The Arkansas Razorbacks will receive the first official visit of Earle quarterback Gerry Bohanon this weekend when the Hogs take on Coastal Carolina for homecoming Saturday.
Bohanon, 6-4, 215 pounds, narrowed his list of scholarship offers to Arkansas, Mississippi State, Louisville, Ole Miss, Baylor and Georgia in May, but he said Oct. 4 he is receptive to other schools who wish to pursue him.
"I just honestly felt that it was the best decision for me and my future. I want to give everyone an opportunity to recruit me if they want to," Bohanon said.
He's looking forward to spending time with University of Arkansas, Fayetteville Coach Bret Bielema, offensive coordinator Dan Enos and the players during the trip to Fayetteville.
"I want to really spend time with coach Enos and Coach B and also the players," Bohanon said. "I want to get to know them as people, outside of football. If I end up there, I want to know what type of guys I'm going to be playing with and what the program could do for me as a player and as a young man."
ESPN rates Bohanon the No. 8 dual-threat quarterback and the No. 122 overall senior. He has completed 69 of 106 passes for 1,745 yards and 17 touchdowns while rushing for 835 yards and 13 touchdowns on 45 carries this season. He threw for 2,734 yards and rushed for more than 1,000 yards as a junior.
Bohanon knows schools can offer up promises to lure him to campus.
"Honestly, people can say anything to get you to come there, so it would have to be more of them showing me," Bohanon said. "I'd have to feel that they really mean what they say."
In addition to Bielema and Enos, Bohanon talks to tight ends coach Barry Lunney Jr.
The Razorbacks have a commitment from Greenwood quarterback Connor Noland, who has encouraged Bohanon to join the program.
Bohanon offered up several reasons for his desire to visit the Hogs.
"It's my home state," Bohanon said. "I need to visit. They've been on me tough, so I should show them that they're doing a really good job. Plus, I want to spend time with them. I've been looking forward to this visit."
He also plans to set a date to officially visit Baylor, but he hasn't decided which schools will get his other three visits.
Bohanon's maturity on and off the field is evident. He also excels in the classroom, where he has a 3.85 grade-point average. Bohanon credits his upbringing by his parents for his outlook on life.
"Growing up with manners and respect was very important," Bohanon said. "Being respectful and receiving respect helped me mature faster."
He embraces the responsibilities of being a quarterback and team leader.
"For me, leading a group of guys that believe in me and the team and also giving others the opportunity to shine by getting them the ball," Bohanon said. "I kind of feed off of the good of others."
Bohanon said he doesn't have a firm time frame to make his college decision.
"I'll just make my decision whenever it feels right," he said.
Email Richard Davenport at [email protected]
Sports on 10/31/2017