A former Arkansas player came away impressed with a future Razorback after the two competed against each other recently.
Limbo Parks, the defensive line coach at Lee's Summit (Mo.) West, played offensive guard for Arkansas in 1985-1986 and was an All-Southwest Conference selection.
He and Lee's Summit West defeated Arkansas fullback commitment Hayden Johnson and Columbia (Mo.) Rock Bridge 27-19 on Friday night.
"I knew he was a good player as a junior," Parks said. "He's a better player this year. I like his physicalness, his strength and his motor. He's a high energy kid."
Johnson, 6-3, 245 pounds, 4.8 seconds in the 40-yard dash, plays tight end and defensive end for the Bruins, but he received a scholarship offer from Arkansas as a fullback after attending a summer camp in June.
Parks, who said he often makes return trips to Fayetteville for games and summer camps, met with Johnson for a few minutes after the game.
"I told him, 'You're going to something special. You're going to a special place,' " said Parks, who often returns. "Enjoy the four or five years you're down there.
"Once you're a Razorback, you're always a Razorback."
Johnson said he appreciated Parks taking time to talk to him.
"He was really excited about me going to Arkansas and told me how great of a place it was," Johnson said. "He was just very welcoming. I loved that. He got me excited about it."
Johnson chose the Hogs over more than 20 scholarship offers, including ones from Purdue, Tulsa, Wyoming, Louisiana Tech and Bowling Green in June. He recorded 70 tackles, 12 1/2 sacks and 10 rushing touchdowns as a junior.
Against Lee's Summit West on Friday, he recorded 11 tackles, 1 for loss, and 2 quarterback hurries.
Nebraska and Florida State has extended offers since Johnson's pledge to the Razorbacks, but he maintains he's very much solid to the Hog. He also said Arkansas' 16-12 loss to Toledo in Little Rock on Saturday didn't impact his commitment.
"Not at all. Doesn't affect me at all," Johnson said.
Arkansas hopes Johnson can be the type of physical fullback Kiero Small was before being selected by the Seattle Seahawks in the seventh round of the 2014 NFL Draft.
"I'm just going to try and go in there and get my assignments done," Johnson said. "If I'm able to get the starting position, that would be amazing. But [I'm] just going to go down there and compete for the job. Nothing is really given. I'm going to go down there and give them my physicality and everything I'm hoping to bring to the table."
Johnson said he plans to attend Arkansas' game against Texas Tech in Fayetteville this weekend and will likely take his official visit after his season is completed. He has a 3.92 grade point average and is considering whether to enroll at Arkansas in January or wait until the spring.
"The option is still open for me," Johnson said of an early enrollment.
Parks said he is glad to see his school recruiting Missouri.
"I'm just glad Arkansas is coming to Missouri and plucking some Missouri kids," he said.
Impressive freshman
It's rare to read about a ninth grader in this column, but after seeing Pulaski Robinson offensive-defensive lineman Elliott Harris Jr. on Friday, he's worthy.
Harris, 6-4, 280, moves extremely well for his size and with the right attitude and work ethic, he has a very promising future. He starts on the defensive line and is a backup on the offensive line.
"He's just a natural athlete in everything he does," said Brian Maupin, Pulaski Robinson's linebackers coach and strength and conditioning coach. "We have plans to play him at tight end due to some injuries on the O-line. We had to move him inside just for team needs, but one day he'll be out there catching passes. He just moves so well for his size. ... He has a rare combination."
Elliott's father played defensive end for Arkansas in 2001-2004. He said his father can be tough on him.
"He expects me to ... go hard on every play and not give up, and he keeps pushing me to do extra work," Harris said.
At the same age, he's much bigger than his father who played at 6-4, 260 pounds.
"He told me he was like 5-7 in the ninth grade and he shot up towards the end of the ninth grade became like 6-3," Harris said.
E-mail Richard Davenport at [email protected]
Sports on 09/15/2015