As mentioned in part one, this is a long series, as I am covering 21 players who came out of Joe T. Robinson who were on college football rosters in 2024. This second and final part highlights the former Senators who decided to stay in Arkansas to continue their football careers.
G’Kyson Wright (Harding University)
G’Kyson Wright is the first in-state player I will mention on this list after covering the former Senators who left the state to find college football opportunities. Wright graduated from Joe T. Robinson in 2022 after playing safety, wide receiver, and quarterback for the Senators. He was All-State, a state champion, a team captain, Farm Bureau Player of the Week, and a 4-time MaxPreps Player of the Game. He totaled 1,130 all-purpose yards, 20 touchdowns, 37 tackles, 3 interceptions, and 3 blocked kicks as a senior.
Coach Uptergrove spoke highly of Wright in regards to his time at Robinson: “Ky was a worker. He’s always looking for ways to get better and hone his craft. He had to be a Swiss army knife for us offensively, but he accepted that and played his role well.”
After redshirting in 2022 and not making an appearance in 2023, Wright got the chance to show his ability for Harding this past season. Wright and Harding were reigning Division II national champions, and he helped the Bisons return to the playoffs after playing in 10 games. He recorded 7 total tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 1 pass breakup, and 1 interception which was returned for a touchdown against Oklahoma Baptist in Week 2.
At the end of the season, the Great American Conference recognized Wright, along with 25 other Bisons, as a part of the GAC Academic Honor Roll. Student before athlete, and that will always be an important recognition in my book.
Kirby Owens II (Henderson State University)
Kirby (K.J.) Owens II was an elite player for the Senators who could play both ways. He now just plays defense with the Henderson State Reddies as a defensive back, but he was dangerous on both sides of the ball in high school. His playing time was limited as a junior for Robinson, but he exploded onto the scene in 2021, his senior season.
As a senior, Owens had 949 all-purpose yards, with his best individual numbers coming in the receiving game, posting 819 yards on 45 catches. On defense, Owens recorded 82 total tackles (51 solo), an absurd 26 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 3 interceptions, 2 pass breakups, and 1 fumble recovery. His performance that season earned him an all-state selection. It is clear that Owens was primarily a run-stopper in the Senator’s secondary, and that seems to have carried over into his college career.
Owens did not start his college career with the Reddies. He was an early-signing day get by Northeastern State, but he did not play with them during the 2022 football season, nor could I find him listed on their roster. Nevertheless, he played his first college football season in 2023 with Henderson State, and he went on to record 32 total tackles (21 solo), 1 tackle for loss, 4 pass deflections, and 1 interception in 12 games.
This past season, Owens only notched 9 games, but he still had a productive season, posting 18 total tackles (8 solo) and 2 pass breakups. For whatever reason, the Henderson State football page for Owens has him listed as a redshirt freshman for this past season. He played more than 4 games in both the 2023 and 2024 seasons, so I am not sure if that is a mistake or not.
So far in his career, Kirby Owens II has shown that he is an excellent defensive back, and he should try to convince his coaches to give him some time at wide receiver. I mean, he is a former state champion playing both ways. Anyway, I cannot wait to watch Owens’ promising career unfold.
Tanner Drew (Henderson State University)
Tanner Drew was a leader on the Senators’ offensive line in his high school career, and he even played a bit on the defensive side. Coach Uptergrove said he “took a lot of pride and ownership in how the O-line practiced and performed.”
The 2024 season was Drew’s true freshman season with the Reddies, but he did not play as it appears that Henderson State planned on redshirting him.
Drew was first-team All-Conference twice, 5A All-State, and held offers from Lyon College and Fitchburg State before he committed to Henderson on February 7th, 2024. During his 3 seasons as a varsity rotational defensive lineman for the Senators, Drew recorded 15 total tackles (6 solo) and 2 tackles for loss.
Though Tanner Drew has yet to make an appearance for the Reddies, I imagine he has a bright future playing on this strong Great American Conference team.
