LITTLE ROCK — Running back DeVondrick Nealy proclaimed Arkansas as his top school before attending Arkansas’ junior/senior prospect camp July 17. His trip to Fayetteville did nothing to change that.
Nealy, 5-9 175 pounds, 4.5 seconds in the 40-yard dash, of Monticello, (Fla.) Jefferson County, reports 20 scholarship offers, including ones from Arkansas, Ole Miss, Auburn and Michigan. He rushed 211 times for 1,904 yards and 21 touchdowns, while collecting 24 receptions for 211 yards and 4 touchdowns as a junior.
“I had a chance to see things I’ve never seen before in my life,” Nealy said. “The weight room is 120 yards. I thought they were just joking. I saw the hall of fame room with all of the trophies.”
Nealy was able to spend some time with Arkansas receivers coach Kris Cinkovich, who recruits north Florida.
“He’s a great coach,” Nealy said. “I really love his attitude about playing football. I love everything about him. He’s a great dude. Every time I asked him a question about Arkansas, he had an immediate answer. I just love the person his is and the other coaches on the staff.”
The large number of quality athletes at the camp inspired Nealy while receiving tips from the Razorbacks coaching staff.
“It was awesome,” Nealy said. “I had a great chance to standout. There were a lot of great athletes. It was great learning opportunity.”
Nealy said he’s probably won’t attend another camp andwill focus on taking his official visits.
“Arkansas will definitely get an official visit,” Nealy said. “Texas Tech will get an official visit. Auburn and Michigan will get visits. I’m undecided on who’s my last visit.”
CATCHING UP
Last year, Spring (Texas) Westfield receiver Christian Jones was catching passes from quarterback Jacoby Walker. Fast forward to July 17 and the two athletes were reunited in Fayetteville, with Jones visiting as a high school senior and Walker on campus as a freshman.
“It was real good to see him again,” Jones said of Walker. “It was good remembering back how good we were together and how much of a connection we had. We talked about the last year’s games and how we came together and talked about how we played and how well we worked together. We talked how we could do well at Arkansas.”
Jones, 6-3, 198, 4.5, has about 12 scholarship offers, including ones from Arkansas, Stanford, Rice, Northwestern, Houston, Kansas and Texas Tech. He and his mother were given a tour of the campus.
“It’s a great campus, great coaching staff,” said Jones. “They’re very supportive, and it was great meeting the coaches. It was great community and it had a great small-town football feel. “
ACADEMIC VISIT
With a 3.8 grade-point average and a desire to major in either business and accounting, defensive end Stephon Sanders is seeking a school with a strong football and academic program.
Sanders, 6-3, 227, 4.6, from Mesquite (Texas) Horn, has about 15 scholarship offers, including ones from Arkansas, SMU, Duke, Wake Forest , Kansas, Rice and Virginia. He and his parents visited Fayetteville last Saturday and were equally impressed.
“I was real impressed with their football program,” said Sanders, who has also visited SMU, Rice, Baylor, Oklahoma State and North Texas. “And how they have it set up for the student athlete, the tutoring sessions and how to keep your grades up.”
Sanders recorded 59 tackles, 3 sacks and 9 quarterback hurries last season while scoring 1 touchdown.
His time at Arkansas elevated it as one of Sanders’ top five schools.
“It was a very nice campus. I enjoyed myself,” Sanders said. “It’s a place I wouldn’t mind living at for the next few years of my life. They had real nice facilities, especially the weight room. The weight room is what I was the most impressed with.It was pretty much the biggest weight room I’ve ever seen. The indoor facility was nice.”
Sanders said his parents like Fayetteville’s location.
“They really liked it, because it’s really not that far of a drive.” he said.
OFFER MADE
West Memphis junior swingman Jalen Jackson, 6-5, 190, received a basketball scholarship offer from Arkansas on Friday.
Blue Devils Coach Larry Bray said Jackson has a nice all-round game.
“He’s able to do a little bit of everything,” Bray said. “He can handle the ball, shoot it, jumps well and a good team player. He’s pretty much a complete player. He can play inside and he can shoot the three. He can shoot it off the dribble.”
Jackson, who’s a member of the 16-under Arkansas Wings, averaged about 13 points and 7 rebounds per game as a sophomore in Class 6A.
E-mail Richard Davenport at rdavenport@arkansaso nline.com
Sports, Pages 36 on 07/25/2010