Arkansas Business

This story is from the archives of ArkansasSports360.com.

Arkansas natives Cortez Kennedy and Willie Roaf will be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday.

Neither stayed in state to play college football.

Kennedy left for junior college and wouldn't return with Miami offering him during that program’s heyday. Roaf was lightly regarded out of high school and wound up blossoming into a big-time pro prospect at Louisiana Tech.

Both went on to great college and pro careers.

Which got me thinking ...

Who were some of the other players in the “best that got away” category?

Below is a list of players (compiled over the course of early afternoon conversations with folks much smarter than me, including columnist Jim Harris) who left the state after high school and went on to success in college and/or the pros. Only one is arguably in the conversation of greatness with Roaf or Kennedy, but all would have turned out to be big gets for in-state schools. Some went on to great college and nice pro careers. Others didn’t do much at the pro level or are just getting started.

The list (in alphabetical order)...

FB/TE Charles Clay, Little Rock Cenral
College: Tulsa
NFL Career: 2011-present
Notable: Sixth round draft pick

FS Chris Harris, Little Rock Fair
College: Louisiana Monroe
NFL Career: 2005-present
Notable: 2010 Pro Bowl pick

RB Cedric Houston, Clarendon
College: Tennessee
NFL Career: 2005-06
Notable: Sixth round pick in 2005

WR/S/K Don Hutson, Pine Bluff
College: Alabama
NFL Career: 1935-1945
Notable: Inducted into both the college and pro football hall of fames; Named to NFL 75th anniversary team; No. 14 retired by the Green Bay Packers

TE Keith Jackson, Little Rock Parkview
College: Oklahoma
NFL Career:  1988-96
Notable: Selected to six pro bowls/Now serves as analyst for UA radio broadcasts

ATH Eric Mitchel, Pine Bluff
College: Oklahoma
NFL Career: Sixth round pick in 1989
Notable: Played in the CFL and World League. … Father of current Razorback CB Tevin Mitchel

DE Leslie O’Neal, Little Rock Hall
College: Oklahoma State
NFL Career: 1986-1999
Notable: Selected to six pro bowls