LITTLE ROCK — Reynolds Razorback Stadium caught the attention of Texas defensive back Trevor Walker and his father when they arrived at Arkansas for an unofficial visit Sunday.
“We pulled up to it and we didn’t think it would look like that,” Walker said. “It looks like a NFL stadium, how it sat down like a bowl. You have to go down deep down onto the field when you play against Arkansas. That’s something that stood out to us. That is the nicest stadium that I’ve personally seen.”
Walker, 6-1, 185 pounds, 4.49 seconds in the 40-yard dash, of Mansfield Timberview High School reports 23 scholarship offers, including one from Arkansas, Ole Miss, Iowa, Arizona, Vanderbilt, Kansas and Kansas State. Before the trip to Fayetteville, he had visited Ole Miss, Houston, Vanderbilt, Kansas and Kansas State.
Walker, who said he is planning to major in business with aspirations of owning a sporting goods business, said he liked the Sam. M. Walton College of Business.
“Of all of the schools that have offered me, Arkansas is one of the biggest as far as a business degree,” said Walker, who could play cornerback or safety at Arkansas.
Arkansas’ strength and conditioning program headed up by Jason Veltkamp, along with the highly regarded weight room, impressed Walker.
“They were showing me the progression the players had made from their freshman year to a couple years or guys that are seniors,” Walker said. “Some kids lost pounds and look more toned and thinner and some kids got bigger. You can tell they look stronger. That’s also the nicest weight room I’ve seen. It was all the best of the best as far as the facility, the field, the weight room. Everything is top-notch.”
Walker’s scholarship offers were slow to come and he committed to Washington State, the first school to offer him April 19. He reopened his recruiting after impressing schools during the spring evaluation and the offers started pouring in.
“That was the most humbling experience that I personally have ever been through,” Walker said. “I’m blessed enough to have a father in my life. He saw it coming after looking at all of the athletes I played against my junior and even my sophomore year. A lot of guys already had offers.”
Walker’s lead recruiter, defensive tackles coach Kevin Peoples, showed Walker and his father around the campus. Walker, who recorded 89 tackles and five interceptions as a junior, said Peoples let him know the Hogs like his skill set.
“They’re big about getting the most out of recruits and making them as good as a football player as he can be and they see me being a big-time football player,” said Walker, who plans to graduate in December and enroll at his new school in January. “They know they can make me into a great SEC football player.”
Walker said he plans to make his five allotted official visits before making a decision. He said the Razorbacks will likely get one of his visits.
“I believe so.” he said.
ROBINSON PRAISED
Memphis East High School football Coach Marcus Wimberly said Arkansas’ newest commitment, linebacker Marcus Robinson, is among the best he’s coached in 11 years, seven of those as a head coach.
“He’s up there and I’ve had some pretty good guys lately,” Wimberly said. “He’s towards the top.”
Robinson, 6-3, 215, 4.5 seconds in the 40-yard dash, picked the Hogs over scholarship offers from Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Clemson, Illinois, Vanderbilt and North Carolina. He had 74 tackles and an interception as a junior while having 72 tackles and an interception as a sophomore.
“Marcus has a tremendous amount of athleticism and he’s a smart football player to go along with it,” Wimberly said. “He’s quick and agile and he can cover pretty well backs and receivers.”
Arkansas have 13 oral commitments for the 2013 recruiting class, counting Robinson’s pledge. That’s one more than what the Hogs had at the same time last year.
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Sports, Pages 19 on 08/14/2012