Conner Grisham (University of Arkansas-Monticello)
Conner Grisham is the first specialist on this list, but he is also one of the few who has bounced around a bit in his college career. Coming out of Robinson, Grisham was ranked in the top 107 long snappers in the class of 2023 according to Chris Rubio of Rubio Long Snapping. He had multiple offers out of high school, including Wooster College, Rhodes College, and Central Arkansas. What is most interesting is that his primary position with the Senators was actually quarterback, as he proved to be an accurate passer at the helm of Eskola’s offense. He even won the Arkansas Prep Sports QB Passing Competition, but he had the intention of playing tight end at the college level.
He did not appear in 2023 for UCA, and he did not stick around for a second semester in Conway either. Grisham was a talented athlete not just on the gridiron, but on the diamond.
Grisham was a solid baseball player with the Senators and spent a very brief period with Coffeyville Community College as a right-handed pitcher. This was in November of 2023, and on January 6, 2024, Grisham went back to football and he seems to have found his home in Southeast Arkansas.
Entering his redshirt freshman season with his new school, the University of Arkansas-Monticello, Grisham entered the 2024 season as the backup long snapper but he was quickly thrust into action in UAM’s second game against Southwest Oklahoma State. He played 9 of the 11 games that season, all as the team’s primary snapper. He is still listed as a tight end on the Boll Weevil’s roster, but I imagine he is more of a “jack of all trades.”
Conner Grisham has certainly had an interesting college career so far, but it seems as though he has finally found where he belongs.
James Jordan (University of Central Arkansas)
James Jordan was a fantastic two-way player for Joe T. Robinson, along with being a solid basketball player for the Senators. After recording 12 total tackles (10 solo), 1 forced fumble, and 1 interception as a sophomore, Jordan’s play skyrocketed as a junior, logging 79 total tackles (60 solo), 18 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, 3 fumble recoveries, and 5 interceptions (3 pick-sixes). As a senior, Jordan continued to play well, coming up with 59 total tackles (46 solo), 20 tackles for loss, 6 sacks, 1 fumble recovery, 7 pass breakups, and 2 interceptions (1 pick-six).
Along with playing as a safety for the Senators, he played exceptionally as a receiver, totaling 56 catches, 677 receiving yards, 9 receiving touchdowns, 168 rushing yards, 3 rushing touchdowns, and 169 kick return yards in two seasons.
Coming out of high school, On3 and 247Sports reported that Jordan had two offers, UNLV and UCA. Jordan opted to stay in the state and commit to the UCA Bears. As a freshman in 2021, the UCA website shows Jordan having played in 9 games, recording 10 total tackles (3 solo). He was listed as a redshirt freshman on the Bear roster in 2022, playing in 11 games and totaling 29 tackles (17 solo), 8 pass breakups, and 1 interception. In 2023, Jordan’s numbers took a slight dip, but he remained productive, coming up with 19 total tackles (15 solo), 0.5 tackles for loss, and 5 pass deflections.
In 10 games as a redshirt junior this past season, Jordan logged 13 total tackles (7 solo), 1 pass breakup, and 1 interception.
James Jordan has played well for the Bears in his career, which does not surprise Coach Uptergrove: “Jordan was one of the more savvy guys I’ve coached in the secondary and he led by example. I’m Not surprised at all that he made a smooth transition to corner at UCA.”
Ashtyn Williams (University of Central Arkansas)
Ashtyn Williams is one of the best defensive players to step foot on the field at Charlie George Stadium. As a senior with the Senators, Williams was named the Farm Bureau and Hootens Arkansas Football 5A Defensive Player of the Year in 2022. In that dominant season, Williams racked up a ridiculous 196 total tackles (104 solo), 22 tackles for loss, 4 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery, and 3 pass breakups. He was one of the best players on the field at all times in 2021 as well, recording 169 total tackles (81 solo), 32 tackles for loss, 8 sacks, 5 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery, and 1 pass deflection.
Physicality is something that every football player must exhibit, but it is hard to display that on a stat sheet. Coach Uptergrove said that Williams was the most physical player he ever coached, and that “when he hit you he made sure you felt it the next day.”
