Shortly after Arkansas extended a scholarship offer to linebacker Jordon Williams in late June, he immediately started thinking about visiting Fayetteville.
"I've been talking to my mom ever since then about going," Williams said.
Williams, 6-1, 195, 4.59 seconds in the 40-yard dash, of Houston Jersey Village has 12 others scholarship offers, including Louisville, Utah, Wake Forest, Nevada and Iowa State.
"It's not that far, especially a SEC school," Williams said of Arkansas. "It's a nine-hour drive. It's an eight hour-drive to Odessa, Texas, and that's where my grandmother lives. I figure we can make that drive."
Much of his interest in the Hogs stems from his relationship with his lead recruiter, defensive backs coach Clay Jennings, whom he calls down-to-earth.
"He's not one of those guys that pressures you or anything like that," Williams said. "He knows how to talk to a player. I appreciate everything he's done.
"I will be at Arkansas, if not this summer, but for an official [visit]. Because it's one of those schools I can't pass up. I have to see what it is."
The Hogs are recruiting him to play linebacker.
"Coach Jennings said 'You're two burgers away from being a Will [weakside] backer,' " Williams said. "That could change here or there, but right now they're looking at me as a Will."
Williams, who had 58 tackles, 2 interceptions, 3 recovered fumbles and a forced fumble last year, is an excellent student with a 6.3 grade point average on a 7-point scale.
Hogs make RB's cut
Running back Reggie Gallaspy, who along with his father visited Arkansas on Wednesday and Thursday, announced his top five schools on Twitter Saturday morning and the Hogs made the cut.
"It was great. Loved everything they were able to offer," Gallaspy of the Razorbacks. "Just the fan base and environment. Fans blowing up my social media. Just felt good there."
Gallaspy, 5-11, 215 pounds, 4.5, of Greensboro (N.C.) Southern Guilford had 17 scholarship offers before narrowing his list in no particular order to Arkansas, Vanderbilt, Duke, North Carolina State and Michigan State.
National recruiting analyst Tom Lemming of CBS Sports Network rates Gallaspy a four-star prospect. He rushed 282 times for 1,704 yards and 26 touchdowns as a junior and 1,751 yards and 20 touchdowns on 177 carries as a sophomore.
He was able to hang out with his lead recruiter, running backs coach Joel Thomas who coached him during Thursday's Elite Camp.
"He a real nice guy," Gallaspy said. "I feel like he'll be a second dad to me. He doesn't play when it comes to football, but he'll have his rare silly moments."
Gallaspy said he plans to take his five official visits but indicated things could change and he might make his college decision soon.
Back to Florida
Arkansas linebackers coach Randy Shannon is going after one of south Florida's top prospects, defensive back Sheldrick Redwine.
Redwine, 6-2, 190, 4.49, of Miami Killian, has 25 scholarship offers, including Arkansas, Kentucky, West Virginia, Louisville, South Florida and Rutgers.
Redwine knows well about Shannon who played for and coached the Miami Hurricanes.
"He was a coach down here for awhile," Redwine said. "He's a south Florida guy and that's basically where the best football is."
Redwine committed to the West Virginia in March, but reopened his recruiting in May. He's looking to visit the Hogs during the season.
"I'm going to see if I can visit in the fall for an official," Redwine said. "It's a major football program, a good team and it's SEC and coach Shannon is good in the Miami area."
Redwine's size and speed allow schools to look at him at cornerback or safety.
"He [Shannon] said either one, whichever fits me best," he said.
E-mail Richard Davenport at [email protected]
Sports on 07/27/2014