LITTLE ROCK — Arkansas is one of numerous schools vying for the services of one of the top prospects in Florida, defensive back Travis Blanks.
Blanks, 6-1, 194, 4.45 seconds in the 40-yard dash, of Tallahassee, (Fla.) North Florida Christian has more than 20 scholarship offers, including Arkansas,Alabama, Florida, Florida State and Ohio State.
“It’s a top program so I would like look into them,” said Blanks of Arkansas. “They’re one of the big names out there and they played in a bowl game this year.”
CBS College Sports national recruiting analyst Tom Lemming said Blanks is one of the top 100 prospects in the nation.
“He’s a premier player that could play corner but will probably end up at safety,” Lemming said. “He’s physical and aggressive. He’s the top junior in northern part of Florida.”
In his first year of playing free safety, Blank recorded 55 unassisted tackles, 49 assisted tackles and 4 interceptions while having 35 receptions for 446 yards and 3 touchdowns on offense.
Blanks said schools haven’t determined where he’ll play in the defensive backfield.
“A lot of schools are looking at me as a DB and not sure if it’s safety or corner,” said Blanks, who returned two punts for touchdowns. “But I want to play corner though.”
Blanks said he knows former Hog and North Florida Christian receiver Carlton Salters, who visited with Blanks during spring practice at the high school last year.
“He said it’s a pretty good school,” said Blanks, who recalls knowing Hog safety Rudell Crim when he attended Rickards high school in Tallahassee. “I really haven’t went in depth with him about the football program but he said he enjoyed it up there.”
Clemson, Alabama, South Florida, Louisville and Florida State were some of schools Blanks visited last year.
Blanks has offers from the hometown Florida State Seminoles and Florida, but he said distance will likely not be an issue with him.
“I’m probably looking to get out of the state of Florida.” he said.
WALK-ON FULLBACK
Jonesboro linebacker/fullback Brad Shearin decided to fulfill his lifelong dream and become a Razorback after visiting Arkansas on Wednesday and agreeing to walk on as a fullback for the 2011 season.
Shearin, 6-1, 228, 4.7 seconds in the 40-yard dash, will have the opportunity to replace departing fullback Van Stuman and compete against Salinas, (Calf.) Hartnell Community College fullback Kiero Small,who signed with the Hogs for the 2011 recruiting class.
Shearin, along with his father, Trey, met with recruiting coordinator and running backs coach Tim Horton and offensive coordinator Garrick McGee.
“He said they really don’t have a fullback right now,” Shearin said of Horton. “He said they signed one but they don’t have a starter, so he said I had a good chance to play and a chance get on the field pretty soon.”
McGee went over how the Arkansas offense utilizes the fullback, Shearin said.
“He talked about how much they use the fullback in different situations,” said Shearin, who attended Arkansas’ football camps the past five years. “He said he felt like I had a good chance to play too.”
Shearin recorded 129 tackles, including 51 unassisted, as a senior. He also had 12 tackles for loss, 1 forced fumble, 4 pass breakups and 1 interception while having 19 carries for 50 yards and 1 touchdown.
Shearin, who had scholarship offers from Southern Arkansas and Arkansas-Pine Bluff, was also invited to walk on at Ole Miss and Arkansas State.
“All my life I always wanted to be a Razorback,” said Shearin, who reports a 405-pound bench press, 510 squat and 35-inch vertical jump. “I just wanted to weigh everything out and see different schools to make sure I made the right decision.” E-mail Richard Davenport at [email protected]
Sports, Pages 19 on 02/22/2011