Out of high school, Williams had offers from Navy, Ouachita Baptist, Harding, Army, Jackson State, Middle Tennessee, and UCA. He opted to go with the latter. He did not make an appearance for the Bears as a true freshman in 2023, but he played in 11 games this past season as a redshirt freshman, recording 12 total tackles (7 solo), 0.5 tackles for loss, 0.5 sacks, and 1 forced fumble.
Ashtyn Williams will be looking to expand on his success in high school and carry it over into his college career. As a promising young linebacker, he is in the perfect position to be successful. Williams is listed on the 2025 UCA roster, so he will return for his third season in Conway.
Ian Dietz (University of Central Arkansas)
Ian Dietz is another linebacker for the UCA Bears who had a great high school career, recording 127 total tackles (63 solo), 10.5 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 2 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery, 2 pass breakups, and 1 interception in 3 seasons on varsity. He had offers from Henderson State, Graceland University, and McPherson College coming out of high school.
Dietz ended up accepting a preferred walk-on offer from UCA after logging 57 total tackles (29 solo), 7.5 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble, 2 pass deflections, and 1 interception in only 7 games as a senior with the Senators.
In 2024, Dietz entered his true freshman season with the Bears but he did not play in any games.
Coach Uptergrove has spoken highly of Ian Dietz, especially on his journey to becoming a starter for the Senators: “Ian was coachable and a hard worker. He waited his turn for us and when got his opportunity he made the most of it.”
Dietz is listed on the 2025 UCA roster, indicating that he will be returning. However, he is now listed as a defensive lineman, as he grew from 6’0″ and 210 pounds to 6’5″ and 220 pounds. There might be a future for this former Senator on the Bears’ defensive front.
Zac Easterling (Arkansas Tech University)
Zac Easterling is one of the few players to play at Joe T. Robinson who is not from the Little Rock area. Arkansas Tech lists his hometown as Conway, Arkansas, and he was a Conway High School Wampus Cat before playing his final high school season with the Senators.
In 7 games as a cornerback and safety in 2023, Easterling recorded 13 total tackles (12 solo) and 3 pass breakups. Entering his senior season and afterward, Easterling had offers from Arkansas Baptist, Hendrix College, Oakland City University, Bethel College, and Arkansas Tech, where he would end up committing.
Easterling did not play as a true freshman with the Wonder Boys, but he is listed on the 2025 Arkansas Tech roster, indicating that he will be returning to Russellville.
Brandon Greil was another two-way star for Joe T. Robinson, earning himself all-state honors as a wide receiver and was considered the 159th and the 190th best safety in the country according to 247Sports and On3 respectively. He was a 3-star prospect and one of the top players in Arkansas in the class of 2023.
While playing as a starting safety with the Senators, he racked up 141 total tackles (101 solo), 19.5 tackles for loss, 3 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, 2 interceptions, 7 pass deflections, and 2 blocked field goals in 3 varsity seasons. In his senior year alone, Greil recorded 62 total tackles (40 solo), 5.5 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble, 1 interception, 2 pass breakups, and 1 blocked field goal.
While Greil played wide receiver, he recorded 50 career catches, 851 receiving yards, 9 receiving touchdowns, and 127 return yards. As a dynamic athlete, he even got some action at running back, carrying the ball 46 times as a senior for 245 rushing yards and 7 touchdowns. He even took some snaps at quarterback, going 2/6 for 81 yards, 1 touchdown, and 1 interception.
Greil was a highly-anticipated high school prospect for Head Coach Butch Jones and Arkansas State, and he got the chance to play right away for the Red Wolves. There was no intention to redshirt the safety, playing 11 games as a true freshman, primarily on special teams. He went on to record 5 total tackles (2 solo), with his first tackle coming against Coastal Carolina in the 5th game of the season.
In 2024, Greil played even better, appearing in 13 games. He played more defensive snaps as a sophomore and racked up 19 total tackles (9 solo) rotating at safety. At the 68 Ventures Bowl versus Bowling Green, Greil came away with 2 solo tackles in the high-scoring victory for the Red Wolves. He also appeared on the cover of the Arkansas State version of the 2024 Hooten’s Arkansas Football book as one of the players from the natural state.
