LITTLE ROCK — While Arkansas is in Memphis preparing for the Liberty Bowl matchup against East Carolina this week, the Razorbacks plan to be back and hope to sign some of the top 2011 high school talent in the area.
Linebackers coach Reggie Johnson, who is in charge of recruiting the Memphis metro area, will no doubt spend time at Whitehaven High School pursuing several prospects, including defensive lineman Terry Redden.
Redden, 6-3, 272, 5.0 seconds in the 40-yard dash, is familiar with Razorbacks defensive end and former Whitehaven player Tenarius Wright. He said he and Wright bumped into each other at a local mall Saturday.
“We talked about old times,old games and how it would be cool if I came up there with him,” said Redden, who reports a 385-pound bench press and 445 squat. “He likes it there. He said it’s down-home, everyone loves football there and he said education wise the school is real good.”
Redden has scholarship offers from Clemson, Alabama and Mississippi State along with interest from Arkansas, LSU, Tennessee, Virginia, Colorado and others.
“I’m physically and mentally strong,” said Redden, who plans to participate in the U.S. Army National Combine on Jan. 8 in San Antonio. “I’m hungry. I want to get better and make big plays. I like to hit people.”
Whitehaven Coach Rodney Saulsberry said Redden has the intangibles needed on the defensive side of the ball.
“He has that nasty streak you like to have in a defensive player,” Saulsberry said.
Arkansas is also looking at Whitehaven offensive/defensive lineman Marvin Barton, who missed most of his junior season when he broke an ankle in the third game of the year.
Barton 6-4, 300, 5.4, is drawing interest from Arkansas, Alabama, Oregon, Duke, Michigan, Colorado, Clemson and others.
“I really wanted to go there when I first saw Darren McFadden,” Barton said of Arkansas. “I know they have a good program with the weight room and the trainers, and I heard the academics were good, too.”
Barton said he’s very good on the offensive line, but he prefers playing defense.
“I love it,” Barton said. “I love the intensity, the rush, the sacks, tackles for loss, fumbles. I have the ability to move guys and break double teams and get the tackle.”
Saulsberry sees a bright future for Barton, who reports a 3.0 grade-point average.
“Marvin is a massive kid but doesn’t look fat,” Saulsberry said. “He’s just a real solid-built kid. He has all the potential in the world. I tell him all the time that he could buy his momma a house if he puts his mind to it.”
CONFIDENT CORNER
Cornerback Lonnie Ballentine of Memphis Southwind is not only one of the top players in the city but one of the top prospects in the nation.
Ballentine, 6-3, 200, 4.39, has about seven scholarship offers, including LSU, Tennessee, Ole Miss, Alabama and Memphis, while receiving interest from Arkansas.
Ballentine, who has been timed at 10.67 seconds in the 100 meters and 21.3 in the 200, has been to Fayetteville and ran atthe Randal Tyson Track Center on the Arkansas campus.
“I have a high level of interest in Arkansas,” Ballentine said. “They’ve been by my school during the recruiting period. It’s a nice place, and I like it. They’re in the SEC, and that’s big-time football.”
Ballentine, who had six interceptions and 25 pass breakups as a junior, isn’t shy on confidence.
“I’m a cover corner; you’re not going to catch the ball,” he said. “I guarantee you that.”
E-mail Richard Davenport at [email protected]
Sports, Pages 24 on 12/29/2009