What Whitehaven 4-star LB Bryson Eason said about making Tennessee, Arkansas football his final two

Khari Thompson
Memphis Commercial Appeal

Whitehaven linebacker Bryson Eason has trimmed his college list down to his final two schools, Tennessee and Arkansas.

"Tennessee is a great program and they’re doing a lot of rebuilding over there so they’re looking for me to come in and be a leader, starter, hard worker and everything like that," Eason said. "It’s really the same with Arkansas, it's just that my buddy, my best friend (Martavius French) is going there." 

French and Eason, both four-star linebackers, have been playing together since middle school. French said that playing alongside Eason in college would be a "dream come true." Eason said that his relationship with French is a big factor in his decision-making.

"Right now it's playing a big role, like a really big role. Because right now we’re starting the season off right, having fun, bonding together and I’m thinking to myself, ‘Why not continue it at the collegiate level?' That's one thing that’s going through my head," Eason said. "The other thing is that maybe I could start something of my own (at Tennessee) and it's time for everybody to break up since (teammate) Tamarion (McDonald) is going to Mississippi State and Martavius is going to Arkansas."

Eason plans on taking official visits to both schools and said he might also take one to Mississippi State. His Arkansas visit is set for Oct. 19 when the Razorbacks host Auburn. 

Whitehaven's Bryson Eason is No. 6 in the Commercial Appeal's Dandy Dozen, a collection of the top college football prospects in the Mid-South for the Class of 2020.

Eason said that Tennessee's 0-2 start hasn't scared him away from the program. If anything, he said it reinforces the fact that the Volunteers need help and makes his vision for stepping in and playing a big role more clear. 

"Just because they’re having one bad year doesn’t knock them off completely," Eason said. "Really it boosts them up, like, ‘Hey they need help’ and I can come step in and do this or do that. Everything is mutual. I’m still looking on the bright side."

Eason has also noticed that Arkansas has secured a commitment from Central receiver Darin Turner. If Eason commits to Arkansas he would be the third member of the Commercial Appeal Dandy Dozen to do so.

"Having a lot of guys that I know and that have played with before that are ballers and going to the collegiate level with them could be real special," Eason said. 

Tennessee doesn't have any Class of 2020 commitments from the Memphis area but is still in the running for top prospects such as West Memphis offensive lineman Chris Morris and Briarcrest Christian defensive lineman Omari Thomas.