Because of Greil’s solid play, he earned Honorable Mention All-Sun Belt as a special teamer.
Greil will be back with the Red Wolves in 2025, expecting to fight for the starting safety position. Former Senator Head Coach Todd Eskola believes that Greil has sky-high potential with the Red Wolves. “I truly think he is capable of playing at the highest level someday and following in the footsteps of great Robinson alumni like Nate Garner…He’ll only keep getting better the longer he plays.”
Gabe Bonner (Ouachita Baptist University)
Gabe Bonner was the definition of a “ball hawk” while starring for the Senators. As the starting cornerback in his senior season, Bonner racked up 25 total tackles (16 solo), 1.5 tackles for loss, 2 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries, 5 pass breakups, and 5 interceptions. On the other side of the football, he was a solid wide receiver, hauling in 26 catches for 468 yards and 8 touchdowns in his final season in the black and gold. He also had 86 rushing yards on 7.8 yards per carry that season.
Bonner went on to commit to the Ouachita Baptist Tigers and was able to get on the field right away. The Tigers use a large rotation of defensive backs, whether on defense or special teams. Bonner played in 7 games as a true freshman in 2023, spending some time on defense, and the rest on special teams. He finished the year with 6 tackles.
As a true sophomore in 2024, Bonner’s play jumped exponentially. After playing in 11 games, he finished with 21 total tackles (12 solo), 1.5 tackles for loss, 1 pass deflection, and 1 interception. That boost in performance from one year to the next is similar to his two seasons on varsity with the Senators.
Gabe Bonner can boost his performance from one season to the next, and that is a testament to the work he puts in during the offseason. With that in mind, I do not doubt that he will play even better in his third season with the reigning Great American Conference champs.
J.T. Towers (Ouachita Baptist University)
In sports, there are stories that we cling to that represent the resilience of human nature. These stories portray how humanity can recover from the hardest of challenges, with most stemming from loss or injury. For J.T. Towers, his story stems from both.
Towers lost his older brother, Zach, in 2014 after battling brain trauma from a hit he suffered during a Star City football game in November of 2012. When Towers was a sophomore at Glen Rose High School, the vehicle he was a passenger in was t-boned by a semi-truck. He sustained 75 forehead stitches, 3 broken neck vertebrae, a broken rib, a tendon laceration in his hand, a hole in his lung, and a torn labrum from the accident, but he somehow did not sustain any brain damage.
Towers missed his sophomore season while rehabbing from the accident, but he came back for Glen Rose in 2018 as a junior, leading them to a 9-2 overall record and a 7-0 conference record while playing quarterback.
Towers transferred to Joe T. Robinson for his senior season, and instead of being the Senator’s starting quarterback, he switched to linebacker. Even though he only played defense for one season, he was outstanding, having one of the best individual defensive seasons in Robinson’s history. He put up 171 total tackles (105 solo), 47 tackles for loss, 11 sacks, 4 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery, and 1 pass breakup in his lone season in Little Rock. He still played a bit on offense, going 2/10 for 60 passing yards and 1 touchdown. He also added 121 all-purpose yards and 1 rushing touchdown.
Coach Uptergrove has attested to Towers’ toughness: “J.T. may be the toughest player I’ve ever coached. He played basically his entire senior year with a pretty serious toe injury. He never complained.”
Towers’ flawless transition to defense was evident on the stat sheet and in the recruiting scene. ESPN ranked him as the 45th-best inside linebacker in the country and 247Sports considered him the 9th-best player in Arkansas in the class of 2020. As a 3-Star prospect, he held offers from Army, Navy, Louisiana-Monroe, Illinois State, Utah, Tulsa, and Arkansas. He also held down walk-on offers from Oklahoma and Texas Tech.
Towers ultimately chose to stay home and commit to the Arkansas Razorbacks.
He spent two seasons in Fayetteville, which were ultimately uneventful. He did not see the field either in 2020 (redshirted) or 2021. After his redshirt freshman season concluded, he opted to hit the transfer portal, eventually landing at Ouachita Baptist.
