Division I Defensive Player of the Year

COLE JOYCE SCHOOL Bentonville High CLASS Junior HEIGHT 6-1 WEIGHT 215 THE SCOOP Joyce was an all-state selection who finished the season with 104 tackles, 3 quarterback sacks, 8 pass breakups and 2 forced fumbles. His stronger games came against some of the Tigers' tougher opponents. He had 12 total tackles and a pass breakup against Conway, then had nine total tackles, a tackle for loss, two pass breakups, and a fumble recovery at Tulsa Booker T. Washington. In the regular-season finale against Bentonville West, he had 10 tackles, a quarterback sack, a pass breakup and blocked a punt. He finished the season with 13 tackles in the Tigers' playoff semifinal loss against North Little Rock. DID YOU KNOW Joyce is a member of Bentonville's track team, where he runs the 100 and 200 and throws the shot put. Joyce also loves to go scuba diving, and he has gone with his father on several trips in various locations. QUOTABLE "I think I had a great season, and our team had a great season too. My tackling could have been a little bit better, but it was good. I made a lot more tackles than I did last year -about 22 more- and I was being more of a leader this year. I did a better job of reading the offense, and I had great players around me. I'm also a track athlete, and that really helps me out with my speed. I also had a good offseason and was getting stronger. I was able to put on some weight, and I actually got a little faster. That helped me in getting off blocks, and it made a really big difference."

THE OFFICIAL SITE OF
Bentonville High School Athletics

DIVISION I DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR

STAFF

Arkansas Online | 12/30/2019

PHOTO CREDIT: Bentonville Athletics