Jacolby Criswell Wins the 2019 Landers Award

Jacolby Criswell’s family accepts the Landers Award on his behalf. Pictured with Landers Toyota’s General Manager Chris Chase (right).

KATV Channel 7 and Steve Landers announced Jacolby Criswell as the winner of the 2019 Landers Award on Jan. 22, 2020 in Little Rock. Landers and KATV Sports Anchor Steve Sullivan presented Criswell with the prestigious award during a special 30-minute live television broadcast. Criswell is a senior at Morrilton High School and will attend North Carolina in the fall.

Criswell received the Landers Award trophy and a signature Jostens ring. Additionally, his high school will receive a $3,000 scholarship in his honor. The other seven nominated players were also in attendance and honored with a special plaque, including:

Braden Bratcher of Pulaski Academy, Little Rock
Cannon Turner of Arkadelphia High School
Austin Ledbetter of Bryant High School
Ahmad Adams of Bryant High School
JT Towers of Joe T. Robinson High School, Little Rock
Vincent Steppes of Warren High School
Chris Hightower of Little Rock Christian Academy
Brandon Thomas of North Little Rock High School
Jashaud Stewart of Jonesboro High School

Click here to view Criswell’s nomination package.

KATV also names a special Paul Eells Award winner in honor of the legendary Channel 7 sportscaster. This year’s winner is Tristen Peebles of Hampton High School. The Paul Eells award honors a player who “exhibits perseverance, determination, courage and resolve in the face of adversity.”

Each week during football season, the KATV sports staff chooses a Landers Player of the Week, who is announced during the Thursday evening sportscast. Arkansas broadcasters and reporters then vote for who they believed is deserving of the “Heisman of Arkansas high school football.” This year was the 19th for the award.

High school football has long been important to the Landers family. Scott Landers, who was managing partner of the Landers group’s seven dealerships until his death earlier this month, was a high school football star in his own right as a linebacker at Pulaski Academy. He was named to All-District and All-State teams and received a scholarship to play football at Arkansas Tech University.

Criswell will go on to join an exceptional class of players who have been previously named Landers Award winners, including several who have gone on to play at the NFL level. The previous winners are:

2000: De’Arrius Howard of West Memphis
2001: Reid McKinney of Warren
2002: Landon Leach of Russellville
2003: Peyton Hillis of Conway
2004: Darren McFadden of Oak Grove, North Little Rock
2005: Damian Williams of Springdale
2006: A.J. Whitmore of Nashville
2007: Tyler Wilson of Greenwood
2008: Spencer Keith of Pulaski Academy, Little Rock
2009: Michael Dyer of Little Rock Christian Academy
2010: Brandon Allen of Fayetteville
2011: Fredi Knighten of Pulaski Academy, Little Rock
2012: Drew Morgan of Greenwood
2013: Zach Launius of Cabot
2014: Ty Storey of Charleston
2015: LaDarius Skelton of Pine Bluff
2016: Taylor Powell of Fayetteville
2017: Connor Noland of Greenwood
2018: Justice Hill of Little Rock Christian Academy

Watch the 30-minute KATV broadcast here.