In his first season in Arkadelphia Towers finally saw the field, logging 10 total tackles (2 solo) and 1 tackle for loss in 11 games. He was a part of the Tiger team that went undefeated in GAC play and found their way to the D2 NCAA playoffs. After appearing for the first time in a game in 2022, Towers returned as a redshirt junior in 2023 and improved his play, racking up 22 total tackles (9 solo).
Towers took advantage of his redshirt season in 2024, playing in all 12 games and having a career year. He recorded 29 total tackles (9 solo), 2.5 tackles for loss, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery, and 1 deflected pass. He tallied a career-high 5 tackles in Southern Nazarene’s upset win over Ouachita and tied that total one game later against Oklahoma Baptist.
Chase Nichols (Ouachita Baptist University)
Chase Nichols was a two-sport star during his time with the Senators. He was a solid basketball player in the class of 2023, but he made a name for himself playing both ways on the gridiron.
Nichols played wide receiver and safety in high school, hauling in 33 catches for 584 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns in two varsity seasons. On the other side, he recorded 116 total tackles (67 solo), 4 tackles for loss, 4 pass breakups, and 7 interceptions. Nichols also blocked a field goal in his senior season. Despite playing both receiver and defensive back, Nichols switched to runningback after he committed to Ouachita Baptist.
Nichols only carried the ball 5 times in high school, picking up 24 yards, all in his senior year. Despite the position change, he did not play right away in 2023, only appearing in one game against Oklahoma Baptist. Nichols played primarily on special teams in the Tigers’ victory, but I have a vague recollection from watching that game that Nichols’ name was called on defense. He did record 2 total tackles in his lone appearance in 2023, but he did not find the field in 2024.
Nichols has been recognized as Scout Team Player of the Week multiple times, which Coach Uptergrove credits to how much of a “team guy” he is.
I would fully expect Chase Nichols to return to Arkadelphia, likely still making an impact wherever the team sees him fit.
Jaylen Knowlton (Ouachita Baptist University)
Jaylen Knowlton is one of those players who capitalized on the opportunities he had in his senior year of high school in order to play college football. Knowlton started out playing safety as a sophomore on varsity, playing in 10 games in 2021 and recording 23 total tackles (19 solo) and forcing 1 fumble. He only played in 2 games as a junior, picking 47 kick return yards.
That senior season for Knowlton was important, as he cracked the running back rotation, carrying the ball 74 times for 469 yards and 5 touchdowns. He also caught 3 passes for 31 yards. He still spent some time on defense in that 2023 season, logging 5 tackles and a fumble recovery.
After graduation, Knowlton decided to enroll at Ouachita Baptist in 2024. Knowlton did not appear in any games as a true freshman, but he still made a bit of an impact, especially in preparation for Ouachita’s bout against Arkansas Tech.
Knowlton was one of four players recognized as a “Scout Player of the Week” in Week 8 of this past season. He was specifically recognized for his work on offense, and this award is given to players who can stand out in practice.
Though Jaylen Knowlton has yet to appear in a game, he has been impressive on the offensive scout team. He has a future on this football team, and Tiger fans should be intrigued by his potential.
Chase Swede (Ouachita Baptist University)
Chase Swede was a tough player to stop when he was coming off the edge. Swede was 5A Central all-conference as a senior, and for good reason.
That 2023 season was Swede’s breakout year. He became a full-time starter on the defensive line, playing in 11 games and racking up 53 total tackles (24 solo), 7 tackles for loss, and 1 pass breakup. He also played some tight end, using his size to make a large impact as an additional blocker.
After that all-conference season, Swede held interest from multiple colleges but ultimately chose to land at Ouachita Baptist. He did not play in a game in 2024.
Chase Swede stands at 6’4″ and 255 pounds. He has the size to play on the defensive line in college, so it is only a matter of time before he gets his chance on the gridiron at Cliff Harris Stadium.
E’Marion Harris (University of Arkansas)
Perhaps the most well-known of all the former Senators who played football in 2024 is E’Marion Harris. He was a superstar at Joe T. Robinson, starting the most games of any player in Senator history, and starring on both the offensive and defensive lines. Harris was a 3-year defensive starter, and in his Senator career, he racked up 123 total tackles (63 solo), 44 tackles for loss, 8 sacks, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery, 4 pass breakups, and 1 interception. On offense, he was a 4-year starter on the offensive line.
