Eight Marion football players earned postseason awards after their team finished 7-5 this season, including the fifth quarterfinal appearance over the past eight seasons.
Senior linebacker Zadean Wilson received the 6A East's coveted Defensive Player of the Year award for 2025, in addition to nabbing all-state honors. Senior defensive end Ryan Blackwell earned a second consecutive all-state nod. Wilson and Blackwell also earned 6A East All-Conference spots.
Seniors Chris Byrd, Makhi Guyton, Kajeris Hill, Rico Ward, and Aamoni Wren, and junior Jeremiah Dent also landed on the all-league list.
Wilson earned the second all-conference nod in as many seasons at Marion after pacing the Patriots with 88 tackles, including 15 for losses, four sacks, and a pair of interceptions. The linebacker exits Marion with more than 150 career tackles, almost 30 tackles for loss, and five sacks. He has offers from Central Arkansas, Southern Illinois, Harding, and others.
Blackwell started every varsity game for three seasons at Marion, including the past two all-state seasons. He recorded 55 tackles in 2025, including nine TFL and a team-high four sacks. He forced three fumbles and intercepted a pass. The Henderson State commit exits Marion with almost 150 tackles, 30 TFL, and 12 sacks.
Byrd started his last two seasons at Marion at linebacker, stacking almost 170 tackles, including 84 this fall, with five TFL and a sack. He topped the team with 69 tackles as a junior. Byrd has offers from Arkansas Tech and Henderson State, among others.
Guyton appeared in most varsity games in his three seasons, including the past two as a full-time starter. The explosive defensive tackle logged 76 tackles this season with 11 TFL and a pair of sacks. He recorded 36 stops and three TFL as a junior.
Hill earned his second straight all-league nod this season after stacking 46 tackles and an interception, as well as scoring four touchdowns between offense and on punt return. He logged 31 tackles with five interceptions as a junior.
Ward capped his second season in the red, white, and blue by rushing 140 times for 945 yards (6.8 yards per carry) and 11 touchdowns, and he added nine receptions for 155 yards. Ward ran for just over 400 yards as a junior with a pair of scores. Ward committed in November to Ouachita Baptist University over offers from Central Arkansas, Missouri Southern, and North Alabama.
Wren provided Marion with a serious deep threat in the passing game in his one season on campus, catching 18 passes in 2025 for 555 yards (31 yards per reception) and eight touchdowns. Wren also played some defense later in the season.
Dent paced the Patriots in 2025 with 955 yards rushing on 121 carries (7.9 yards per carry) and a team-high 15 rushing scores. He added 34 receptions for 369 yards (11 yards per reception) and two more scores.
Marion seniors played a part in 22 victories from 2023-2025, including a 16-7 mark against the 6A East. Marion football's Class of 2026 did not lose to rivals Wynne (3-0) or West Memphis (3-0), and Patriot seniors were 1-1 against Jonesboro