LITTLE ROCK — One of the more electrifying play makers in the country, receiver Ryan Timmons of Frankfort (Ky.) Franklin County, made an unofficial visit to Fayetteville in early July and liked it so much that he placed Arkansas at the top of the list of schools he is considering.
Now he wants to bring his mother for an official visit.
Timmons, 5-11, 185 pounds, 4.35 seconds in the 40-yard dash, has scholarship offers from more than 10 schools, including Arkansas, Kentucky, Illinois and Purdue. He said he and Arkansas Coach John L. Smith have talked about an official visit.
“He said we can come anytime,” said Timmons, adding that the Alabama and LSU games are possibilities for his official visit. “He said he would let me know when it will be the best time to come so my mom will have a good time.”
Timmons said he recently talked to Arkansas receivers coach Kris Cinkovich, running backs coach Tim Horton and his lead recruiter, offensive coordinator Paul Petrino.
“They were talking to me and telling me how practices were going and about the team and how they compete,” said Timmons, who also is looking to take official visits to Ohio State and West Virginia. “They said they want me to be a part of Arkansas’ football team.”
Timmons showed plenty of skills as a junior, rushing 62 times for 1,382 yards and 20 touchdowns and making 38 receptions for 1,100 yards and 18 touchdowns. He has best times of 10.64 seconds in the 100 meters and 21.34 seconds in the 200.
National recruiting analyst Tom Lemming of CBS Sports Network rates Timmons a three-star-plus recruit.
LET’S TRY THIS AGAIN
Memphis prospect Marcus Robinson is hoping the third time is a charm.
The talented linebacker from East High School planned to visit Arkansas twice since July but was unable to make the trips.
Robinson, 6-3, 215, 4.5, is expected to visit Saturday with two teammates, defensive lineman Herbert Moore, 6-1 1/2, 330, 5.2, and offensive lineman Christian Morris, 6-6, 289, 5.1. Moore is committed to Ole Miss, and Morris is committed to UCLA.
Robinson has scholarship offers from Arkansas, Clemson, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Illinois, Vanderbilt and North Carolina. He said prior to his other planned trips that he would commit to the Hogs if he had a good visit. The same holds true for Saturday’s visit, thanks to the efforts of Arkansas running backs coach and recruiting coordinator Tim Horton and others on the Razorbacks staff.
“Those guys have shown me a lot of love, and I feel like they’ll take care of me when I go down there,” Robinson said. “I want to meet and get to know the head coach and also meet the defensive coordinator.”
ANDERSON ON GUARD
Arkansas Coach Mike Anderson returned to his home state of Alabama last year to sign two basketball prospects for the 2012 recruiting class.
Junior guard/forward Riley Norris of Albertville, Ala., is another possibility for the Hogs’ 2014 class.
Norris, 6-7, 180 pounds, has scholarship offers from approximately 10 schools, including Arkansas, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Auburn and Alabama-Birmingham. He is hoping to make an unofficial visit to Fayetteville in the near future.
“I’m really interested. I hear they have a great fan base out there and they’re all about basketball in Arkansas,” Norris said. “I really enjoy the coaching staff. They’re all really nice. I’ve talked to just about everybody. I’ve talked to Coach Anderson, too, and he seems like a really great guy. He’s a good coach. He’s been really successful wherever he’s been.”
During the spring and summer, Norris plays for Southeast Elite, the same team that produced former Arkansas point guard Courtney Fortson.
His father, Eddy, who played basketball at Montevallo, is an assistant coach at his school, and Norris attributes a good amount of his development to his father.
“My dad has been my coach all the way through since I was little,” Norris said. “He’s always been there. He’s taught me the game of basketball. It’s real big advantage, just trying to outsmart them.”
Van Coleman, the national director of basketball for XOFan.com network, said Norris is a strong candidate to make his top 150 list for 2014 prospects.
“Norris has really improved his jumper around the arc,” Coleman said. “He can create his shot or drive without the dribble and can finish in traffic versus contact. He had a strong summer with Southeast Elite and has put himself on the radar with his explosive hops and ability at attack the hoop.”
E-mail Richard Davenport at [email protected]
Sports, Pages 21 on 08/10/2012