The Recruiting Guy

Georgia lineman shows interest in Razorbacks

Arkansas defensive line coach Rory Segrest directs his players during practice Thursday, March 20, 2014, at the UA practice field in Fayetteville.
Arkansas defensive line coach Rory Segrest directs his players during practice Thursday, March 20, 2014, at the UA practice field in Fayetteville.

Arkansas defensive line coach Rory Segrest made a couple of stops to Cedar Grove High School in Ellenwood, Ga., during the contact period in December and January.

The visits impressed highly recruited defensive lineman Antwuan Jackson.

"He came at least twice during that time, so I knew then Arkansas had a lot of interest," Jackson said.

Jackson, 6-3, 285 pounds, 4.9 seconds in the 40-yard dash, has scholarship offers from 31 schools, including all the SEC members as well as Miami, Florida State, Ohio State and Notre Dame.

He and Segrest have been communicating by direct messages on Twitter and Jackson plans to visit Fayetteville.

"He said he wants to get me down to Arkansas as a soon as I can and see what Arkansas is about," Jackson said. "Most likely it will be the spring or summer."

Jackson recorded a team-high 75 tackles along with 10 sacks and 30 tackles for loss this past season while also rushing for 4 touchdowns as a fullback. He is the nation's No. 10 defensive tackle and the No. 73 overall prospect in the nation according to ESPN.

Jackson played both ways as a sophomore and as a junior.

"A lot of people don't know he plays both ways and he does not come off the field," said Chris Hill, a Cedar Grove assistant and recruiting coordinator. "He's come off for a couple of special teams, but that's it."

Hill said Jackson is equally effective on the offensive line.

"You could make an offensive tape and it would be better than a lot of people's films," Hill said.

Jackson took note of Arkansas winning three of its last four games last season.

"They should've won that Missouri game," said Jackson, who has a 275-pound bench press and 415-pound squat. "That's what I was looking at too."

He said he was impressed with Arkansas' improvement on defense.

"The defensive coaches did a great job this season and the players were buying into the program," Jackson said.

Jackson said building a relationship with Segrest came easy.

"He's a great coach,"Jackson said. "He's very cool. The first talk we had just had a connection. I just think he's a good person."

SOPHOMORE IMPRESSING

Parkers Chapel running back Dezmon Jackson is one of the top sophomores in the state and should receive his share of scholarship offers.

Jackson, 6-0, 205, 4.56, improved his production as a sophomore and had 201 carries for 1,534 yards and 25 touchdowns compared to 820 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns in 6 games as a freshman.

"It was like night and day," Parkers Chapel Coach James Housdan said. "He had a good freshman year but had a couple of minor injuries. This past year he almost doubled his rushing yards and doubled his touchdowns."

Jackson was the most impressive running back at Arkansas' Elite Camp last June.

Arkansas tight ends coach Barry Lunney Jr. visited the school during the contact period in December and January and spoke highly of Jackson, Housdan said.

"He said of all the kids they had at that camp, he definitely stood out to him as far as instincts and the footwork," Housdan said. "Just the quickness of getting up in there and making his cuts, he was by far the one that impressed them. They're keeping tabs on him."

Jackson placed 108th out of 1,288 athletes last March at the Houston Nike SPARQ Combine while competing against upperclassmen. Only one other freshman scored higher.

Former Arkansas running backs coach Joel Thomas told Jackson during Arkansas' Elite Camp that he needed to improve his upper body strength.

"Dezmon has made a commitment to the weight room this year and getting bigger to help his body take the pounding," Housdan said. ""He was a workhorse for us this year and kind of took a beating,"

Jackson also is drawing interest from Louisville, Michigan, Nebraska, Louisiana Tech, Memphis and Arkansas State.

Housdan has been coaching for 15 years and said Jackson is a unique talent.

"As a pure athlete and running back, a guy that can catch and run with the ball and great instincts," Housdan said. "He's the best I've coached."

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Sports on 03/01/2015

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