LITTLE ROCK — Navarro College in Corsicana, Texas, defeated Arkansas Baptist College 40-0 at Little Rock Central’s Quigley-Cox Stadium on Saturday and did so with a roster full of major college talent, including at least four prospects Arkansas is recruiting.
The Hogs signed only two offensive line prospects in the 2012 class and are making the line a priority for the 2013 class. Arkansas has extended scholarship offers to Bulldogs offensive linemen Aleon Calhoun and Zach Fondal.
Calhoun, 6-7, 345 pounds, 5.2 seconds in the 40-yard dash, signed with Texas Tech in 2010 out of Navasota, Texas, but fell short academically and enrolled in junior college. Arkansas along with Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Alabama, Auburn, Oklahoma State and others have offered scholarships.
“I’m just leaning more towards Texas A&M because it’s home and it’s more family-oriented than any other team I’ve talked to,” Calhoun said. “That’s where I stand at right now.”
Calhoun, who reports a 415-pound bench press and 600 squat, is looking to start right away.
“I know it won’t come easy but knowing I’ll go in there and have a position and work hard at and start that’s my biggest focus,” he said.
Arkansas’ need at his position is a plus.
“I feel like if I’m going to go there in the spring and knowing they have a left tackle or a right tackle that’s leaving then that would be the best fit for me,” Calhoun said. “I can come in and they already know what I have to offer. I’m really looking at the depth chart.”
“They’ll be impressed with my size and how I block and take on the linebackers and the safeties. That’s the most impressive thing about me.”
Navarro Coach Brian Mayper said Calhoun has great feet and is the leader on the offensive line.
“When he speaks they all listen, but if you were 6-7 and 345 pounds I would think everybody would listen to you, too,” Mayper said. “He’s a big time offensive lineman.”
Fondal, 6-5, 290, didn’t make the trip to Little Rock with Navarro.
Running back Traylon Shead, 6-2 1/2, 230, 4.5, signed with Texas in 2010 out of Cayuga, Texas, after being recruited by numerous schools, including Arkansas.
“After the fact I turned them down to go to Texas and still come after me. that shows a lot about a school,” said Shead, who reports the Hogs offering him during the spring. “I like Arkansas from what I saw on the drive up here; it’s nice place and real quiet from what I see so far.”
Shead left the Longhorns program last November after seeing limited play and redshirting his freshman season. Arkansas’ conference affiliation is a big hit with Shead.
“The SEC, you can’t get any better than the SEC,” said Shead, who will be eligible to transfer to his new school in December. “That’s a lot of exposure right there. Just the level of competition you’re going against each week. You can’t get any better; big stages every week. Basically it’s like a small NFL.”
Mayper said Shead is a very physical back.
“You don’t have to block somebody; he’s going to run them over ,” Mayper said. “He has a great center of balance. You watch him and he’s an upright runner kind of like the way Eddie George was.”
Receiver Chris Jones, 6-0, 173, 4.35, also signed with Texas in 2010 and left the program last year. He played at Daingerfield High School and recorded 64 catches for 1,475 yards and 17 touchdowns in two seasons.
Despite having approximately 30 scholarship offers, Jones said he’s favoring the Razorbacks.
“It’s pretty much Arkansas,” Jones said. “I kind of considered A&M.”
Arkansas’ prolific pass offense and former receivers Jarius Wright and Joe Adams’ success is what attracts Jones to the Hogs.
“It’s my style,” he said. “I’m a speed receiver, of course, and I know they like to throw the ball a ton. I’m a small receiver, get me out in space and I run.”
Mayper said Jones has been hampered by injuries but has the speed and athleticism to excel at receiver.
Shead and Jones plan to visit for Arkansas’ game in Little Rock against Louisiana-Monroe on Sept. 8, an open date for Navarro.
“They’ve talked to both of us about coming up and visiting during our bye week.” Shead said.
E-mail Richard Davenport at
Sports, Pages 19 on 08/28/2012