SPRINGDALE — Isaiah Nichols had family in town who had hoped to watch him play in Springdale High’s spring football game toward the end of his junior year.
But Nichols’ time on the field at Jarrell Williams Bulldog Stadium that night in 2017 was brief. The defensive lineman saw only one series in the intrasquad scrimmage, and he was noticeably upset upon realizing he wouldn’t reenter and have the opportunity to put on a show for his relatives.
Bulldogs coach Zak Clark, a former quarterback at Arkansas from 2000-01, had his reasons for limiting Nichols’ reps. In the moment, Nichols couldn’t wrap his mind around being shut down early, but Clark’s decision spoke volumes about the caliber of player Nichols was becoming.