03 Sep 2023 501 Football Team 2023: Garrison Waldrop – Beebe

Hot off its first winning season in eight years, things are looking up for Beebe as the team turns the page to the 2023 season. 

Leading the Badgers this season is senior lineman Garrison Waldrop. An All-Conference honoree last season, Waldrop amassed more than 45 tackles, including six tackles for loss and two sacks, earning the respect of both his coaching staff and his teammates.

“Garrison has grown each year in every area of his game,” Beebe Head Coach Chris Gunter said. “A bonafide ball player who has put in the work to master his technique and assignment, he has gained unbelievable confidence in the last year-and-a-half, and it shows on the field.”

Boasting one of the top defensive units in the highly-competitive Class 5A Central Conference last season, the Badgers are focused not only on repeating last season’s success, but also on reaching the playoffs for the first time since 2015. 

“You should do everything in your power to be better than you were yesterday,” Waldrop said. “I want to be remembered as the guy who requires other teams to change up their entire game plan to handle. My goals this season are to be the best nose tackle in Class 5A, secure another winning season and lead my team to the playoffs.”

Outside of football, Waldrop is a five-time All-Region choir honoree and a three-time All-State choir honoree. Waldrop is involved with the International Thespian Society as well as Beebe High School’s choir and theater programs.