The Recruiting Guy

Dallas running back '100 percent' sold on Hogs

Rawleigh Williams III became Arkansas' 10th commitment for the class of 2015 in June.
Rawleigh Williams III became Arkansas' 10th commitment for the class of 2015 in June.

FAYETTEVILLE -- Arkansas commitment Rawleigh Williams III has plenty of business to take care of this week.

The running back from Dallas Bishop Lynch returned to Fayetteville on Thursday for the Hogs' Elite Camp, but he also wanted to show his mother around campus and continue to recruit others prospects.

Williams, 5-10, 198 pounds, 4.51 seconds in the 40-yard dash, flipped his oral commitment from Ole Miss to Arkansas on June 21 after visiting Fayetteville with his father.

"My mom gets to finally come down and see it," Williams said. "This will be her first time, and I just want to show her why it's such an awesome place."

Since his commitment to the Hogs, Williams has taken it upon himself to recruit other prospects to Arkansas.

"It's great," he said. "Just getting my feet wet. getting to know these guys more before I start to recruit hard."

Williams rushed 143 times for 767 yards and 7 touchdowns and had 26 receptions for 269 yards and 1 touchdown as a junior, even though he missed three games because of an ankle injury.

His sales pitch to others is simple.

"I'll tell them the same thing the coaches told me," Williams said. "It's a win-win-win athletically, academically and socially. I'll just explain the special things we can do together for each other and the state."

Williams has two Arkansans, North Little Rock receiver K.J. Hill and Dumas tight end Will Gragg, on his list of those he wants to reach out to.

"Will has been my boy since last year," he said. "K.J. is a cool dude. I'm trying hard to get him here."

Williams also said the Razorback' coaches bombarded him with handwritten letters shortly after his commitment.

"It was amazing to see 15 real letters from the staff saying different things," Williams said. "It just kind of confirmed the interest I felt they have in me."

He said Duke is still trying to recruit him.

"I've kind let it be known Arkansas is 100 percent where I want to be," Williams said.

FEELS AT HOME

Dallas Skyline safety Kylan Johnson started talking to Arkansas defensive backs coach Clay Jennings in June, and the conversation eventually led to a scholarship offer Tuesday.

Johnson, 6-2, 200, 4.54, has scholarship offers from seven other schools, including UCLA, Wisconsin, Iowa State and Kansas State. He rode up to Fayetteville with Joe Broadnax, a defensive lineman from Dallas Bryan Adams who is orally committed to TCU.

Johnson admitted he was tempted to commit to Arkansas.

"Kind of, yeah," said Johnson, who said he plans to take an official visit to Arkansas. "It kind of feels like home. The coaches treated me well."

Jennings' recruiting approach has been a hit with Johnson.

"We talk about our social life," he said. "What we do every day? We have a good connection. He'll ask how I'm doing. He'll talk to me like we're family, and I like that."

Johnson said he isn't favoring any school and plans to make his decision sometime during the season. He plays quarterback and safety for Skyline but is being recruited as a safety by the Hogs.

"Some say quarterback, because I play quarterback too," Johnson said.

Johnson said he likes the idea of playing in the SEC.

"It would be a lot of competition, and I think it would be good for me," Johnson said. "It would make me a better athlete and a person."

HOW THEY FARED

Fort Smith Northside junior cornerback Kiondre Thomas followed up a strong TCU camp with an impressive showing at Arkansas' camp.

He ran a hand-held time of 4.44 seconds in the 40-yard dash and ran the pro shuttle in 4.11 seconds. Thomas, 6-0, 165, turned in a time of 4.37 seconds in the 40-yard dash at the TCU camp.

Safety McKinley Whitfield of Spiro, Okla., received a scholarship offer from Purdue on Wednesday and has close to 15 offers. He was timed at 4.59 in the 40 at Arkansas' camp and was told the Razorbacks would be in touch with him.

Highland athlete Avery Johnson measured 6-1 and weighed in at 215 pounds. He ran the 40 in 4.65.

LINEBACKER OFFERED

Sophomore linebacker Baron Browning of Kennendale, Texas, received a scholarship offer from Arkansas after an outstanding performance at the camp.

Browning , 6-1, 206, was timed at 4.62 seconds in the 40 and at 4.32 in the pro shuttle.

"It's pretty amazing. It's a good feeling," said Browning, who also has offers from Baylor and Oklahoma State. "I love the stadium. I love everything here."

The offer improved Arkansas' chances with Browning.

"It's up there now, because it's SEC," Browning said.

E-mail Richard Davenport at

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Sports on 07/25/2014

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