2017 Landers Award goes to Connor Noland | Landers Kia

Friday, 19 January, 2018

Out of 10 phenomenal Arkansas high school football players, Connor Noland, a senior quarterback from Greenwood, was named the winner of the 2017 Landers Award.

KATV hosted a live special Wednesday, January 17 at their downtown studio where all 10 nominees gathered with their coaches and family. At the end of the special, KATV Sports Director Steve Sullivan announced Noland as the winner from a sealed envelope.

“It means a lot to win this award,” Noland said after the broadcast. “There’s been a lot of hard work, you know, blood, sweat and tears that have gone into this. And to be recognized with the great group of guys is definitely an honor, and [I’m] just blessed to be in this position.”

The 10 players were chosen as nominees for the Landers Award by the KATV Sports staff. Each week for 13 weeks throughout the past football season, one of the 10 players was named the Landers Player of the Week.

“You know we’re proud to sponsor this one of a kind award,” Landers said during the live special. “We have exceptional finalists from all over Arkansas.”

Other players nominated this year are: Layne Hatcher of Pulaski Academy; Samy Johnson of Little Rock Catholic; Mason Schucker of Searcy; Bennie Kemp of McClellan; Caezar Warren of Robinson; Treylon Burks of Warren; Michael George of Conway; Ta’Von Hicks of Wynne; and Gerry Bohanon of Earle.

Previous award winners are:

• De’Arrius Howard of West Memphis, 2000

• Reed McKinney of Warren, 2001

• Landon Leach of Russellville, 2002

• Peyton Hillis of Conway, 2003

• Darren McFadden of Oak Grove, 2004

• Damien Williams of Springdale, 2005

• A.J. Whitmore of Nashville, 2006

• Tyler Wilson of Greenwood, 2007

• Spencer Keith of Pulaski Academy, 2008

• Michael Dyer of Little Rock Christian, 2009

• Brandon Allen of Fayetteville, 2010

• Fredi Knighten of Pulaski Academy, 2011

• Drew Morgan of Greenwood, 2012

• Zach Launius of Cabot, 2013

• Ty Story of Charleston, 2014

• LaDarius Skelton of Pine Bluff, 2015

• Taylor Powell of Fayetteville, 2016

Categories : People , Local

Tags : Landers Award , Football , Community Involvement