LITTLE ROCK — Receiver Ryan Timmons said he was impressed when he visited Arkansas in July and is bringing his mother, Melinda Watts, with him on his official visit for the Razorbacks’ game against Rutgers on Saturday in Fayetteville.
Timmons, 5-11, 185 pounds, 4.35 seconds in the 40-yard dash, plays for Frankfort (Ky.) Franklin County High School and has more than 10 scholarship offers from schools that include Arkansas, Kentucky, Illinois and Purdue. He had an outstanding junior season, rushing 62 times for 1,382 yards and 20 touchdowns to go with 38 receptions for 1,100 yards and 18 touchdowns.
He said he is looking forward to showing his mother why he is so high on the Razorbacks.
“She has some [questions] written down that she needs to ask so she can understand more about the school,” Timmons said. “This is really the first school she’s going to ask questions.”
Timmons said Arkansas receivers coach Kris Cinkovich recently attended one of his games, and he has been in contact with Arkansas offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Paul Petrino, who is serving as his lead recruiter for the Razorbacks.
“I’ve been talking to Coach Petrino about every week,” said Timmons, who has best times of 10.64 seconds in the 100 meters and 21.34 in the 200.
Timmons appears to be on pace to surpass last year’s numbers. In 5 games this season, he has carried 20 times for 381 yards with 11 touchdowns and has 14 receptions for 460 yards and 7 touchdowns.
Franklin Coach Chris Tracy said he catches himself being more of a spectator sometimes when Timmons has the ball.
“Sometimes you find yourself watching him and not necessarily watching maybe as a coach what I should be watching,” Tracy said. “You just find yourself in awe of what’s going on the field and what he’s doing.”
Timmons said he has told his mother good things about the Razorbacks’ offense and facilities, as well as the Walton College of Business.
“The whole campus is really probably one of the best campuses I’ve been to,” Timmons said. “I’ve had to explain to her why I like that offense and how it would help me out. So once I come down there, she’ll be able to talk to the business people so she’ll be able to get a better understanding about what I would be doing if I went there.”
LINEBACKER VISITING
Linebacker Antonio Longino, 6-3, 220, 4.4, of Hutchinson (Kan.) Community College, plans to arrive in Fayetteville today for the start of his official visit.
Longino reports scholarship offers from 13 schools, including Arkansas, Texas A&M, Arizona State, Minnesota, West Virginia, Texas Tech and Cincinnati.
WINGO OFFERED
St. Louis University High School junior cornerback Raymond Wingo, 6-1, 164, 4.31, received a scholarship offer from Arkansas when he visited for the Razorbacks’ game against Alabama last Saturday.
The offer is the f irst Wingo has received. He said Arkansas offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Paul Petrino informed him of the offer prior to the game.
“He said he watched me on film and he likes seeing me play,” said Wingo, the younger brother of Arkansas running back Ronnie Wingo Jr. “He said, ‘I’m telling you now that we’re offering you.’ I really didn’t know what to say. I was like, ‘OK, thank you.’ ”
Wingo had 11 carries for 312 yards and a school-record 6 touchdowns in last week’s 69-35 victory over Vianney. He shares the touchdown record with his brother.
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Sports, Pages 22 on 09/21/2012