Brotherly Love

Locklan and Logan Flanagan love family, FFA, football, and red trucks

By Kevin Taylor

Alma Schools

Locklan Flanagan is just 11 months older than his little brother, Logan. They share the same circle of friends and, except for football practice, do many of the same things — from their involvement in Alma’s FFA program to hunting and fishing.

Not surprisingly, they each drive red pickup trucks.

It’s here that Amanda and Gabe Flanagan set in motion a simple formula for their kids to succeed: work hard, play hard, do the right thing.

Rinse and repeat.

“My dad and my mom, they’re working to provide me and my brother with as many opportunities as possible,” explains Locklan, Alma’s second-year center. “That’s basically what they’re doing.”

“Family is very important because you have something that will never go away,” Logan said. “If I need help, it doesn’t matter if I’m 80 years old; I’ll always have my brother and always have my parents. That’s something I don’t take for granted.”

Five years ago, Logan was considered one of the up-and-coming athletes in the Alma Little League football system. But he soon drifted toward another passion — welding.

Alma’s Agricultural Education & FFA Chapter program included an opportunity he couldn’t pass up.

“For me, that’s helped with my future career,” explained Logan, a grasshopper taller than Locklan. “I want to be a pipe welder, and in that class, I get to do everything I’m going to do on the job — I get to learn in class. It doesn’t take away from my time at home. I like doing FFA competitions, too, because I enjoy the competitions.”

Like they do with most things in life, the Flanagan brothers are heavily involved in Alma’s Agricultural Education & FFA Chapter. Locklan is the vice president.

Locklan doesn’t hold such a distinction with the school’s football program, but being the center is no less important than playing quarterback. The boy in the No. 50 jersey is as proud of his gridiron teammates as he is of his hogs.

“I think it means a lot more than at a lot of other schools around here, just because of how important it is to this town and how important it is to this school,” he said. “There are a lot of people looking at football players to do the right thing — not only on the field, but off the field. I think playing football for Alma is just a different experience.

“Obviously, the community loves us. We have all kinds of great facilities, and the community supports us like nowhere else, I believe.”

The Airedales, 1-3, travel to Morrilton this week.

“I do think that some of the experience the seniors have on this team is wearing off on some of the new guys,” Flanagan said. “I feel like we’ve played three really tough football games. I think we just have to take some of that knowledge and apply it.”

Photo by Kevin Taylor  - Alma senior Locklan Flanagan, center, works on speed drills during last week’s practice.

“It didn’t really click to me that I would be out there one day, but I did look up to them, and I loved going to the games,” Flanagan said. “I remember feeling how electric the crowd was, and that was really cool. Coach always tells us that people are paying to watch us.

“Every kid in the stands watching us wants to make it worth it. It’s just a really cool experience.”

“I remember watching guys from the stands when I was younger,” Alma offensive line coach Ryan Pointer said. “These guys know that the younger kids look up to them. That’s an Alma tradition — to come to the stadium on a Friday night and cheer on the Airedales. It’s good that these guys work hard, wait their turn, and now it’s finally time for them to shine.”

Flanagan’s circle of friends, along with brother Logan, includes defensive back Ashton Milsap, whose older brother Zach also played center for Alma (2022–23).

“Zach’s a big role model for me; I still talk to him all the time,” Flanagan said. “He and I are still buddies. We hunt all the time, and I’m best friends with Ashton. I always looked up to Zach and to my cousin Dillon Flanagan, too.”

“We both support each other and help each other out when we need to,” added Logan. “If Locklan needs help with his pigs, I can help him, and if I need somebody to help me on my welding project, I can count on him. I like how we can always help each other out.”

Last spring, Alma coach Rusty Bush named Pointer the team’s offensive line coach.

“I’ve had several different O-line coaches,” Flanagan said. “But Coach Pointer has a tenacity about what he does. He’s coaching us to be physical and to execute plays with mental toughness.”

“Honestly, it’s really good having someone who knows what they’re doing, especially when it comes to snapping the ball and communicating with his teammates,” Pointer said. “He’s a really good communicator, and you don’t ever have to worry about him not working hard.”