Interview: Bryant 2019 QB Ren Hefley is Locked in for Arkansas State Championship Run

Written by Ryan Wright

Twitter: @RyanWrightRNG

This time of year, when the morning condensation is soaking through football practice uniforms and the smell of dried out grass fills the air, across the country high school teams across the country are talking conference titles and state championship runs. Everyone can talk the talk but in the end only one team can walk the walk. It will not be easy, but if tone of voice, off-season hard work, and a rapidly increasing skillset in the pocket means anything to the Bryant Hornets 2017 team, Ren Hefley is locked in for a championship run.

Every high school football player has to start somewhere, and Hefley’s start was a success by all accounts. The Hornets posted a 9-4 season a year ago with their Class of 2019 signal caller covering 1,770 yards in the air with 10 scores while finding the end zone two more times on running plays. The action on the field earned Hefley All-Conference honors and a listing on Arkansas Prep’s Top 10 Sophomores of the Year list.

The foundation for improvement is set for Hefley, who is ready to take his game to the next level. The 6-1.5, 185 pound, athlete is mobile in and out of the pocket and is capable of hitting his target downfield while on the run. In or out of the pocket, in duress or with all the time in the world, the Arkansas product has a strong arm working passes into tight windows either on the line or with touch.

Hefley’s talents will be put to the test early and often during the 2017 season. A preseason scrimmage against his old team, Pulaski Academy, the No. 2 ranked team in Arkansas (MaxPreps), will help gauge Hefley’s off-season progression ahead of a rivalry game to start the schedule against Benton in the Salt Bowl. A road trip to Fayetteville High School is never easy, especially with all the talent the Bulldogs have returning this year leading to a No. 3 preseason state ranking. The schedule in September alone does not let up with another away game, this time to No. 12 Fort Smith Northside. The journey to an Arkansas state title for any 7A team will go through North Little Rock. If there is one relenting aspect to the lineup of games for the Hornets this year, it is seeing the preseason No. 1 Charging Wildcats on their home turf in late October. All the games in between will be a challenge as well, the Hornets enter the year as the No. 8 squad in the Natural State putting a bullseye on their collective backs.

In a Recruiting News Guru exclusive interview, I sat down with Hefley as the Hornets are heating up their fall camp covering his off-season workouts with a look ahead to his junior campaign.

Interview

Ren, how have your off-season workouts gone?

“They have gone well. We started conditioning a couple of weeks ago. Practices have gotten longer and more intense, I’m happy about that. We are putting on pads and going 11-on-11. Our off-season individual drills are starting to payoff and we are coming together as a team.”

Which parts of your mechanics have you seen the most improvement on over the spring and summer?

“I’ve quickened up my motion. I’m not taking so much time to get the ball out. Making reads in the pocket, a lot of that is mental. With a quicker release, I’m getting an edge on defenses. I’ve been working with my coaches to get the ball out as quick as I can and shortening up my throwing motion.”

How have you increased your knowledge of the game during the off-season?

“I’ve been exposed to a lot of new coverages this summer. We played in several 7v7 tournaments. We finished our 7v7 season in Dallas with nationals. I saw a lot of coverages there. We played against Man, Rolling 3, Tampa, and Palms. That has been very helpful. At least I have seen it somewhere should I see it again this season. Our defense does a good job in practice running multiple coverages. We film that. I go over the film and with my quarterback coach after practice.”

Did you attend any camps this summer?

“I attended a local camp at Arkansas Tech. For the most part, I stuck to working with my team and getting better. We had a lot of team camps and 7v7 tournaments this summer.”

What did you do well at the Arkansas Tech camp?

“I threw well there. I did well in the classroom section too. I liked the campus and the feel of Arkansas Tech. I liked learning from their coaches. I also ran a 4.6 40-yard dash at their camp. That is a top time for me.”

You’ve put in a lot of extra time on the practice field, in 7v7 tournaments, and at camps, how are you translating all of that work into connecting with your receivers ahead of the season?

“Playing in 7v7 tournaments has helped. We’ve been playing together as much as we can. We run routes on air and do all kinds of complicated drills. You would be surprised to see our field house at 6 a.m. We have cones spread out, walls up, and bags out everywhere. We are having a lot of fun working together. We get creative out there. We are always working to get more reps.”

Last year Bryant primarily ran a Spread, what type of offense will Bryant run this year?

“We are running a Spread again this year. Kirk Bock is our offensive coordinator. We have a new receivers coach and a new running backs coach. We have a new offensive line up with our coaching staff other than our offensive line coach. We have improved upon what Coach Hooks taught us.”

Do you guys scrimmage anyone ahead of the season?

“We scrimmage PA (Pulaski Academy), my old school. We scrimmage them every year. I think we scrimmage them on Aug. 22.”

Are you excited for the scrimmage?

“Yes, sir. We are scrimmaging ourselves on Saturday and again one on Friday. We have the Blue-White game leading up to the season.”

What has you excited about your first game of the 2017 season?

“We play our rival, the Benton Panthers. I’m excited. People work all year to get into War Memorial Stadium (Little Rock) to play in front of a big audience. We are lucky to play them in the first game of the year. I’m preparing for the game already. I’ve been watching film on them. I am excited for the game.”

Are there any other games you are looking forward to this year?

“All of them. I’m ready to play some football. We rematch everyone we lost to last year. We play Fayetteville (defending state champs) and Fort Smith Northside early. We went on a winning streak after Northside last year and lost to North Little Rock twice (second time in state semifinal). We want revenge on all those guys.”

Have you set any goals for your junior year?

“To win. That’s all I can think about – winning. Whatever it takes to win this year.”

Entering in to your junior year, what is your cumulative GPA?

“4.43.”

Last time we spoke you were about to take one of your standardized tests. Did you take either the ACT or SAT, and, if so, what did you score?

“I scored a 26 on the ACT. I want to take it again to get a higher score.”

Fantastic. Ren, thanks for your time today and good luck with fall camp and all the upcoming scrimmages.

“Thank you.”

Please help keep RecruitingNewsGuru.com FREE!

If RNG has helped you, a friend, or a family member through an article, video, or stylized interview with our countless hours of free promotion for high school, junior college, and college athletes – please donate. Any amount is appreciated!

Photo credits: Jones Sports Media; Ren Hefley