Arkansas has received eight commitments since last Sunday, and the Hogs are eager to add receiver Jared Cornelius to the list. He was one of about 80 prospects who attended the Hogs’ Elite camp on Friday.
Cornelius, 6-1, 190 pounds, of Shreveport Evangel Christian, has eight scholarship offers, including ones from Arkansas, Tennessee, San Diego State and Missouri, which offered him on Friday.
“I like them,” Cornelius said of the Hogs. “They’re at the top right now. Mizzou just entered the mix and Auburn.”
During the 1-on-1 session of the camp, Cornelius easily got off the line during press coverage and showed exceptional quickness and speed to create separation while running routes. He believes receivers coach Michael Smith will look out for him if he becomes a Hog.
“Coach Smith seems like he’s relatable,” Cornelius said. “He seems like he’ll take care of me. That’s what you look for. Just don’t want to go somewhere for the football side of it. This is where you become a man and I feel like coach Smith is capable of doing that.”
Cornelius was a busy man as junior with 90 receptions for 1,585 yards and 18 touchdowns. He gave himself a mixed grade for his performance at the camp.
“I felt like I did pretty well in the 1-on-1 press,” Cornelius said. “I didn’t really get touched that much I think I can work on the top of my routes more and get separation.”
RAMIREZ IMPRESSES
One of the more impressive cornerbacks at the Elite Camp was Santos Ramirez.
Ramirez, 6-2, 180 pounds, 4.55 in the 40-yard dash, of Shreveport Evangel, reports scholarship offers from LSU, Arkansas, Texas, Memphis, Southern Miss and Tulane. He said he liked being taught by cornerbacks coach Taver Johnson.
“He’s a great coach,” Ramirez said. “He’s active with us. He really cares. If we mess up he make us do it again.”
When it comes to picking a school, Ramirez said he’s looking for a family type atmosphere and a school close to home.
“The kind of program I can fit into and I can fit the scheme and academics,” he said.
His trip to Arkansas impressed him.
“I like it, SEC country,” Ramirez said. “The facilities are great and the coaches are great. They care about the players. The stadium was awesome. ... When it’s filled, it’s like a great atmosphere. I’ve seen one of their games and I can’t imagine being down on the field.”
Ramirez said he isn’t sure when he’ll make a decision but mentioned sometime during his senior season as a possibility. Arkansas and LSU are his top two schools.
OHIO CB MAKES VISIT
Cornerback Nick Johnson traveled about 14 hours from Canton, Ohio, in hopes of earning a scholarship offer from Arkansas.
Johnson, 6-0, 173, 4.40 seconds in the 40-yard dash, of Canton (Ohio) Timken, has scholarship offers from Bowling Green, Youngstown State and others. During 1-on-1 work against receivers he showed very good coverage skills while intercepting two passes.
Visiting Arkansas seemed to be in the cards for Johnson because graduate assistant Nick Caley recruited him at Eastern Illinois before arriving in Fayetteville.
“He’s been recruiting since I was about 14,” said Johnson, who recorded his 40 time at the camp. “He’s one of those coaches that tells you how it is and just doesn’t tell you anything and that’s what I look for in a coach.”
TEXAS LINEMAN OFFERED
Arkansas offered a scholarship to junior offensive lineman Keaton Sutherland, 6-5, 260, 5.13 seconds in the 40-yard dash, of Flower Mound (Texas) Marcus. He attended Arkansas’ Elite Camp on Saturday but didn’t work out and received the good news from Coach Bret Bielema later in the day. He also has an offer from TCU.
He said the Hogs are in the lead for him but isn’t sure about a time frame in making a decision. He has two brothers who attend Arkansas.
TOUGH DECISION FOR LAMIN
Arkansas hosted heavily recruited junior college defensive lineman Abu Lamin this week for an official visit.
Lamin, 6-4, 300, 4.95 seconds in the 40-yard dash, of Fort Scott Community College in Kansas officially visited Florida and South Carolina before arriving at Arkansas on Thursday.
“The decision I’ll have to make is going to be a tough one but all I know Arkansas is definitely, definitely one of those schools I’m thinking about every day, every morning that I wake up,” Lamin said.
Cornerback Kweishi Brown of Grossmont Community College in California committed to the Hogs on Thursday while on his visit.
Offensive tackle Jermaine Eluemunor, 6-5½, 315 of Lackawanna (Scranton, Pa.) Community College said on Twitter that he had an awesome visit and will have a final decision soon.
E-mail Richard Davenport at [email protected]
Sports, Pages 31 on 07/21/2013