Fox 16/VYPE Top 16 — No. 10: Arkansas Baptist Quarterback Logan Quinn

Logan Quinn played a large part in Arkansas Baptist’s rise to respectability. After suffering through back-to-back 1-9 seasons playing a rigorous 4A schedule, Quinn helped the Eagles to their first playoff appearance in three years and just their sixth appearance in school history.

The versatile Quinn ranks No. 10 in the Fox 16/VYPE Top 16 Central Arkansas senior football players’ countdown.

Quinn (5-10, 190), who has passed for more than 5,000 yards and 58 touchdowns in his career, passed for more than 300 yards and two touchdowns in a 36-20 loss against Harding Academy last fall, and he collected 294 passing yards and scored five touchdowns in a 47-20 win against Centerpoint.

But, Quinn saved his best for last when the Eagles made a run at a playoff berth. He rallied Baptist from a 19-point second-half deficit to defeat Bauxite Week 9 with a go-ahead touchdown pass late in the game and was clutch a week later (two touchdown passes) in a 21-20 win at Magnet Cove. The wins vaulted the Eagles into the 3A playoffs where they lost in the first round to Atkins 38-20.

“It felt really good, just because we hadn’t been to the playoffs in a couple of years,” said Quinn, the 3A VYPE Select Team Offensive MVP. “We didn’t want to be a one-and-done team in the playoffs, but Atkins has a great program, and Greg (Bowie) had a stress fracture in his leg, so we didn’t have him that game.”

Departed senior receiver Greg Bowie (more than 1,200 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns) signed with Harding, leaving Quinn to find a new favorite target this season. Senior Adam Hamaker and receiver/running back Jon Moon look to fill Bowie’s shoes as the team’s playmaker. Quinn isn’t worried about Bowie’s departure.

“We have some good receivers coming up,” he said. “They’re going to do a good job for us.”

The veteran quarterback worked hard this summer with his receiving corps and on the 7-oon-7 circuit. Quinn also hit the hardwood with his basketball teammates, as they eye back-to-back 3A state championships. Quinn came off the bench to play point guard last fall and assumes the starting job this season.

He desperately wants to play either sport in college, though he knows his small frame is a deterrent to college coaches. Harding and Missouri S&T have shown football interest.

“I’ve been short my whole life,” said Quinn, who owns a 3.6 GPA. “Everybody said, ‘He’d be a good quarterback if he was a little bit taller’. Being short really doesn’t mean anything. You can still do everything a 6-foot-4 guy does. It’s kind of helped me to work that much harder because I’m not a tall guy. I’m working harder because I want to play college football. I’m just trying to show everybody you don’t have to be that tall. I have heart, and I try to play the best I can every play.”

Whatever the future holds, Quinn takes pride in his part of the Eagles’ success.

“We’ve worked hard over the summer,” he said. “We’ve worked hard together. We want people to respect the Arkansas Baptist football program. Not just basketball.”