A Football Family

In his weekly recruiting column, Dudley E. Dawson catches up with Bentonville offensive lineman Marcus Danenhauer (6-5, 315) He is one of nine in-state prospects in the 2011 class to have landed an offer from the University of Arkansas and has a lot of football in his family's background.

When your grandpa and great uncle played for the Denver Broncos, your brother played for a Division I school and you are a rather large young man yourself, odds are excellent you are going to get a shot on the college gridiron.

That’s certainly the case with Bentonville offensive lineman Marcus Danenhauer (6-5, 315) , who is one of the nine 2011 in-state prospects to have been offered by the University of Arkansas.

He got the offer back from Razorback head coach Bobby Petrino back in February.

“I was on the phone with Coach Petrino and he said he would like for me to be a Razorback and was offering me a scholarship,” Danenhauer said. “I feel very honored to just have been considered by Arkansas. It’s a great feeling.”

Danenhauer’s grandpa Bill played for the Denver Broncos as did his great uncle. His brother Aaron played at Tulsa.

“We have a football family,” Danenhauer said.

While Arkansas has offered, there are several other schools which have shown interest.

“Ole Miss, Stanford, TCU, Oklahoma State, Kansas, Kansas State, UCLA and North Carolina are all recruiting me,” Danenhauer said.

Danenhauer is not in a hurry to make a decision.

“I like Arkansas, but I think I am going to take all five of my visits and check out the schools and the facilities,” Danenhauer said. “I just want to make sure I am making the right decision for my future.”

Danenhauer attended both of the junior days that the Razorbacks have had so far.

“I have had a chance to see the dorms and the campus and all the facilities, which are great,” Danenhauer said. “That weight room is incredible.”

Danenhauer bench presses 315 pounds and squats 385.

“I think my size is my strength,” Danenhauer said. “I need to work on my footwork and my athleticism.”

He does feel fortunate to be playing in the 7A-West Conference along with standouts such as Springdale Har-Ber’s Brey Cook (6-7, 300) and Springdale High’s Mitch Smothers (6-4, 280) – all who have offers from Arkansas.

Bentonville won the state title in Danenhauer’s sophomore season and Cook’s squad won it last season.

“Brey Cook is a great player and I really think that we play in the best conference in the state,” Danenhauer said. “I think the level of competition is very high and we have great programs.”

Danenhauer is planning to take some spring visits.

“I think I am going to go down to Ole Miss, but it’s a long way so I am not sure,” Danenhauer said. “I am going to go see some of Arkansas’ practices and I have been invited to TCU’s spring game. Oklahoma State has invited me over, too.”





Marcus Danenhauer (56) and his brother Aaron, a former Tulsa player who is now an assistant coach at Bentonville.





Marcus Danenhauer