Fayettevills’ Yurachek, Morris, Cooper each sign with Division I programs
Northwest Arkansas remained frozen Wednesday, many schools still closed, but the weather didn’t stop three Fayetteville High School seniors from signing football letters of intent for Division I programs.
Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Defensive Player of the Year Brooks Yurachek signed with Wake Forest, while Kaylon Morris signed with the University of Arkansas as a preferred career changer. Ronald “Deuce” Cooper also decided to stay in the state by signing with Arkansas-Pine Bluff.
Brooks Yurachek is the son of University of Arkansas athletic director Hunter Yurachek, and Brooks’ older brother Jake played for the Razorbacks. A native of Virginia, Hunter Yurachek began his administrative career at Wake Forest in 1994 as Associate Director of Marketing and Promotions.
Wake Forest is a strong academic school and its football program is a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference, which plays in the same Atlantic division as Clemson, Florida State and Louisville. The Demon Deacons finished the tournament 8-5 with a bowl win over Missouri after coach Dave Clawson guided Wake Forest to an 11-3 record and a top-15 finish in 2021.
“I really loved my visit to Wake Forest and the culture of winning that Coach Clawson is building,” said Yurachek, who led Fayetteville with 109 tackles as a senior. “My dad taught me a lot about Wake Forest while he worked there and we have a lot of family on the East Coast which made this decision an easy one for me.”
Morris will be able to achieve his dream as a Division I player after a fantastic season catching 100 passes for 1,625 yards and 15 touchdowns for the Bulldogs. Morris is reunited in Arkansas with Isaiah Sategna, his former high school teammate who briefly played with the Hogs as a freshman while battling a leg injury.
Cooper made 55 tackles and intercepted a pass against Rogers Heritage while playing cornerback and safety for the Bulldogs. He’s excited about the changes at Arkansas-Pine Bluff, who hired Alonzo Hampton as head coach in December. Hampton is from Warren and was previously an assistant coach with the Lions from 2006-2010.
“I believe in Coach Hampton’s vision,” Cooper said. “He told us he wants this first class (recruiting) to restore pride to the UAPB.”
Fayetteville coach Casey Dick, a former Arkansas quarterback, is excited the trio will have the opportunity to show off their skills at the Division I level.
“Brooks, he’s the smartest player I’ve ever had the privilege of coaching,” said Dick. “He prepares every day at elite level.
Kaylon is one of the most physically gifted kids we’ve ever had and Deuce is a super versatile player in secondary school who can play any position with a high cap.”
Fayetteville senior Kaylon Morris signed as a preferred walk-on with the University of Arkansas to play football.
Deuce Cooper, Fayetteville, signed to play football at Arkansas-Pine Bluff
