Highly-recruited receiver Malachi Dupre, who reports more than 50 scholarship offers, is a major Arkansas prospect and is being recruited by his second cousin, Razorbacks receivers coach Michael Smith.
“That’s my family, that’s my cousin,” Dupre said. “Iknow he was a great player himself. We already have a great relationship already because that’s my family and, besides that, I know he’s a good coach. Him recruiting me is a different situation because he’s family.”
Dupre, 6-3, 192, 4.4 seconds in the 40-yard dash, of River Ridge (La.) John Curtis, has schools like Arkansas, LSU, Miami, UCLA, Michigan, Notre Dame and others on his offer list.
“They’re def initely a school I have interest in.” said Dupre, whose mother is first cousins with Smith’s mother. “I know they have great facilities and they’ve had some great receivers and they have a high-power offense. They’ve been known to have great quarterbacks and receivers. That’s a plus.”
Dupre made the most of his 36 receptions as a junior by gaining 816 yards for an average of more than 22 yards per catch and 15 touchdowns.
National recruiting analyst Tom Lemming of CBS Sports Network said he believes Dupre will make a major impact as a freshman.
“He’s got height, length real good speed,” Lemming said.
“He’s one of the premier wide receivers in the country. If Arkansas can get him, I think he would immediately be thrown into the mix as their go-to guy. He’s that talented.”
Dupre and three other highly touted teammates, linebacker Kenny Young, defensive backs Terrence Alexander and Mattrell McGraw, are looking to visit Fayetteville in the near future.
“That’s the plan this summer when we have time,” said Dupre, who reports a 3.5 grade point average and is considering sports management as a possible major.
“Probably in the next few weeks we’ll start taking some trips and Arkansas will be in there somewhere.”
Dupre downplayed being related to Smith and noted he has connections with other college coaches for several reasons, including friendships his father has accumulated through the years.
“I’ve had a lot of people that taught me things whenI was younger that are now head coaches and now are position coaches,” he said.
Dupre’s talent has allowed him to accept an invite to participate in “The Opening,” an event that features 150 of the top prospects in the nation at Nike Headquarters in Oregon this summer and play in the Under Armour All-American game on Jan. 2 at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla.
Linebacker interested
The linebacker position is one of need at Arkansas and the Hogs are in the early stages of recruiting Jimmie Swain in hopes of having him in Fayetteville in the future.
Swain, 6-3, 230, 4.51, of Lee’s Summit, Mo., has seen his lead recruiter, offensive coordinator and quarterback coach Jim Chaney, visit his school along with defensive coordinator Chris Ash.
“I do have interest in Arkansas,” Swain said. “But I think it could be higher onceI get more information on everything.”
Sam M. Walton College of Business, ranked 26th in the nation by U.S. News & World Report among the nation’s public undergraduate business schools, could help the Hogs in their pursuit of Swain.
He’s looking to major in business administration with hopes of a double major in marketing.
“I would like to do a little bit of marketing for advertising companies and invest wisely in stocks and everything like that,” said Swain, who reports a 3.4 GPA. “But also maybe buy some small franchises establishments, like a Subway or something like that, because those always create revenue in a busy area.”
As a sophomore, Swain participated in the 200 and400 meters while also running legs in the 800- and 1,600-meter relays.
“I think my best time in the 400 was [50 seconds],” he said.
UA on list
On Sunday, running back Daniel Gresham said Arkansas would be one the schools to make his top five list.
The former Texas commitment hasn’t released the names of the other four schools.
Gresham, 5-10, 228, 4.5, of Fort Worth All Saints Episcopal said in Friday’s Arkansas Democrat-Gazette that he was primarily looking at Arkansas, Tennessee, Miami, Florida State, Alabama, Louisville, Mississippi and Auburn.
E-mail Richard Davenport at [email protected]
Sports, Pages 24 on 05/21/2013