Arkansas offensive line target Jake Heinrich and his parents, Don and Gerri Heinrich, visited Fayetteville and Saturday and Sunday, and afterward said they weren't disappointed.
"It was a real good visit," Jake Heinrich said. "I enjoyed meeting a lot of the staff and seeing all of the facilities. Everything is top-notch."
Heinrich, 6-4, 290 pounds, of Urbandale, Iowa, is four-star prospect according to national recruiting analyst Tom Lemming of CBS Sports Network and has 11 scholarship offers, including ones from Arkansas, Iowa State, Louisville, Kansas State, Illinois and California.
A lover of the weight room, he recorded a 380-pound bench press and 575-pound squat last summer.
Heinrich, who said a return visit is a possibility, was called Arkansas' facilities "unbelievable." During the tour, he was able to talk with Razorbacks strength and conditioning coach Ben Herbert.
"Really feel like he's good at developing players not only getting them stronger, but improving their mobility and obviously their performance on the field," Heinrich said. "That's his priority. He seems to do a good job at that."
He and his parents met for about 1 1/2 hours with Razorbacks Coach Bret Bielema.
"He's a really down-to-earth guy," Heinrich said. "He really took a lot of time out to make us feel comfortable."
Don Heinrich said the chance to hear from Arkansas offensive lineman Sebastian Tretola, Frank Ragnow and Dan Skipper was a big hit with the whole family.
"No coaches in the room, we could ask any question we wanted," Don Heinrich said. "Just three great young men. Obviously great football players, but very well spoken, polite, respectful, look you in the eye, shake your hand."
Jake Heinrich said the trip gave Arkansas a boost in his recruitment.
"I would say it definitely helped them out," Heinrich said. "I really don't have a decision date in mind yet, but I really enjoyed the visit."
And a vegetarian
Safety Deon Edwards, a major defensive recruiting priority for Arkansas, came away impressed with the Razorbacks' fan support during his visit to Fayetteville on Friday and Saturday.
"Everywhere you go, you see an Arkansas Razorback shirt," Edwards said. "It's like that's the only thing they have in their closet."
Edwards, 6-1, 195, of Clermont (Fla.) Lake Minneola, has 13 scholarship offers, including ones from Arkansas, South Carolina, Missouri, Louisville, North Carolina State and South Florida.
"They are a family and most teams can't say they are a family, but this seems actually like a family," Edwards said. "I love that about Arkansas."
He recorded 112 tackles, 8 interceptions, 2 sacks and a forced fumble over the past two seasons. He has also visited Missouri and Florida.
"I plan on taking a couple of more visits, but Arkansas has really caught my attention," Edwards said.
Defensive coordinator Robb Smith is Edwards' lead recruiter at Arkansas and has made a strong bond.
"He acts like I am family already and I am not even here yet," Edwards said. "So that caught my attention and lets me know that if something goes wrong, I can go to Coach Smith."
Lake Minneola defensive coordinator McKinley Rowe also made the trip and said Edwards is all for being the best.
"He wants to be great," Rowe said. "A lot of those kids talk about it, but Deon lives it. He's a vegetarian. Everything he does as far as his body is to take care of it. He is very, very focused on his future."
Scary stuff
There has been much talk about Arkansas needing a basketball practice facility. Nearly completed, the facility appears to be worth it.
Center Willy Kouassi made an official visit to Fayetteville over the weekend with his guardian Darien Knox, and they said they liked what they saw.
"What blew us away was the practice facility," said Knox, who is the general manager and coach of the Team Alabama CBA spring and summer basketball team. "I've been around the whole SEC, and that has to be the tops in the country."
Kouassi, 6-10 1/2, 233 pounds, has been granted a release from Kennesaw State in Georgia. He is expected to graduate in July with a degree in integrated studies and will have immediate eligibility for next season.
They arrived Friday, the same day Wal-Mart wrapped up its annual share holders meeting.
"That impressed us," Knox said. "We forgot how big influence Wal-Mart has on the area."
Kouassi and Razorbacks forward JaCorey Williams were previously teammates at Central Park Christian Academy in Birmingham, Ala.
"It was great, an A-plus on the visit," Knox said. "Willy really got a chance to bond with the players. He and JaCorey hit it off."
Knox praised Razorbacks Coach Mike Anderson and his staff.
"That's one of the best staffs I've every been around," Knox said. "Just humble, down-to-earth."
Kouassi, who previously visited North Texas and Western Kentucky, will visit Brigham Young this weekend and will decide between the Hogs and Cougars after the trip.
"I would definitely say Arkansas is leading the pack," Knox said.
Knox, Kouassi and Arkansas assistant coach T.J. Cleveland were walking on Dickson Street in Fayetteville and came upon a group of Hogs fans.
"People read the paper, so they knew who he was," Knox said. "The fans called the Hogs for us. Scared the hell out of us."
E-mail Richard Davenport at [email protected]
Sports on 06/09/2015