THE RECRUITING GUY

Lemming lauds size, talent of defensive tackles

Springdale Har-Ber defensive tackle Josh Frazier (99) is one of the top in-state targets for the 2014 class.
Springdale Har-Ber defensive tackle Josh Frazier (99) is one of the top in-state targets for the 2014 class.

— National recruiting analyst Tom Lemming of CBS Sports Network will reveal his junior All-America team that will include two Arkansas defensive linemen on the Friday after Thanksgiving during his weekly recruiting TV show.

Josh Frazier, 6-4, 324, pounds, 5.1 seconds in the 40-yard dash, of Springdale Har-Ber and Bijhon Jackson, 6-2, 325, 5.1 seconds in the 40-yard dash, of El Dorado will join 98 other top prospects on the team.

“They’re loads, they’ll be two of the best defensive tackles in the country,” Lemming said.

Frazier, who has scholarship offers from Arkansas, Alabama and Arkansas State, has recorded 57 tackles and 3.5 sacks in 11 games.

Jackson, who has scholarship offers from Arkansas, Ole Miss and Arkansas State, had 31 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, 3 sacks, 4 quarterback hurries, 5 knockdowns and 1 forced fumble in the first nine games of the season.

“Both have real good feet,” said Lemming, noting both could be excellent offensive guards if things don’t work out on defense. “ They’re powerhouse guys. They’re more run-stuffers. Neither one is a real pass rusher, but you really don’t need that when you’re looking for defensive tackles. They both occupy a lot of space and occupy more than one blocker on almost every play.”

Lemming will wait until after national signing day in February to announce the sophomore All-America team. Two Arkansas athletes will also be on that team, - quarterback Ty Storey, who has an offer from Arkansas State and tight end Will Gragg, who has an offer from Arkansas.

“They’re going to be two of the premier players in the country in 2015,” Lemming said. “On film, both really, really look good.

They’re two good athletes, great size. They’re both going to be national recruits. It’s important for Arkansas to try and lock those guys up early because Alabama, Oklahoma, LSU are all going to come in.”

Storey, 6-3, 210, 4.92, of Charleston, has completed 272 of 405 passes for 3,704 yards and 43 touchdowns while throwing 10 interceptions.

“He’s a good all-around athlete,” Lemming said. “I’m very impressed with Ty Storey. He’s going to be a big star. You can tell.”

Lemming said he likes the athleticism of Gragg, 6-4, 235, 4.7, of Pine Bluff. Lemming said he believes Will Gragg could be better than his older brother Chris, a fifth-year senior for the Razorbacks.

“What I like about Gragg is you see him as more of a blocking tight end, good athlete,” Lemming said. “You see him at defensive end as just a good all-around athlete. Anybody that’s 6-4, 235 and has a couple more years to go is going to be a monster.”

Lemming’s also high on other 2015 prospects, Bryant receiver K.J. Hill, 6-0, 170, 4.5, and Warren receiver Darvion Brown, 5-11, 170, 4.4, and running back Kilay Cox, 5-7, 180, 4.5.

“That year looks like the year for Arkansas,” Lemming said. “It looks like the 2015 year could be a real banner year. K.J. Hill is also a guy that could bean All America when it’s all said a-d done in that class. Darvion Brown is going to be another big-time guy and his teammate Kilay Cox.”

Hill caught 48 passes for 845 yards, 11 touchdowns and rushed 27 times for 233 yards and 3 touchdowns. Going into the second round of the playoffs, Brown has 37 catches for620 yards and 8 touchdowns; Cox has 211 carries for 1,420 yards and 19 touchdowns.

Lemming tapes most of his shows in New York City but like many others in New York and New Jersey, suffered the effects of Hurricane Sandy when the studio was destroyed by flood waters.

“It completely flooded everything because we’re right off the Hudson River,” Lemming said. “You walk out the back door and you’re on Chelsea piers and you’re 20 feet away from the river. The river just came up and destroyed everything.”

Sandy forced the cancellation of Lemming’s Nov. 2 show but Friday’s show aired after moving to the CBS studio in Manhattan.

E-mail Richard Davenport at [email protected]

Sports, Pages 18 on 11/13/2012

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