Arkansas made a big impression on highly regarded offensive lineman Brian Wallace Jr. and his father during their two-day unofficial visit over the weekend.
Wallace, 6-6, 304, 5.2 seconds in the 40-yard dash, of St. Louis Christian Brothers had more than 20 scholarship offers before trimming down to five schools, Arkansas, Iowa, Alabama, Nebraska and Ohio State. Wallace and his father arrived in Fayetteville Friday afternoon and left Sunday morning.
Arkansas’ attention to detail caught Wallace by surprise.
“I was very impressed because they answered all of my questions and also they answered questions that weren’t even asked,” said Wallace, who plans to take all five of his official visits. “They gave me a wealth of information.”
Wallace, who will be one of his team’s four captains, is considering sports medicine and sociology as majors and like what he learned of Arkansas’ programs.
“I think it would be a pretty top-notch education,” Wallace said.
He and his father spent time with Coach Bret Bielema.
“He seems like a pretty good man,” Wallace Jr. said. “I was impressed with what he had to say. Actually I like him a lot. We had a pretty good conversation.”
The elder Wallace had a similar impression of Bielema.
“He’s a no-nonsense kind of guy,” Brian Wallace Sr. said. “He’s a nice guy. There are some guys that are out there and are no nonsense and they have a little mean streak. I did not see that with him at all. His players like him, and I think that means a lot. That says he’s in their corner.”
Offensive line coach Sam Pittman had four of his former players taken during this year’s NFL draft, including the No. 7 overall pick offensive guard Jonathan Cooper of North Carolina. Wallace got to watch film of the Hogs’ practice with Pittman.
“I thought it was clean,” Wallace Jr. said of the practice. “I thought it was nice. I like his coaching style. He was telling me about being explosive.”
The elder Wallace said he was impressed with the way Arkansas’ Football Academic Counseling program was organized by director Ragean Hill.
“When I walked into the door they already had the information on Brian up,” Wallace Sr. said. “They even spoke of him possibly being able to graduate in 3 1/2 years.”
Wallace Jr. has chosen to play in the U.S. Army All American game in San Antonio, but he was also invited to play in the Semper Fidelis All-American Bowl in Carson, Calif.
The visit helped Arkansas’ chances, Wallace Jr. said.
“Just the environment, the people were friendly,” he said. “It’s just the environment that I like.”
The elder Wallace said he would be comfortable sending his son to Arkansas should he decide to be a Razorback.
“The decision is still up to him,” Wallace Sr. said. “He’s weighing some things right now and given a lot of serious thought. I wouldn’t mind it at all I know he would be well taken care of.”
Wallace’s teammate, defensive lineman Armon Watts, committed to the Hogs Friday evening.
NO OFFER, YET
North Little Rock junior wide receiver K.J. Hill visited Arkansas for Saturday’s scrimmage and liked the balance he saw from the offense.
“I like how they kept everything honest,” Hill said. “The defense had to stay honest with the pass and the run. They didn’t know which was coming.”
Hill, 6-0, 178, 4.5, received an offer from Auburn on July 29 shortly after attending a Tigers camp. He participated in Arkansas’ Prospect Camp in June but was less than 100 percent because of a hip-flexor injury.
Hill said he spent about 15 minutes talking with Coach Bret Bielema.
“He was saying I have to understand the offer situation,” Hill said. “He was telling me it was going to be a long process, just because Auburn offered me he’s just not going to offer me like that. I understand where he’s coming from.”EYE ON HALL
Springdale Har-Ber defensive end Jake Hall is one of the state’s top remaining prospects who could earn an offer from the Hogs.
Hall, 6-5, 230, has scholarship offers from Cincinnati and Louisiana-Monroe. He was one of the standouts at Arkansas’ Prospect Camp in June.
“They said they were really impressed when I went to camp and they would be watching closely the first couple of games,” said Hall, who visited the Hogs on Friday.”They pretty much said that they were impressed at camp and they just want to make sure.”
Email Richard Davenport at [email protected]
Sports, Pages 17 on 08/13/2013