TEXARKANA, Texas – Success appears to be following Brad Willard.
Liberty Eylau’s young (34 years old) football coach led the Leopards to the Region II-3A Division I finals his first season in Texarkana, and the Area round his second year.
With a little luck the Leopards could do even better in 2026.
The 2025 season featured the loss of all-stater Dequane Prevo, who received NIL money to play at Class 7A Bentonville in Arkansas. He signed with the Arkansas Razorbacks last spring.
“To be honest, losing Prevo turned out to be a real blessing for all parties, Prevo included,” said Willard. “He got paid to play, and with our youth Prevo would probably got moved around a lot, probably playing quarterback for us. I believe it would have been frustrating for him. He is a special talent, but no doubt it hurt us.”
Liberty-Eylau Leopards remains young in 2026
Willard’s staff worked with an incredibly young group in 2025, and L-E remains young for the coming season. Thirteen players graduated in May. Only three of those players were major contributors.
“We knew we were going to take a step back last year,” said Willard. “A lot of freshmen played big-time minutes last season. We’re still young, but really talented.”
Two underclassmen are fighting it out for the starting job at quarterback, including sophomore Huntley Fisher.
“Fisher played baseball this spring and hardly any football,” noted Willard. “He probably started seven games for us last season.”
It’s obvious the Leopards will have talent based on Willard’s use of the words “special player.”
Defensive end Luke Baysinger is special, and being recruited by several Division I schools. Linebacker Maliki Stephens, running back Arian Taylor, defensive back Bryston Cornelious and several others have been tagged “special” by Willard.
“We have a lot of kids eager to find the field,” the Leopards’ young mentor concluded. “We’re a little smaller up front on both sides, but we have playmakers. We have more team speed. We even have a kicker. We feel like we’re in a pretty good place,”