National Signing Day is a big day for any high school athlete wanting to make it to the next level. For three Greenwood Bulldogs it is building upon a legacy of those that have come before them. Names like Kris Weible, Tyler Wilson, Drew Morgan, and Hunter Wilkinson, have laid the foundation for Bulldogs to make it to the next level. Cash Archer, Grant Karnes, and Eddy Castelo get to etch their names with the other greats in Bulldog Football history and chart their own paths collegiately.
Cash Archer – University of Central Arkansas
A force on defense that had opposing coaches’ game planning to stop his relentless style of play. From the same mold of former Bulldog defensive monsters Morgan and Jordan Hanna (Arkansas/UNLV), the 6’1.5″ 222lbs older brother of Kane Archer, made his name disrupting offensive backfields. With 39.5 sacks coming out of a 3-year career with 224 tackles there was rarely a play at the line of scrimmage or behind that did not involve the two-time All-State selection. For his work on the field the University of Central Arkansas offered Cash and became the front runner for the 2025 grad. Cash won the Hooten’s Arkansas Football 2024 6A Defensive Player of the Year.
“I’m excited, I’ve always dreamed of playing at the next level.” Cash Archer said. “I took a visit down there and it was way better than I could’ve imagined. The coaching staff was amazing. It feels like a place I could adapt to.”
“With Cash, I don’t know if we’ve had a guy with a motor like him in a long time.” Head Coach Chris Young said. “A dynamic player that rushes the passer unlike anything I have ever seen. Tremendous athlete, you know, UCA is getting a heck of a steal.”
Grant Karnes – University of Arkansas
In a long line of great receivers, Grant Karnes left his legacy on the field for the Bulldogs. The three-sport athlete was originally committed to Wichita State for baseball, where he is a two-time All-State pitcher for the Bulldogs. Early in the summer, Karnes made the decision to re-open his recruiting to Football and within the first couple weeks it paid off when the Razorbacks made an offer. In Grant’s time at Greenwood, 3589 yards on 248 catches for 47 touchdowns puts him behind Josh Bell (55 ’98-’00) and Kris Weible (51 ’94-’96) all-time in the Greenwood school record book for receiving touchdowns in a career. While most teams will have one receiver go over 1000 yards and then some, Grant was able to share 1000 yard seasons with L.J. Robins (NSU) and Champ Davis. This year the Bulldogs were on pace to have three 1000-yard receivers with Karnes, Davis and the late Isaiah Arrington. Grant Karnes won the Hooten’s Arkansas Football 6A Offensive Player of the Year and was a three-time All-State selection.
“It means so much to me. It’s been a dream since I was a little kid to go play at Arkansas. There’s nowhere else I would want to go.” Grant Karnes said. “Finally getting the opportunity, after all the years of hard work. Everyone that has helped me throughout the journey, I mean, I can’t wait for it”
“He played in four consecutive State Championship games. I don’t know anyone has ever done that.” Coach Young said. “Lead the entire state in receiving yards. As good of a football player he is, he’s a better young man. He made our locker room better; he made practices fun. I think he had a huge impact on the younger receivers, which will carry us through for the next few years.”
Eddy Castelo –Henderson State University
Eddy came to Greenwood a year ago from Fort Smith Northside. An offensive lineman for the Grizzlies, Castelo was tabbed to fill one spot at guard as Junior Cody Taylor moved to center. Then the Fayetteville Scrimmage happened. Senior Nose Guard Mark Garretson went down with an injury and it left some question marks on a defense that was already having to replace several starters. Eddy, known for his aggressive run blocking, and relentless work in the weight room was moved over to defense with Junior Akira Fujibayashi to work alongside Junior DeAndre Stephens to find the best fit. Week 0 the pieces fell together, with adjustments on the offensive side with Taylor moving to back to guard, Fujibayashi at center, and Castelo sporting a new number 94 at nose guard on the defense. Eddy would get 50 tackles and 9.5 tackles for a loss in his Senior season effort. Recruiting for Eddy started with offers from Lyon College and Centenary College in Louisiana, but a move to the opposite side of the ball opened offers to the next rung up the college football ladder. First Southern Nazarene in OKC then Henderson State in Arkadelphia.
“The main thing that made me choose Henderson; it reminded me a lot of Greenwood.” Eddy Castelo said. “The head coach reminded me of Coach Young. They already have the mindset that ‘We’re going to win’. They were going to make sure that this next season was going to be something everyone remembers.”
“Eddy is a great example, guy moves over a year ago and he wants to be a part of winning program.” Coach Young said. “He comes in with the right attitude, comes in immediately and goes to work. He never caused a problem. Seeing his growth throughout the year. He was a good player when he started. But just every week he got better.”
Final Thoughts
Under Head Coach Chris Young, seventeen players have signed to play collegiately since the 2020-2021 season. In that first class of seniors Coach Young had, nine players signed to play college ball on every level it is offered NAIA, D3, D2, and D1.
“It’s an indication of what our guys put into the program. We have special young men at Greenwood that’s different.” Coach Young said. “I think, from the Pittbulls, to the Junior High, to the High School. I think they learn things that gives them the opportunity to play at the next level if their willing to put in the work. These three are great examples of good things happen when your’re willing to go to work every day.”
On the topic of the feeder programs into the high school, as a program; junior high, junior varsity and varsity, for 2024 they finished 45-2 with 7th grade, JV, and Varsity going undefeated. The Pittbulls program that is the foundation builder, of the 17 players that have signed since 2021, 12 of those came through youth football program.
“Our kids go through the process, I think youth program, like you said, is better than anybody else’. It allows our junior high coaches maybe to do a little bit more than most junior highs are able to do.” Coach Young said. “Our junior high does such a good job, that allows us at the high school to do some things that normally we wouldn’t be able to do.”
