Generally speaking, it is hard to get the color purple out of anyone attached to Booneville.
Jeremiah Shaw, a 6’ 4” 300 pound returning starter at right guard on the Bearcat offensive line is following a family tradition in donning the (royal) purple and (old) gold.
“My dad (Ron) and my uncle (all state fullback Daniel) came here,” Shaw said of his family’s decision to transfer him to Booneville as a freshman. "We just really wanted to carry on the tradition.”
Sam Hicks, who stands 6’ 4” and weighs in at 346 is also a returning starter at left guard, made his way here as a sophomore because his mother is employed here. Specifically with a school based mental health provider working with Booneville Elementary School.
Going into the 2025 season, which starts August 29 with a trip across the state line to Poteau, Okla., Shaw and Hicks are leading a unit that returns players who have started at every position.
Like any running back happy to have their number called, linemen also get excited for particular plays.
“When I get to pull to the 3-tech on the right side. I just get to hit people,” said Hicks.
Shaw loves a sweep call.
“When Caleb (Richardson) pins down the tackle and I get to pull and climb to the alley,” said Shaw.
Hicks and Shaw are looking forward to a team camp later this week at Robinson High School in Little Rock as they might encounter defensive lineman Anthony Kennedy of Little Rock Central, who is committed to Miami.
“I want him to line up against one of us,” Shaw said.
Hicks and Sahw were both all conference in 2024 and have been attracting both college attention, and offers. They recently took a recruiting visit together to Northwestern College, an NAIA power located in Orange City, Iowa.
“It’s a gorgeous school,” said Hicks of the Great Plains Athletic Conference member.
Hicks has offers from Central Methodist in Missouri, Florida Memorial in Miami, Lyon College, and Northwestern.
“I’ve got to figure out financial stuff but I’m leaning to Northwestern,” said Hicks.
Shaw is a little more sure about life after BHS, maybe.
“Right now I’m verbally committed to Northwestern,” said Shaw.
However, Shaw received another offer, from Kentucky Christian, in Grayson, Kent., Tuesday afternoon.
Wherever he ends up, Hicks’ coursework will be geared toward becoming a physical therapist.
“I want to be like TP,” said Hicks, obviously referencing longtime volunteer and Bearcat alum Teresa Prewett.
“I’m doing sports management with a minor in business,” said Shaw.
When it comes to other extracurricular activities Hicks also participates in track and trap shooting and Shaw moves from football to baseball.
As is the case with linemen, the two also do plenty of heavy lifting when it comes to physical work as Shaw works on a pallet crew at Walmart in Fort Smith and Hicks works for his father’s company cleaning homeless camps in Fort Smith.
PERSUADED BY PURPLE
