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Now that the 2006 season has been put to bed, it’s
time to move toward putting the 2007 recruiting class
there as well.
The University of Arkansas football program enters the
new year with 17 public commitments and is expected to
add one more very quickly when Garland (Texas) North
Garland linebacker Jermaine Love (5-11, 225) announces
his choice during the Jan. 4 Offense-Defense All-Star
game on ESPNU.
That would leave just seven spots to be filled – with
some slight wiggle room - and a little over a month to
finalize things with recruiting weekends set for Jan.
13-15, Jan. 19-21, Jan. 26-28 and at least one
prospect on Feb. 2-4.
“We will do whatever we can to close out recruiting in
great shape,” Arkansas head coach Houston Nutt said.
“We’ve had a very good start with it, but now you want
to close great.”
One spot is certainly there for Rogers five-star
offensive lineman Lee Ziemba (6-7, 305), who is set to
play in Max Emfinger’s All-Star Game on Jan. 5 in
Shreveport and then visit Auburn on the weekend of
Jan. 12-13.
Another would also certainly go to River Ridge (La.)
John Curtis five-star tailback Joe McKnight (6-1,
190), who is slated to visit Arkansas the weekend of
Feb. 3 – his final of five official visits.
McKnight is in San Antonio this week for Saturday’s
U.S. Army All-American Game, which will be televised
live by NBC at noon.
"Miami, LSU, USC, Arkansas and Ole Miss are my final
five," McKnight said Sunday night. "They are all even
at this point. I am visiting Ole Miss on the January
12, USC on January 19, LSU on January 26 and Arkansas
on February 3. I am also going to visit Miami
mid-week."
Another young man that Arkansas is extremely high on
is Cedar Hill star William Cole, who just finished up
leading his team to a 16-0 season and state title
while rushing for a whopping 2,954 yards.
Cole, who starred as a quarterback but projects to a
wideout or corner in college, is due in for an
official visit to Fayetteville on Jan. 19-21 with
Texas still looming as a possibility and other visits
set up to Kansas and Missouri.
McKnight joins Florida prep standout Juwan Franklin
(6-0, 175, 4.4), who visited Arkansas officially in
December, as running backs apparently still in the
picture although Franklin could also be a cornerback.
It’s thought the Razorbacks will sign at least one
more wideout to go along with Shiloh Christian star
Crosby Tuck – be it Irving (Texas) MacArthur four-star
wide receiver Ron Brooks (6-0, 170, 4.4), Tatum
(Texas) four-star prospect Darnius Moore (6-0, 175,
4.4), Norman (Okla.) High’s Ryan Broyles (6-0, 170,
4.4) or Texas prep star Jonathon Jones (6-4, 190).
Brooks and Broyles have already visited Arkansas while
Moore is due in the weekend of January 19-21, right
after he and Broyles both visit Tennessee the week
before.
"I like Arkansas because I know that I could come play
there early and because they had a very good record
this season," Moore said Sunday night. "I think it is
a good school."
It seems the Arkansas quarterback focus has narrowed
to two signal callers – Beaumont West Brook’s Joe
Chassion (6-3, 180, 4.6) and Durham (N.C) Hillside’s
Michael Johnson (6-2, 205) – although it has not yet
offered either.
Johnson, who threw for over 3,142 yards and ran for
just over 500, has already visited Arkansas while
Chaisson is due in Jan. 13-15.
Chaisson passed for 1,789 yards this season and ran
for 771 while combining for 28 touchdowns.
“If I get up there and everything is like I expect it
to be, I could see myself committing on the spot,”
Chaisson said. “Arkansas is at the top of my list now
and the only visit I am going to set up at the
moment.”
The Razorbacks are also expecting to get a visit in
January from Indianapolis Central tight end Adrien Robinson (6-5, 225).
Arkansas should haul in two more defensive lineman
with Richardson Berkner’s Adrian Campbell (6-6, 260)
and Mobile (Ala.) Davidson’s DeMario Ambrose (6-4,
240) having already visited and College Park (Ga.)
North Clayton star Jeremy Elder (6-3, 280) likely to
in January.
Former Razorback signee Freddie Barnett (6-2, 305) is
another option if he were to get clearance by the NCAA
and SEC while Blinn (Texas) Junior College defensive
end Alex Cook (6-3, 225) is also still a possibility.
Love should wind up the linebacker recruiting, but
there will still be two or three secondary prospects
to get in the fold.
Those could come from corners that include West Monroe
(La.) star Terry Carter (5-10, 170, 4.4), Broyles and
Fayette-Ware (Tenn.) corner Wade Bonner (5-10, 180,
4.4) and safeties Stefoin Francois (6-0, 190, 4.5),
current Alabama commit Chris Lett (6-1, 210) of
Pensocola, Fla., Trinity (Texas) JC safety Nevin McKenzie (6-1, 205) and LaMarque (Texas) prospect
James Thomas (6-0, 182).
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