Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Tigers’ Stinespring emerges without notice
BENTONVILLE — What Keegan Stinespring does on the football field might go a little unnoticed at times to those outside Bentonville High’s football program.
That’s perfectly fine for the Tigers’ junior linebacker, as long as he knows he’s still making contributions to the 7A-West Conference’s stingiest defensive unit this fall.
“You have to play what’s best for the team,” Stinespring said. “If the team needs me at middle linebacker and I happen to be under a shadow, that’s just how I have to play. I just have to keep playing my best, and that gives me the motivation to try harder and get more recognition for myself.”
So much attention has been put on fellow linebacker Cole Joyce that one could believe what Stinespring has done does go a little unnoticed. Through Bentonville’s first nine games, however, he has compiled 71 total tackles and five quarterback sacks.
One person who knows fully well what Stinespring has done over the past two seasons is Bentonville coach Jody Grant. As a sophomore, Stinespring was pressed into a starting role during the second half of the Tigers’ season opener, and he hasn’t relinquished that linebacker spot.
“We’ve talked to Keegan about his role,” Grant said. “A lot of focus goes on Cole, which allows Keegan to make a lot of plays and fly under the radar. He has a uniqueness that is special. He has a high motor, and he’s very intelligent.”
“I’m telling you — Keegan Stinespring is one of the best linebackers in our program, and we’ve had some good ones. He gets to play with Cole, and those two together probably make as good as we’ve ever had. Keegan knows one speed, and that is high. He’s been a pleasure to coach.”
Other 7A-West coaches saw enough of Stinespring last fall that they named him the defensive newcomer of the year. They witnessed a player who wasn’t afraid to get in the trenches and take on the bigger lineman, yet was quick enough to keep running backs and quarterbacks at bay if needed.
The one thing Stinespring admitted he needed to improve this season was tackling. He helped himself physically by pushing his weight to the “198-202 mark, depending on what I eat that day.” He also made sure he didn’t lose any of the quickness he needed, as well.
“As a freshman, I was able to hit a dude and he would fall to the ground,” Stinespring said. “I really have to work on my tackling. One of the things I never learned was how to track a near hip, and
I’ve been working a lot on that.
“A big thing I like to have is my speed and quickness, so I’ve been working on 10-yard dashes and 5-yard agility movements. I’ve also been working on topend
speed a lot. I’ve been working on the speed, and the weight will come with the workouts.”
Stinespring said results have come with the workouts. Where he would hit an offensive lineman and come to a near-standstill last year, he now feels he has the ability to push a lineman back when needed and have leverage on opposing players.
Grant said the one drawback to Stinespring’s style of play is he goes too fast at times, which results in missing tackles.
“Keegan’s great at a lot of things,” Grant said. “I’ve said he’s getting the opportunity to be one of the best linebacker tandems in the state. He’s embraced that. When you get to start in our program as a sophomore, then you’re pretty good.
“Keegan and Cole feed off each other. They’re close, which makes it fun to watch them grow and develop. We have to get him under control at times. He plays so fast at times that he misses tackles and overruns our pressures. We’re worked through that, but he’s one of our best tacklers and his leadership is on point. He’s not afraid to be vocal, and teammates respect him.”