LITTLE ROCK — Arkansas has a slight lead over Nebraska going into the home stretch for Missouri offensive lineman Zach Hannon, who could announce his college decision in two or three weeks.
“I just wanted to get it out of the way pretty much so I don’t have to worry about during the season,” Hannon said. “I guess it’s pretty much time to commit.”
Hannon, 6-5, 300 pounds, 5.1 seconds in the 40-yard dash, of Kansas City Rockhurst has more than 10 scholarship offers, including Arkansas, Missouri, Nebraska and Kansas State. He has visited the Hogs twice, Feb. 11 and about three weeks ago.
“First of all, SEC,” Hannon said of the Razorbacks. “That’s a big part of the decision. Academics of course. The academic staff and the tour they gave us the last time we came down there was just great. The tradition, of course. The coaches, the fan support.”
Hannon credited his lead recruiter, offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Paul Petrino as well as offensive line coach Chris Klenakis for his high interest in Arkansas.
“They were really the first ones that kind of found me out of the blue and the first coaches that really started talking to me,” said Hannon, who reports a 355-poundbench press and a 450-pound squat. “I’ve had just a great relationship with them throughout the whole process.”
GETTING A SECOND CHANCE
Arkansas has a chance to land safety Pat Martin after missing out on his signature in 2011 when he signed with Tennessee..
Martin, 6-1 , 205, 4. 52seconds in the 40-yard dash, of Arizona Western Community College in Yuma, orally committed to the Volunteers during the summer of 2010 out of Greenville, S.C. He ended up signing with Tennessee in 2011 after privately flipping his pledge to the Hogs.
He left the Volunteers program before the start of the 2011 season and transferred to Arizona Western. He reports scholarship offers from Texas Tech, New Mexico State,Memphis and South Alabama while drawing strong interest from the Hogs.
“I’ve always liked them,” said Martin, who plans to arrive in Fayetteville for a July 20 visit. “They’re on the rise right now. They’re in the top five in the country. It’s a great school and it’s not too far away from home too.”
Offensive line coach Chris Klenakis recruits Arizona and parts of the Houston area and is in charge of Martin’s recruitment.
“Coach K is a great guy,” Martin said. “You can tell he’s straight up, and I like how he’s been recruiting me. He’s real and a honest coach.”
Martin said the Hogs coaches want to see him in person and have indicated a scholarship offer is a strong possibility.
4-STAR LINEMAN EYES HOGS
Defensive line is one of the greatest need areas for Arkansas’ 2013 recruiting class and the Razorbacks are targeting highly touted junior college defensive lineman Quincy Russell.
Russell, 6-4, 309, 5.0 seconds in the 40-yard dash, of Trinity Valley Community College in Athens, Texas, has numerous scholarship offers, including Arkansas.
“I have good interest in Arkansas,” said Russell, who plans to graduate in December and enroll at his new school in January. “The type of program they are and the type of defense they run, they run a defense where you go and attack every play and you’re not sitting back reading anything. The atmosphere at Arkansas is amazing. I haven’t been up there for a game, but from what I’ve heard and seen on TV the atmosphere is great.”
CBS Sports Network national recruiting analyst Tom Lemming rated Russell a four-star recruit in 2011 and the nation’s 20th-ranked defensive lineman out of Sam Houston High School in San Antonio. He signed with Texas but fell short in becoming eligible.
Russell, who recorded 31 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 1 pass breakup and 1 forced fumble last year, said he is planning to visit the Hogs this summer. He said his lead recruiter, secondary coach Bobby Allen, has helped peaked his interest in the Razorbacks.
“The times I have talked to him it’s been a good conversation,” said Russell, who reports a 345-pound bench press. “I’ve probably talked to him three or four times and he tells me some good information on the school and things like that. He really got me excited to go up there and take a look.”
E-mail Richard Davenport at [email protected]
Sports, Pages 21 on 07/03/2012