Sat, Nov 30@Tarleton State2:00 PM
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High School Football Rankings

Following is the Arkansas Sports Media High School Football Poll including the Overall Top 10, the top five in Classes 7A, 6A, 5A, 4A, 3A and 2A, plus the top three in the 8-man division, as voted by a panel of sports media from around the state for the week ending August 24. Ranking is given with first-place votes received, records, total points and ranking from last week's poll:
OVERALLRecordPtsPrv
1.Bryant (25)10-02681
2.Greenwood (2)10-02343
30Conway9-12022
4.Little Rock Parkview9-11714
5.Bentonville7-31625
6.Benton9-11486
7.Fayetteville8-21117
8.Pulaski Academy8-2898
9.Rogers7-3439
10.Joe T. Robinson9-122
Others receiving votes: Valley View 8, Mountain Home 7, Cabot 6, Little Rock Catholic 6, Shiloh Christian 6, Elkins 1, Farmington 1.
CLASS 7A
1.Bryant (27)10-01351
2.Conway9-11022
3.Bentonville7-3813
4.Fayetteville8-2454
5.Pulaski Academy8-2395
Others receiving votes: Rogers 3.
CLASS 6A
1.Greenwood (27)10-01351
2.Benton9-11082
3.Mountain Home8-2623
4.Shiloh Christian7-3494
5.Little Rock Catholic9-1345
Others receiving votes: Marion 6.
CLASS 5A
1.Little Rock Parkview (27)9-11351
2.Joe T. Robinson9-11062
3.Valley View10-0793
4.Farmington9-1484
5.Hot Springs Lakeside8-2205
Others receiving votes: Camden Fairview 7, Harding Academy 7, Morrilton 3.
CLASS 4A
1.Elkins (20)10-01261
3.Arkadelphia (5)8-2913
2.Little Rock Mills (1)10-0682
4.Warren8-2554
5.Dardanell (1)9-123
Southside Batesville10-023
Others receiving votes: Malvern 12, Gravette 5, Highland 2.
CLASS 3A
1.Bismarck (12)10-01051t
2.Fordyce (10)10-0961t
3.Prescott (1)9-1704
4.Osceola (2)8-1543
5.Booneville (1)9-1395
Others receiving votes: Mansfield (1) 23, Rivercrest 10, Rison 4, Salem 4.
CLASS 2A
1.Carlisle (20)10-01271
2.Conway Christian (7)10-01152
3.Des Arc8-2595
4.East Poinsett Co.7-352
5.Bigelow6-4183
Murfreesboro7-3184
Others receiving votes: Mount Ida 6, Junction City 4, Cross County 3, Poyen 3.
8-MAN SANCTIONED
1.Strong-Huttig (27)5-0811
2.Midland9-0532
3.Cedar Ridge8-1253
Others receiving votes: Woodlawn 3.

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