The recruiting guy

'Crazy' fans impress Omotosho

Arkansas running back coach Jemal Singleton works with the running backs during practice Tuesday, April 7, 2015, at Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville.
Arkansas running back coach Jemal Singleton works with the running backs during practice Tuesday, April 7, 2015, at Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville.

Arkansas fans made a big impact on receiver Audie Omotosho during his visit for the Hogs' spring game on Saturday.

"I honestly think Arkansas has the craziest fan base," Omotosho said. "Crazy in a good way because they're supportive, they're out there watching football and that's kind of what it's all about."

Omotosho, 6-2, 190, 4.56 seconds in the 40-yard dash, of Plano East High School in Texas, was offered a scholarship by Coach Bret Bielema before the Red-White game.

Omotosho said he also has offers from schools like Houston, Texas Tech, Washington, Iowa, Kansas and Boston College, a total of 15 counting Arkansas.

The offer has given the Razorbacks a good chance of landing a commitment from Omotosho.

"Very high, they have the new offensive coordinator and they throw the ball more than even I expected," Omotosho said. "It's a great offense to be in and a great place to be. That's why I'm putting Arkansas pretty high on my list."

Omotosho, who caught 31 passes for 582 yards and 4 touchdowns as a junior, said he doesn't have a firm timeframe for a decision.

"As of right now, I'm thinking about after my senior season, but it could be earlier," he said.

The visit allowed Omotosho to spend time with receivers coach Michael Smith and his lead recruiter, running backs coach Jemal Singleton.

"I talked to him for the first time and I automatically felt that bond," Omotosho said of Smith. "I'm really looking forward to building that relationship with him

He also got a good vibe with Singleton.

"I automatically felt like I was at home and felt that relationship coming," Omotosho said.

HINES HAS FINE TIME

Highly recruited sophomore linebacker Anthony Hines III visited Fayetteville on Saturday and was impressed by the way he was treated when he arrived.

"First off, it was really cool how I literally just walked inside the athletic facility and one of the recruiting people took me straight and directly to Coach Bielema's office," Hines said. "I visited with him for about 30 to 40 minutes."

Hines, 6-3, 225, 4.52, from Plano East High School in Texas, has received 67 scholarship offers, including offers from Arkansas, Ohio State, Oklahoma, LSU, Michigan and Notre Dame.

Coach Bret Bielema offered Hines a scholarship more than a year ago during a Jan. 14 visit to Fayetteville when Hines had a chance to watch the Arkansas basketball team beat Kentucky.

Hines said Bielema wanted him to commit on Saturday.

"Although it's an awesome place, I have to put a lot of thought into something like that," Hines said. "Plus, I'm not planning on committing at this point."

Arkansas linebackers coach Vernon Hargreaves has been in communication with Hines for a while.

"When he was at Houston he recruited me there," Hines said.

Running backs coach Jemal Singleton is Hines' area recruiter now and Singleton made sure to get Hines' attention as he and his father were escorted around campus in a golf cart.

"I was driving in the cart passing him on the field and he just started screaming Anthony," said Hines, who has a 3.6 grade point average. "That also contributed to the atmosphere."

Former Razorbacks quarterback Greg Thomas, who lettered from 1984 to 1987, works in Plano East's student and family service department and is also an assistant basketball coach.

"He always says Woo Pig every time he sees me," Hines said.

VISIT SOLIDIFIES COMMITMENT

Defensive lineman Briston Guidry, who orally committed to Arkansas April 11, was able to get a better look at his future school after visiting over the weekend.

Guidry, 6-3, 287, 4.80 seconds in the 40-yard dash, of Metairie (La.) Rummel, also has scholarship offers from schools like LSU, Alabama, Ole Miss and Texas A&M.

Guidry had visited Fayetteville two times before while accompanying former Rummel teammates Henre' Toliver and Dwayne Eugene, both of whom signed with Arkansas in 2014.

"It was good to get up there to get to know the coaches better and getting to see the facilities," he said.

He has visited Alabama, LSU, Texas A&M and Ole Miss, but said the facilities at Arkansas are the best.

"I have to still say Arkansas probably has the best facilities in the SEC that I've seen so far," Guidry said.

Razorbacks fans also made the trip a successful one.

"This is probably the best fan base ever," Guidry said. "That was the most love from fans that I've ever seen."

Guidry made the trip with teammate Kristian Fulton, a high recruited cornerback who plans to make a return trip.

"I just had a good time," Fulton said. "The fans there were great. They welcomed me. They treat you like you're already like one of the them. The coaching staff is real cool."

Fulton, 6-0, 172 pounds, has scholarship offers from Arkansas, LSU, Tennessee, Ole Miss, Miami, Texas A&M and others. ESPN rates him as the nation's No. 3 cornerback and No. 31 overall prospect.

"I think they will get another visit," Fulton said. "I really like it up there. So I will be back. They'll be in my top five."

He said he didn't expect Arkansas to be so nice.

"It exceeded from what I heard," Fulton said.

E-mail Richard Davenport at [email protected]

Sports on 04/28/2015

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