Harris started at right tackle as a freshman with the Senators. He continued as one of the Senators’ starting linemen, being a crucial piece in the Robinson team that won the state championship in 2019. Harris was starting to gain national attention during his upperclassman years, especially after his great two-way senior season where he helped lead the Senators to another championship victory.
Harris was graded at 86% on the offensive line, and he came in as the #3 player in Arkansas for the class of 2022. He was rated as a 4-star prospect by 247Sports, Rivals, and ESPN, being considered a top-30 offensive tackle in the country. Harris held major offers from Georgia, Oklahoma, Miami, Tennessee, Texas A&M, and Arkansas.
Elliott Harris, E’Marion’s father, played offensive line at the University of Arkansas before playing professionally for the NFL Europe league. The family legacy in Fayetteville lives on, as Harris committed to the Hogs in May of 2021, right before his senior year.
Harris was redshirted after his freshman season, but he did appear during the Razorbacks’ victories over Auburn and Kansas in the Liberty Bowl (defeated former Senator teammate D.J. Withers). As a redshirt freshman in 2023, Harris found more time on the field. He played in 6 games, mostly playing on special teams, but he did earn some time as a backup offensive lineman. In the 3 games he played on the offensive line, he played a total of 22 snaps, and he did not allow a sack during the 10 pass plays he was a part of. He also took snaps on the field goal and extra point units in 3 games.
This past season would turn out to be Harris’ best. Former Hog starter Patrick Kutas was injured at the beginning of the season, paving the way for Harris to earn his first career start at left guard against UAPB. In that game, the Razorback offense recorded 408 total yards of offense, including the 279 yards they picked up on the ground.
Harris ended up being a full-time starter in 2024, switching to right tackle towards the end of the season after Kutas returned to action. He is one of two former Senators to play in a bowl game in 2024, helping Arkansas to a big victory over Texas Tech in the Liberty Bowl.
E’Marion Harris was the lone scholarship player from Little Rock on the Razorbacks last season and was one of the few starters from the central Arkansas area. He turned some heads this past season, but now he has his work cut out for him. Coach Sam Pittman landed the commitments of 5 offensive linemen out of the transfer portal, all of whom look to start or at least make a positive impact on the Razorbacks in 2025.
Looking Ahead
I have enjoyed getting to learn about the careers of all of these former Senator stars. I am impressed that most of these players have stayed with one team for the majority of their careers, especially in an era where the transfer portal has a chokehold over college athletics.
I am also excited to see the next generation of Senators move on to play football in college. Michael Hayes (UCA), Josh Smith (Harding), Tyson Bradden (Lincoln University in Missouri), Ari Montgomery (Arkansas Tech), A’Mahd Booker (Henderson State), Kaleb Doucette (Henderson State), and Ryan Nolan (Northeastern Oklahoma A&M) have already committed to play at the next level. Starting kicker John Tait has also received an offer from UCA, so I would imagine he will be committing to play somewhere soon.
The future is bright in Little Rock. The Senators bring back Deminio Patterson, Isiah “Tank” Reese, and Kevin “Deuce” Williams who have all received Division I attention. Even rising freshman receiver Braylyn Brown has received offers from Kentucky, Memphis, and Southern Mississippi.
Now that Coach Eskola has stepped away from football, and Coach Uptergrove has taken over, you all should be flocking to your screens to watch another great group of Senators this fall on the Robinson Sports Network.
Chris joined the Natural State Sports Network in July of 2024. He is the play-by-play commentator for Joe T. Robinson football and for Little Rock Central Boys and Girls basketball. Chris is a graduate of Ouachita Baptist University and North Little Rock High School. In addition to his positions with NSS, he is an intern at KATV in Little Rock, a scout for AR Prep Girls Hoops and Prep Hoops, and he is a freelance writer for SBLive.
Chris had an exciting first year with the Robinson Sports Network and the Tigers Sports Network and he cannot wait for the next season with Natural State Sports!