The Recruiting Guy

Texas lineman likes Razorbacks' bruising offense

Arkansas associate head coach Sam Pittman during media day Sunday, Aug. 11, 2013 at the Fred W. Smith Football Center in Fayetteville.
Arkansas associate head coach Sam Pittman during media day Sunday, Aug. 11, 2013 at the Fred W. Smith Football Center in Fayetteville.

Kellen Diesch of Trophy Club (Texas) Byron Nelson is one of the more athletic offensive linemen in the nation and is high on Arkansas' wish list.

He and seven other top junior prospects visited the Hogs on Saturday, and Diesch gave his visit a big thumbs-up after spending time with offensive line coach Sam Pittman.

"It was great," Diesch said. "I was the only O-lineman there, so Coach Pittman could spend his time with me."

Diesch visited Texas, Tennessee, Oklahoma State, Baylor and Oklahoma before his Fayetteville trip.

"It's probably the best junior day I've been to so far," Diesch said of Arkansas.

Diesch, 6-7, 275 pounds, 4.87 seconds in the 40-yard dash, has approximately 15 scholarship offers from schools that include Arkansas, Texas, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Baylor and Oklahoma State.

Arkansas strength and conditioning coach Ben Herbert made a strong impression on Diesch.

"He helped J.J. Watt gain a bunch of weight," Diesch said. "He could put a lot of weight on me, good weight so I can maintain my speed."

National recruiting analysts Tom Lemming of CBS Sports Network said Diesch has great potential and is the type of lineman the Hogs like to develop.

"They love the guys with the length, which he has, along with the long arms and the athletic ability," Lemming said.

Diesch said the Hogs are in good shape with him.

"They're probably in the top three," Diesch said. "I just really like them. I just like Coach Pittman and the coaching staff."

Arkansas' physical style of play on offense is a big hit.

"They run the ball down people's throats," Diesch said. "The Texas game, they just dominated up front. I just love the way they play physical and just pound the ball."

Diesch said he hopes to make his college decision before his team starts spring practice April 27.

LINEBACKER LIKES UA

One of Arkansas' top targets at linebacker, Jordan Carmouche of Manvel, Texas, made his third visit to Arkansas on Saturday with his parents.

"It was great, just the connections with the coaches," Carmouche said. "They showed a lot of love."

Carmouche, 6-1, 218, 4.6, has approximately 16 scholarship offers from schools that include Arkansas, Texas, Oklahoma, Baylor, Texas Tech, Missouri and Colorado.

He was able to catch up with Arkansas linebackers coach Vernon Hargreaves, who recruited him while at Houston.

"We have a great and close relationship," Carmouche said.

National recruiting analyst Tom Lemming of CBS Sports Network rates Carmouche a four-star prospect after evaluating him and talking to Manvel Coach Kirk Martin.

"He's a guy I really trust," Lemming said of Martin. "He only brings guys that he really believes are true blue chippers to meet me every year, and he really praised Jordan. He said he's an intense guy that's quick to the ball and a hard-hitting guy that wraps up well. He plays the game on his feet and can make plays from sideline to sideline."

Carmouche recorded 57 tackles, 6 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, 1 quarterback hurry, 1 interception, 4 pass breakups and recovered 1 fumble as a junior.

He also met with Coach Bret Bielema during his visit.

"He really wants me and thinks I could be a great player," Carmouche said.

SPARQ-ING ATTENTION

Bryant junior defensive lineman Cameron Murray will return Saturday to AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, to take part in the Nike SPARQ Football Combine.

It's the same place he had a good showing last year in his first ever combine.

Murray, 6-2, 285 pounds, recorded an 86.19 SPARQ rating. He was electronically timed at 5.03 seconds in the 40-yard dash and at 4.55 seconds in the pro-shuttle and turned in a vertical leap of 25.4 inches.

His performance was eighth-best among linemen and second-best among the 2016 linemen.

"I was super surprised because I really didn't prepare much last year," Murray said.

Murray reports offers from Arkansas State, Louisiana Tech and North Texas and is drawing interest from Arkansas and others. Several other in-state athletes are expected to participate in the combine.

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Sports on 03/13/2015

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