Interview: Arkansas 2019 QB Ren Hefley Proving his Value One Challenge at a Time

Written by Ryan Wright

Twitter: @HogManInLA

What has never been done before in team sports takes a unique group of people and a staff to oversee said talent to pave a new path forward. For Bryant High School, the Hornets were not well regarded or highly thought of entering the 2016 season but the right group of guys on the field led by quarterback Ren Hefley helped take the program to heights not seen in decades.

When the 2015 season ended, Bryant’s football staff was turned over shifting the helm from Paul Calley to Buck James. During the 2015 schedule, the Hornets posted a 9-3 record before running into 7A powerhouse Fayetteville in the playoffs. The change on the sidelines was accompanied with a change in the huddle seeing Ren Hefley, a transfer from Pulaski Academy, taking over the leadership of the offense. The result was a 9-4 season with a three-game run into the playoffs before a tough loss to another Arkansas state powerhouse, North Little Rock.

While the 9-4 record may not seem like a big change or a big deal to most, it is worth noting the Hornets stumbled out of the gate with all the new moving parts starting with a 2-2 record. Adding to that, the best guess for how Bryant would finish the season was with three wins. A lot of how the six-game difference in the win column came about was Hefley. Hefley turned in a solid first season starting at the varsity level against 7A Central competitors passing for 1,770 yard passing with 10 touchdowns while adding two rushing scores. Hefley’s work was rewarded with All-Conference honors and a spot on Arkansas Prep’s Top 10 Sophomore list.

Playing at the next level is something Hefley is preparing for putting in overtime with his coaches and teammates at Bryant and working when possible with national quarterback guru Dennis Giles in Arizona. Recruiting interest has not taken off yet for the 6-1, 185 pound, rising star yet but should with the camp season just starting to take off. With college coaches realizing that the Division-I capabilities run in the bloodline, older brother Will is competing for the starting quarterback position at the University of Tulsa, interest in Hefley should start taking off in the coming months.

In a Recruiting News Guru exclusive interview, I sat down with one of the Natural State’s under the radar recruits in the 2019 class covering his sophomore season and off-season workouts.

Interview

Ren, the Hornets run a spread offense with a lot of three- and four-wide. Do you run any other formations?

“We did some under the center and a little bit with tight formations. We went under center more towards the end of the season depending on who we were playing.”

How much of the time did Bryant run the spread?

“We were in the spread about 90 to 95 percent of the time. We were under center 5 to 10 percent. We did utilize the tight end in our offense about 40 percent of the time.”

How does the spread offense suit your abilities in the pocket?

“I think it is really helpful. It allows me to make those longer passes to the hash across the field and downfield. We can use the whole field because I can get it out there. That is something I have worked on. Running the spread makes it easier to run the ball. If we run a bunch of outs and deep stuff, it opens up the middle. I can move around pretty well.”

Bryant had some tough games against Fayetteville, Fort Smith Northside, and North Little Rock last season. How did those games help the team grow?

“I think those games were really helpful. We had a new team and new coaches, we were sill figuring out some starting spots during the season. We had to find our identity on offense. We were still experimenting with the offense going from pass-heavy to run-heavy. Later on in the season we found out our strengths on offense and started to roll with it.”

How did those tough games make you better?

“For one, it pointed out my weaknesses. Sometimes you cannot tell what your weaknesses are against some teams. A team like Fayetteville and North Little Rock will poke holes in your offense. Those games gave us stuff to work on. Those games gave me more motivation. I am a competitive guy. I watched more film and lifted harder. I know we will play those teams again this year. I’m looking forward to that.”

How did you prepare for each game during the season?

“Coming off a Friday night win I would go home and relax. On Saturday and Sunday I would look over film and throw a little bit. I would continuously watch film throughout the week. I would watch film in the morning at six o’clock with my coaches and then do QB specific things out on the field before school began. After school, I’d go through practice going through all the plays against the scout team. Our coaches are great. They listen to the players and listen to our suggestions. They are always asking questions and are open to our suggestions. I think that is a good quality in a coach.”

What are the strengths of your game on the field?

“I’d say my accuracy. My dad has always stressed that. My pocket movement and ability to run when I am flushed out of the pocket. My arm strength is much improved since I arrived at Bryant. I’m getting on top of the ball and throwing it over the middle better. Our QB coach has helped me with throwing over the middle and back to the sidelines. Throwing with touch and throwing on the run are strengths. We had some good receivers and o-linemen last year. We had some good defenders too.”

What are you working to improve upon this off-season?

“My footwork. I worked through my footwork the whole season. At Pulaski Academy we did not do much of a drop. At Bryant, we do three-step drops and different footwork from under center. We have different footwork for screens. I have worked on setting up for throwing utilizing my hips more. My arm can always get stronger. It is strong but there is always room to grow there. Basically I am doing a lot of footwork, working on getting faster, and working on my lower half.”

How has your skillset improved thus far this spring?

“My footwork has gotten better and I have gotten faster.”

Are you working with a quarterback coach outside of Bryant?

“Yes, sir. I work with Dennis Giles in Arizona.”

Are you playing 7v7 ball this spring?

“I play 7v7 with my school. There is not a 7v7 league in Arkansas. Playing 7v7 is fun. I’m having fun doing it with the guys on my team. We’ve been practicing hard at six-o’clock in the morning going for an hour and a half. The quarterbacks started in January and the rest of the offense has now come in with us. We are lifting and running after school. I’m doing a lot of work on my own.”

Which camps have you attended so far this spring?

“This spring I went to a Dennis Giles camp and I went to his Dime Dropper Camp over Christmas break. I also went to Trent Dilfer’s QB Epic Camp over Presidents’ Day weekend.”

What camps might you attend the rest of this spring or summer?

“I’m attending the Manning Passing Academy. I have been invited to Pro Football Hall of Fame Camp. I would love to do it but I don’t know if I can make it all the way out here.”

Which schools are showing interest in you but have not offered?

“I’m getting some interest. I received mail from Auburn and from McAlister, and I’ve received emails from Princeton, Harvard, and Yale.”

Which college camps might you attend this summer?

“All the local Arkansas ones – Harding, UCA (Conway), A-State (Arkansas State), Ouachita Baptist, and Fayetteville (Arkansas) for sure. With out of state camps, it really is all about who shows interest. TCU, I went there freshman year. My sister and my cousin both went there. I love the campus there. I may go to an Auburn camp. I did not get to go there last summer.”

What is your cumulative GPA?

“I had a 4.3 at PA from my honors classes. My sophomore year I am in an AP class, all the Pre-AP classes do not count here at Bryant. But I have all A’s right now.”

Have you taken the ACT or SAT yet?

“No. I’m taking the ACT next weekend.”

Are you playing any spring sports?

“No.”

What are your personal goals for this off-season?

“Speed. My footwork has gotten a whole lot better from last season, my arm strength, and getting the whole team together to make a run for a state championship. That is on our mind. Bryant had never made it to semi-finals. We had all new coaches last season, no one expected us to do well. Bryant has been a great move for me.”

Topical last question, who do you have in your bracket in the NCAA Championship Game?

“I had Kentucky but…”

Who do you think will be the winner Monday night, Gonzaga or North Carolina?

“Gonzaga.”

Ren, thanks for your time today and good luck with your upcoming camps and the ACT next weekend.

“Thank you.”

Click link to see Ren Hefley’s Hudl highlight reel.

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Photo credit: Sheldon Smith; No. 12 Ren Hefley (2016).

Photo credit: Jimmy Jones; No. 12 Ren Hefley (2016).

Photo credit: Gracie Kimbrell; No. 12 Ren Hefley (2016).