The Recruiting Guy

Arkansas a nice surprise for Alabama linebacker

Arkansas linebackers coach Vernon Hargreaves speaks to reporters on Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2015, at the Fred W. Smith Center in Fayetteville.
Arkansas linebackers coach Vernon Hargreaves speaks to reporters on Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2015, at the Fred W. Smith Center in Fayetteville.

Linebacker Erroll Thompson of Florence, Ala., visited Arkansas for last year's Alabama game, and he plans to make return trips after receiving a scholarship offer from the Hogs about two weeks ago.

"I'm pretty sure there in the springtime or this summer, for sure this summer," Thompson said. "I'll be attending numerous games up there."

Thompson, 6-2, 255, 4.72 seconds in the 40 yard dash, has more than 10 scholarship offers from schools that include Alabama, Mississippi State, Tennessee, Kentucky, Michigan and Louisville.

He came away surprised by what he encountered during his visit to Fayetteville.

"Arkansas has really nice facilities," Thompson said. "What really stood out to me was the coaching staff was pretty hands-on. They were pretty cool, and the stadium was really nice. The campus was really nice. It was nice college town."

The Hogs are recruiting Thompson to play inside linebacker, but that's not all.

"Kind of like a hybrid, an inside guy that can walk down on third down and play the end and rush the passer," he said.

Thompson, who has a 310-pound bench press and 475-pound squat, has been voted a team captain for next season.

"I've been playing varsity football since the ninth grade," Thompson said. "I had to become a a young man pretty quick, so I've been leading ever since then."

He said his parents, Erroll Sr. and LaMonica, have given him a solid foundation.

"They taught me when I was younger that there's always someone watching," Thompson said. "For every action there's a reaction. Everything you do is being watched by somebody, so always be on your best behavior and treat everybody how you want to be treated."

One of defensive line coach Rory Segrest's recruiting areas includes Alabama.

"He's really cool," Thompson said. "We've been talking about every day since the offer. From what he's talking, he's fired up with me and I'm fired up about him. He's a really down-to-earth guy, a family guy."

His time frame for a decision is a moving target.

"I said before my senior season, but I'm just playing it day by day and week by week," Thompson said. "If not before my senior season sometime during or after. If not, signing day."

Thompson admits he is fond of Arkansas.

"I won't say I have a top [school] right now, but Arkansas has caught my eye really hard," Thompson said. "People wouldn't think they would because it's Arkansas, but I love Arkansas."

LINEMAN LOVE

Scott Lashley knew all about Arkansas prior to receiving a scholarship offer from the Razorbacks on Wednesday.

The offensive lineman from West Point, Miss., shared his impression of the Razorbacks program April 9 in a simple post on Twitter: "University of Arkansas #OLINEHEAVEN"

Lashley, 6-7, 305, 5.0, is closing in on 20 scholarship offers from schools that include Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Alabama, Georgia, Florida State and South Carolina.

Arkansas offensive line coach Sam Pittman's track record of sending linemen to the NFL is a big reason for Lashley's enthusiasm.

"He's coached like 17, 18 or 19 pro offensive linemen," Lashley said.

Arkansas Coach Bret Bielema likes to recruit young men who exhibit good character and the work ethic to excel, and West Point Coach Chris Chambless said Lashley fits that profile.

"Whoever gets him will get a good person, a good character kid," Chambless said. "He's a kid that's very coachable and willing to learn things and work hard to help a team accomplish a goal."

After receiving the offer from the Hogs, Lashley shared his excitement on Twitter: "Arkansas just offered Dreams do come true #blessed #17."

"Getting an offer from what people say is one of the best offensive line groups and one of the best offensive line coaches was a very exciting moment for me," Lashley said.

He and his mother, Amy, plan to visit Fayetteville.

"I have to sit down and talk to my mother," Lashley said. "Hopefully I can get there this summer."

Lashley said he doesn't know when he'll announce his college choice.

"I have to get my mom to go to different places," Lashley said. "She's only been to LSU with me, and I've visited a few more places other than LSU. She's a busy lady because she owns her own barbecue place."

E-mail Richard Davenport at

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Sports on 04/19/2015

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