A trio of prominent Greenwood Bulldogs achieved their longtime dream of playing college football last Wednesday on national signing day. In a ceremony staged at the GMAC indoor practice facility on the GHS campus, Athletic Director and head football coach Chris Young introduced seniors Cash Archer, Eddy Castelo, and Grant Karnes as the latest Bulldogs to receive offers to play at the next level, two of them Division I schools. The three join a long list of former players who have played college football, many of them in the state of Arkansas, like the Morgan brothers, Tyler Wilson, and more recently, Hunter Wilkinson.
Cash Archer and Grant Karnes have been instrumental in Greenwood’s recent dominance in Class 6A football, a program that’s reached the state finals for five consecutive years, winning three more championships, the last two in succession. Karnes achieved the rare feat of starting in four straight title games, including his freshman season in 2021. Archer made an impact as a sophomore and started the last two years at defensive end and linebacker, finishing his career as #2 in state history in quarterback sacks. He is also the elder brother of junior QB Kane Archer, likely the top recruit in Arkansas next season. Eddy Castelo played only one season at Greenwood after transferring from Fort Smith Northside but quickly earned the respect of his coaches and teammates as an offensive lineman before switching to defense at noseguard.
Cash Archer – University of Central Arkansas, Conway, AR
First up, Coach Young introduced the trio together before each one posed individually for his signing with coaches, family members, and teammates. Cash Archer was the first player recognized by Young for his career achievements, including nearly 40 quarterback sacks and 224 tackles in three seasons as a Bulldog. During his senior season, Archer was routinely double-teamed by opposing defenses due to his disruptive presence on the field. He was also recognized by Hooten’s Arkansas Football magazine as the 6A Defensive Player of the Year in 2024. He was also an All-State selection as a junior and senior.
Asked about his signing with the University of Central Arkansas in Conway, Archer said, “I’m excited. I’ve always dreamed of playing at the next level. I took a visit down there and it was way better than I could’ve imagined. The coaching staff was amazing. It feels like a place I could adapt to.” Archer also credited GHS junior high head coach Luke Hales with giving him insights into the UCA program. A former GHS quarterback, Hales played for the Bears during his college career.
Of his star defender, Coach Young said, “With Cash, I don’t know if we’ve had a guy with a motor like him in a long time. [He’s] a dynamic player that rushes the passer unlike anything I’ve ever seen. [He’s a] tremendous athlete. UCA is getting a heck of a steal.” The Bears play in the United Athletic Conference and are led by Head Coach Nathan Brown with three national titles in school history (1984-85, 1991), all while playing at the NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) level.
Eddy Castelo – Henderson State University, Arkadelphia, AR
Eddy Castelo was the next signee recognized by his head coach, who summarized his noseguard’s senior year, starting with his transfer to Greenwood from Fort Smith Northside during the off-season. An offensive lineman at Northside, Castelo quickly earned a starting spot with the Bulldogs. But an injury in the preseason on defense resulted in him being moved to the opposite side of the ball, a decision that proved advantageous for both the team and for Castelo personally.
The 2024 GHS weightlifting champion was a natural fit at noseguard and helped solidify a rebuilt defense that turned out to be a pleasant surprise. For the season, the GHS defense allowed just 14 points per game, with many of those points scored in the second half after the starting defense was already out of the game. They had four shutouts, including all three games in November, and the Bulldogs mercy ruled every opponent last season except for their two games against Shiloh Christian.
With a compact but powerful frame (5’11”, 285), Castelo ended his senior season with 50 tackles and 9.5 stops for a loss. At first recruited by smaller colleges, Eddy eventually caught the eye of Henderson State University, a Division II school, and Head Coach Greg Holsworth. The GHS standout defensive lineman was among 16 in-state players signed by Henderson State. The Reddies went 8-3 last season and compete in the Great American Conference.
Asked about his choice of colleges, Castelo said, “The main thing that made me choose Henderson was it reminded me a lot of Greenwood. The head coach reminded me of Coach Young. They already have [a winning mindset]. They were going to make sure that this next season was going to be something everyone remembers.” The future Reddie also credited his decision to transfer to Greenwood as the reason for his success as a senior and the opportunity to win a state championship and earn a college offer.
“Eddy is a great example of a guy who moves over [here] a year ago and wants to be a part of winning program,” said Coach Young of his prize transfer. “He comes in with the right attitude and immediately goes to work and never caused a problem. He was a good player when he started but just got better every week.”
Grant Karnes – University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR
Finally, Coach Young reintroduced Grant Karnes to the assembled crowd. The all-time great GHS receiver then inked his offer from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, officially making him a Razorback, fulfilling a lifelong dream for the 6’1”, 185-pound pass catcher and kick returner. Karnes is a three-sport performer for the Bulldogs, currently starting for the basketball team and planning to return to the baseball diamond as a pitcher/outfielder for his senior season this spring.
A top performer in a long line of notable Greenwood receivers, Karnes originally committed to Wichita State University for baseball, but later re-opened his recruiting for football, eventually scoring an offer from the Razorbacks on the 105-man roster as a preferred walk-on. In 2016 Greenwood’s Grant Morgan followed a similar path before becoming a scholarship starter and All-American at Arkansas as a linebacker. Morgan was recently hired as an assistant defensive coach by the New York Giants of the National Football League. Several other former Bulldogs have succeeded at Fayetteville, including Morgan’s older brother, Drew, a standout possession receiver for the Hogs.
As a senior this past season, Karnes finished with 1,302 yards and 18 touchdowns on 80 receptions. In his career at Greenwood, Karnes garnered an impressive 3,589 yards on 248 catches for 47 touchdowns. That leaves him behind two legendary receivers from the 1990s. Josh Bell (55, 1998-2000) and Kris Weible (51, 1994-96) are just ahead of Karnes in the GHS record book for receiving touchdowns. Weible is the only GHS player to have his jersey number (25) retired.
Karnes was also part of two outstanding receiving groups during his Greenwood career. As a junior, he and senior teammate L.J. Robbins both had over 1,000 receiving yards. This past fall the Bulldogs were on pace to have three receivers surpass 1,000 yards before the tragic death of teammate Isaiah Arrington in a house fire in October. The other 1,000-yard receiver was junior Champ Davis, who will return for the 2025 season. Karnes also won the Hooten’s Arkansas Football 6A Offensive Player of the Year award and was a three-time All-State selection.
Of his signing with Arkansas, Karnes said, “It means so much to me. I’ve always been a Razorback fan. It’s been a dream since I was a little kid to go play at Arkansas. There’s nowhere else I would want to go, finally getting the opportunity after all the years of hard work, and everyone that’s helped me throughout the journey. I mean, I can’t wait for it.”
Coach Young couldn’t heap enough praise on Karnes, saying, “He played in four consecutive state championship games. I don’t know [if] anyone [else] has ever done that. He led the entire state in receiving yards. But as good a football player as he is, he’s a better young man. He made our locker room better. He made practices fun. I think he had a huge impact on the younger receivers, which will carry us through for the next few years.”
An “A” student, Karnes approaches academics and athletics in much the same way. "He's very, very consistent in his preparation and attitude,” added Coach Young. “He's the same whether he catches 10 balls and has three touchdowns or whether he has a great night blocking without the ball. He’s just a great example to our other players of how you should carry yourself. He's special. He has qualities similar to Grant Morgan, Drew Morgan, and Lucas Miller (all former Razorbacks from Greenwood). I can guarantee he will have a positive impact on their program."