THE RECRUITING GUY

UA recruiting rising in Memphis under Horton

— Arkansas has recruited the Memphis area with limited success through the years, until last year when recruiting coordinator and running backs coach Tim Horton recruited the area and the Hogs signed three prospects.

Another Memphis product, athlete Mack Weaver, a defensive end and tight end, is one of the better recruits in the city and has plans to visit Fayetteville.

Weaver, 6-5, 245 pounds, 4.8 seconds in the 40-yard dash, of Memphis Harding Academy reports 22 scholarship offers, including ones from Arkansas, Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Memphis, Ole Miss and Clemson.

“It’s very high,” Weaver said of his interest in Arkansas. “I plan on getting down there hopefully closer to the end of this month. I’m excited to see what all they have.”

Weaver said Hogs quarterback commitment Tyler Cogswell has told him good things about Arkansas on Twitter, and Weaver said he appreciates the way he’s being recruited by Horton.

“He’s a great guy,” said Weaver, who is being recruited as a tight end by the Razorbacks. “I loved him as soon as I started talking to him. ... He’s funny and downto-earth. He told me exactly what he wanted to say and didn’t try to sugarcoat anything. I really like him.”

COMMITMENT COMING UP?

Memphis linebacker Marcus Robinson hasn’t visited Arkansas but the Hogs stand out among his 10 scholarship offers. He’s planning to visit Fayetteville on July 21.

“I named Arkansas my leader because I don’t think Fayetteville is that far from where I live,” Robinson said. “And I think it would be a great school to play football. I love the coaching staff and the new head coach.”

Robinson, 6-3, 215, 4.5, of East High School, also has scholarship offers from Clemson, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Illinois, Vanderbilt and North Carolina. Arkansas recruiting coordinator and running backs coach Tim Horton is his lead recruiter.

“Me and Coach have a great relationship,” Robinson said. “He tells me everything I want to know. They’re building new facilities, and when I get there, we’ll be the first class in the new facilities. That’s one of the big things I would love.”

Should he like what he sees on his trip to Arkansas, Robinson said he could be the Hogs’ next pledge.

“It’s a strong possibility.” Robinson said.

QBS LOOKING UP

Arkansas’ two quarterback commitments, Austin Allen and Tyler Cogswell, are rated among the nation’s top 25 pro-style quarterbacks by CBS Sports Network national recruiting analyst Tom Lemming.

Allen, 6-2, 218, 4.7, of Fayetteville, is rated No. 12 while Cogswell, 6-5, 225, 4.9 , of Plantation (Fla.) American Heritage is No. 23.

Allen impressed Lemming at the Proving Ground combine that was conducted in association with the Semper Fidelis All-American Bowl in Phoenix last January. His showing earned him an invitation to play in the 2013 game.

“They’re both big-time players,” Lemming said. “Allen looked really good. That’s why I invited him to be in the Semper Fi game because he looked real good down there. He showed good feet, command and seemed to be more mature than the other quarterbacks we had down there. He’s [Cogswell] probably not as far along as Allen in my opinion but he has a great upside and in the long run might even be better.”

Lemming said it’s difficult to convince two top quarterbacks to commit to a school in the same recruiting class.

“Normally kids avoid each other,” Lemming said. “It just shows you that Arkansas’ offense is prolific. People want to play in an exciting offense, in a big stadium in the Southeast Conference. Arkansas has everything facilitywise and academicallywise to offer these kids. So it’s not surprising that they’re going to get the two.

“There’s nothing better than healthy competition between two good athletes.”

ANOTHER GOOD SHOWING

North Little Rock running back Altee Tenpenny, 5-11, 211, 4.32, finished second among 150 of the nation’s top prospects at The Opening’s SPARQ (Speed, Power, Agility, Reaction and Quickness) combine over the weekend. He also finished second at last year’s event.

The athletes participated in the 40-yard dash, pro-shuttle, vertical jump and power ball throw. He recorded a 144.49 rating. Tenpenny is committed to Alabama, but is planning to visit Arkansas on July 21.

E-mail Richard Davenport at

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Sports, Pages 24 on 07/13/2012

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