LITTLE ROCK — Arkansas received their second oral commitment from a high profile prospect in as many days when receiver Quinta Funderburk pledged to the Hogs. Texas tight end Chris Barnett committed to the Razorbacks on Saturday.
Funderburk , 6-4, 205 pounds, 4.5 seconds in the 40-yard dash, of Chesapeake, (Va.) Oscar Smith, had more than 20 scholarship offers from schools like Alabama, Penn State, Southern Cal, North Carolina and Virginia Tech before narrowing his list to Arkansas, Florida, Michigan and West Virginia.
Funderburk made an official visit to Arkansas with his parents for the Alabama game on Sept. 25.
“When I came up there the fans showed me a lot of support,” Funderburk said. “It was great atmosphere and I felt like I could fit in there, socially, academically and football was a great fit for me. It was great time being there. There’s nothing like the SEC.”
CBS College Sports national recruiting analyst Tom Lemming, who has more than 30 years of experience, said he thinks Arkansas landed a great one.
“I think he has as much potential as any receiver in the country,” Lemming said. “He’s a great talent, could be a difference-maker.
He’sa kid that could change the course of a game in one play. He has that type of ability.”
Funderburk caught 62 passes for 1,150 yards and 12 touchdowns as a junior. In eight games this season, he has 47 catches for 1,005 yards and 10 touchdowns.
“I feel like I can fit in right away and come in and be a big part of their offense,” said Funderburk, who plans to graduate early and enroll in January.
Funderburk said his lead recruiter, graduate assistant Marty Biagi, is a big reason for him selecting Arkansas.
“Coach Biagi was great from the start,” Funderburk said. “He was real with me from the beginning. He’s a great person to talk to. We built a great relationship. He’s a young coach and he can relate to young guys.”
Coach Bobby Petrino, offensive coordinator Garrick McGee and recruiting coordinator Tim Horton also earned praise from Funderburk.
“It was great because I never talked to a head coach as much as I did with Coach Petrino,” Funderburk said. “[Alabama] Coach [Nick] Saban was another coach I talked to a lot, but Coach Petrino was a great guy to talk to during the process. He was straight up with me about everything.”
Funderburk is Arkansas’ No. 22 commitment for the 2011 recruiting class. Oral commitments are nonbinding.
Arkansas added another commitment over the weekend when Arizona running back/ defensive back Kelvin Fisher Jr. said through a text message that he orally committed to Arkansas on Saturday. Fisher Jr., 5-11, 185, 4.5 of Gilbert Higley High School, chose the Hogs over schools like Arizona State, Pittsburgh, Oregon, Pittsburgh, Washington and Boise State. He rushed 113 times for 819 yards and 12 touchdowns as a junior. On defense, he recorded 79 tackles, 57 unassisted, along with 2 interceptions and 4 pass breakups.
Sports, Pages 13 on 10/25/2010