FAYETTEVILLE — The 12th in a series profiling new additions to the Arkansas football team.

JaMichael Winston and Darius Philon, teammates at Vigor High School in Prichard, Ala., have taken distinctly different paths to reach the Arkansas Razorbacks.

Winston committed to the Hogs early then helped his lead recruiter, Steve Caldwell, work on Philon right up until national signing day, which came with its own bizarre quirk.

Now they’re on campus, determined to lead a new wave of Arkansas defensive linemen.

“We’ve brought a great recruiting class in to compete nationally, and I think the time is now,” said Winston, a 6-5, 257-pound defensive end.

Philon, a 6-1, 297-pound defensive tackle, never visited the Arkansas campus until after signing with the Razorbacks. He somewhat awkwardly donned an Alabama cap on signing day, already knowing the Crimson Tide had asked him to delay his enrollment after their class filled up.

“Hey, I’m with Arkansas now,” Philon said. “I put all of that behind me and I just wish the best of luck to Bama. I want to go out and have a great season at Arkansas.”

Caldwell tells the story of an early morning call he received early in the week before signing day.

“[Philon] gave me a call ... at like 12:30 or 1 in the morning, and at first I didn’t catch his name, but he started asking me if we still had a scholarship available,” he said. “At first I was saying I thought we were full up, then I finally asked who was calling.

“When he said his name, I said, ‘Oh, I think we still have one available.’ ”

Arkansas recruiting coordinator Tim Horton said the Philon flip ought to be an item in a book some day.

“Two days ago, we didn’t have a clue that was going to happen,” Horton said on signing day. “It just really worked out well for us. ... We’re thrilled to get him, and boy his video is impressive.”

Winston missed the 2011 season at Vigor with a shoulder injury. Philon is recovering from meniscus surgery on his knee, though he has medical clearance to run and lift weights now, with the expectation he’ll be full speed for fall camp.

Vigor Coach Kerry Stevenson offered rave reviews.

“Darius is strong and explosive and he’s a brawler,” Stevenson said. “JaMichael is explosive and rangy, and both of them are pretty doggone good football players.

“When you find guys that talented, most of the time they don’t want to work. These guys woke up at 5 in the morning and worked out. They’re real close. Their brotherhood lasts way beyond the field.”

Winston and Philon came to campus June 1 to start classes and work out with their new teammates. They will be dorm mates, along with incoming defensive standouts Otha Peters and Taiwan Johnson.

Winston is well aware of Philon’s strengths.

“He’s just exciting when he gets on the field,” Winston said. “He’s a playmaker.”

Said Philon of his former and current teammate, “He’s fast, a speed rusher, and he’s got good technique.”

Arkansas returns one of the more experienced defensive fronts in the SEC, but the southern Alabama signees are ready to jump in and compete for playing time as rookies.

“I have work to do,” Philon said. “I have to get better. ... But basically I’m going to say it like this, I’m hungry.”

Stevenson’s take on Philon’s signing day mishap is that sometimes things happen for a reason.

“Right now he has an opportunity, and that’s all you want, the chance to go out there and give it a shot,” he said. “Both of them have high expectations of getting to the next level, and the University of Arkansas has given them that opportunity and I know they’re going to try to make the most of it.”

Caldwell sees a high ceiling for both players.

“JaMichael is going to be a tremendous player here before it’s all over,” he said. “The joker has great speed. The way he goes about the game, he gets excited, and he’s fun to watch.

“Philon played inside, out, some nose guard. ... He’s 297 pounds right now and he can run and he has outstanding athletic ability.”

Winston said he worked on recruiting his teammate throughout the last year, an activity that could endear him to Hogs fans.

“I told him about the place and whatnot,” Winston said. “He said, ‘I’ve got to see it for myself,’ and I said when he saw it he’d fall in love with it.

“I was just, everything about it is lovely. You’re going to fall in love with the place, and as soon as he got here, he was like, ‘Oh, man. You told me it was like this.’ ”

At a glance

DARIUS PHILON

HT./WT. 6-1, 297 CLASS Freshman POSITION Defensive line HOMETOWN Prichard, Ala. LAST STOP Vigor High BIO Picked up 66 tackles, including 20 for loss and 11 sacks, while helping lead Vigor to the Class 5A state championship game. Played with a knee injury in the championship game that required surgery on his meniscus after the season. Had 89 tackles, including 20 for loss as a junior. Attended Baker High in Mobile, Ala., as a freshman before transferring to Vigor. Selected to play in the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Game. Ranked as the No. 20 strongside end by Rivals.com and the No. 37 defensive end by Scout.com.

JAMICHAEL WINSTON

HT./WT. 6-5, 257 CLASS Freshman POSITION Defensive end HOMETOWN Prichard, Ala. LAST STOP Vigor High BIO First-team all-state selection after notching 103 tackles, 29 for loss, and 17 sacks while helping Vigor reach Alabama’s Class 5A state championship game in 2010. Ranked as nation’s No. 51 defensive end by Scout.com and the No. 50 weakside end by 247Sports.com. Selected to play in the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Game. Missed the 2011 season with a shoulder injury. Received interest from Mississippi State, South Carolina, Michigan State and Clemson, among others.

Sports, Pages 21 on 07/15/2012