John Brown checks all boxes for Bos

n The Panthers’ senior center back signed with JBU on Wednesday.

Bud Sullins/Special to Siloam Sunday Siloam Springs senior Jack Bos signed Wednesday to play soccer at John Brown University in Siloam Springs. Pictured are: Front from left, father Stephen Bos, Jack Bos, mother Holly Bos; back, John Brown men's coach Brenton Benware and Siloam Springs head coach Brent Crenshaw.
Bud Sullins/Special to Siloam Sunday Siloam Springs senior Jack Bos signed Wednesday to play soccer at John Brown University in Siloam Springs. Pictured are: Front from left, father Stephen Bos, Jack Bos, mother Holly Bos; back, John Brown men's coach Brenton Benware and Siloam Springs head coach Brent Crenshaw.

Jack Bos went through his list of things he wanted in a college. John Brown University met each and every one.

Bos, a senior center back for the two-time defending state champion Siloam Springs boys soccer team, signed a letter of intent Wednesday to play men's soccer with the Golden Eagles during a signing ceremony.

"I know I wanted to stay close to home and the big schools just didn't appeal to me," Bos said. "JBU meets all the boxes. I love the coach, love the team. It has the major I want. It just checks all the boxes -- perfect for me."

Bos, at 6-foot and 160 pounds, has a lot of things that checks all the boxes for John Brown as well.

First-year coach Brenton Benware said the Golden Eagles are short on "true defenders" on their roster.

"We're looking to build that base and have a great recruiting class for a defensive line," Benware said. "That's where we see Jack fitting in and contributing.

"He's a bulldozer. What I really like about him is he pushes through. He's got grit. We're looking for guys who have grit and who have no quit in them. It's really hard to find that these days."

Bos was a 6A-West All-Conference selection for Siloam Springs as a sophomore in 2016. He was All-State in Class 6A in 2017, helping the Panthers set a school record with 21 wins and their second consecutive state title.

He scored six goals and had two assists, playing in the midfield some before moving back to center back for the Panthers' stretch run.

"Last year was an experiment," said Siloam Springs coach Brent Crenshaw. "It took us a while to realize he's our leader in the back. He's a center back. That's what he'll do for us this year. He's good enough where he's like a second coach on the field. Even during scrimmages we've had the last couple of weeks, he's such a good leader back there. He knows what to do. He knows what to tell the kids. To have him there in the back is a huge thing for us. He just gets bigger, stronger and better every season."

Now Bos is excited about his senior season with the Panthers gunning for their third straight state title.

"I think we have a great team, one of the best ones I've been a part of on high school," Bos said. "We should be good. We only lost a few players. It's just continuing to work hard throughout the year is going to be the hard part, but I think we've got a great shot at it."

Sports on 02/11/2018