The Recruiting Guy

Big ole Utah lineman interested in Razorbacks

Arkansas offensive line coach Sam Pittman instructs his players during an Aug. 31, 2013 game against Louisiana-Lafayette at Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville.
Arkansas offensive line coach Sam Pittman instructs his players during an Aug. 31, 2013 game against Louisiana-Lafayette at Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville.

Arkansas is in the running for one of the more highly regarded offensive tackles who has played in the junior college ranks in recent years.

Garett Bolles of Snow College in Ephraim, Utah, is closing in on 20 scholarship offers from schools that include Arkansas, Alabama, Florida State, Auburn, Oregon, Nebraska and Oklahoma.

What makes Bolles -- 6-5, 303 pounds, 4.87 seconds in the 40-yard dash -- even more intriguing is last season was his first to play on the offensive line after arriving from Westlake High School in Lehi, Utah.

"Through high school he was a big lacrosse player," said Snow College offensive line coach Rafe Maughan, noting that Bolles weighed 270 in high school. "He played a lot of outside back and defensive end. He didn't quite make it over to the offensive line.

"When he came to us he was more like what are we going to do. I said, 'You have a big ole frame. I've got a place for you. Come here.' "

Maughan said Bolles' work ethic and desire to learn the new position make him special.

"The way he work outs day in and day out and the attention to detail, that's the thing that blew me away from Day 1," Maughan said. "He's only played this position one year. He's kind of like sponge to everything you put in. He makes big strides daily."

Arkansas offensive line coach Sam Pittman visited the school this spring and has developed a good relationship with Bolles, who is a major target of the Razorbacks.

Maughan said Bolles appreciated Pittman coming to watch him.

"Another side of it," Maughan said, "just their conversations on the phone, he said he gets along with him real well."

Bolles was committed to Brigham Young University but recently reopened his recruiting.

"I think he likes the idea of heading South to play, and he's just a big relationship guy," Maughan said. "Wherever he feels the most connected with the coaching staff, the program, the community there, that's where he's going to be."

Maughan said Arkansas' program interests Bolles.

"I think they're definitely in the mix," Maughan said. "He's a big fan of the coaching staff."

The Razorbacks are also in the mix to receive a visit.

"He hasn't narrowed it down to his five necessarily," Maughan said. "He's got a good handful of schools that's really high up there. Like I said, playing in the conference they play in and the ability to play on that stage, of course Arkansas is going to be in the discussion."

Bolles, a Mormon, went on a mission before enrolling at Snow Collage. Maughan said he believes Bolles might like the opportunity to go outside his comfort zone to an area that doesn't necessarily have a large Mormon population.

"He just likes the idea of being able to go and have people see it's not a weird thing to be a Mormon," Maughan said. "He's not by any means going to go preach to anybody, but just by the way he lives his life. He feels like he could be a good example for people out here in this state to get out and kind of venture out a little bit."

SPEEDY RECEIVER INTERESTED

One of the nation's best playmaking receivers is interested in the Razorbacks.

Devin Duvernay, of Sachse, Texas, has more than 40 scholarship offers from schools like Arkansas, Texas, Texas A&M, Ohio State, Alabama, Michigan, Oklahoma and Oregon.

Duvernay, 5-11, 193, was electronically timed at 4.38 seconds in the 40-yard dash at the Dallas Nike Combine in March. This spring he has a best of 10.42 seconds in the 100 meters.

"I've seen kids that could really run and you start throwing the ball out there to them and they'll drop one or two a game when they're wide open," Sachse Coach Red Behrens said. "Devin, he doesn't drop."

Duvernay is being recruited by Arkansas running backs coach Jemal Singleton and talked to Razorbacks defensive end prospect McTelvin Agim of Hope about the Razorbacks and has heard good reviews about the program.

"They're still on the list. All of my options are still wide open right now," said Duvernay, who also hopes to run track in college. "The interest is there, and I'm still considering them and I'm still looking into them more."

Duvernay's off-the-field makeup is as impressive as his speed. He is a member of the Garland School District Superintendent's Student Advisory Council that meets about every two months.

"They always have a couple of high-character kids that do real well out of each school and he's one that represents us," Behrens said.

Duvernay said he enjoys being a part of a council that has the ability to create change within the district.

"We pretty much get to voice our opinion," Duvernay said.

He said he plans to narrow his list before the season and hopes to have a decision near the end of his season.

Duvernay isn't one to demand the spotlight.

"He's not a big glitz guy and all of that," Behrens said. "I like to sit there and enjoy our talks together. It's easy to talk to the young man."

E-mail Richard Davenport at

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Sports on 05/17/2015

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