Storey headed to Hogs

Charleston junior quarterback Ty Storey, who committed to Arkansas on Tuesday, is now recruiting for the Hogs.

Charleston junior quarterback Ty Storey, who committed to Arkansas on Tuesday, is now recruiting for the Hogs.

Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Quarterback Ty Storey wasn’t interested in letting the recruiting process drag out, so he decided to follow his heart to Fayetteville.

Storey, a junior from Charleston, received a scholarship offer from Arkansas on June 14, and he called Coach Bret Bielema and offensive coordinator Jim Chaney on Monday night to tell them that he was orally committing to the Razorbacks. Storey went public with his pledge about 11:30 a.m. Tuesday.

“I just feel real comfortable in Fayetteville,” said Storey, who was the the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette’s co-Sophomore Offensive Player of Year last season after shattering every passing record at Class 3ACharleston. “I just feel like that’s where my heart is.”

Storey, 6-3, 217 pounds, 4.92 seconds in the 40-yard dash, chose Arkansas over scholarship offers from Alabama, Auburn, Arkansas State and a host of other schools that were showing interest. He received offers from Alabama and Auburn after participating in their camps, and his showing at Arkansas’ prospect camp June 10 led to an offer from the Razorbacks..

Storey said Bielema and the rest of Arkansas’ coaching staff were a primary reason for his commitment.

“They really reached out to me and really helped me through this whole process on and off the field,” Storey said.

Storey completed 328 of 503 passes for 4,397 yards and 46 touchdowns last season while leading Charleston to a 9-3 record, despite playing much of the season on an injured knee.

Rhett Lashlee of Shiloh Christian, who threw for 4,546 yards in 1999, is the only quarterback to throw for more yardage as a sophomore in Arkansas.

CBS Sports Network national recruiting analyst Tom Lemming, who has covered the national recruiting scene for more than 30 years, named Storey to his sophomore All-America team in November. Lemming said he was particularly impressed with Storey’s arm strength, running skills, leadership ability, courage in the pocket and ability to throw on the run.

“He does all that stuff,” Lemming said. “It’s one thing to look like the position, but it’s another thing to play like it.”

Storey said it felt good to get his decision out of the way.

“I’m just ready to get back to work with my team and and obviously get to work on winning championships down here first,” Storey said.

Bielema had just returned from a trip when he received the call from Storey.

“He said he just got off the plane and it was great to hear great recruiting news,” Storey said. “So he was ready to go.”

Lemming rates Storey as a four-star recruit but said that could change.

“He could be a four-plus guy after I watch him early this season,” Lemming said. “He’s a legit national type of recruit.”

Storey is Arkansas’ first commitment for the 2015 class. Oral commitments are nonbinding.

Sports, Pages 19 on 06/26/2013