Because more teams are going to the Spread offense and putting more emphasis on the passing game, more and more college recruiters are searching for a “lockdown cornerback” on defense.

The man-to-man coverage skills of Chris Houston, a secondround draft pick of the Atlanta Falcons, allowed Arkansas defensive coordinator Reggie Herring to be more aggressive with his defensive calls last season. Having cornerbacks with such skills allows the front seven to attack more, and safeties can support the run and blitz more frequently.

Arkansas coaches already has oral commitments from two high school cornerbacks — Junior Okpara, 6-1, 175 pounds, 4. 48 seconds in the 40-yard dash, of Sugarland (Texas ) Dulles and Marcal Robinson, 6-0, 168, 4. 45, of Prichard (Ala. ) Vigor — who they believe have the skills to play Herring’s bump-and-run coverage. They hope to add a third cornerback to the 2008 class.

Okpara has been limited this year after having surgery on his middle finger but is expected to play next week for the first time in four weeks.

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Robinson’s ability to play bump-and-run coverage was part of the reason Vigor was ranked sixth in Alabama before losing to Citronelle 26-22 last Friday.

“We match him in man coverage on the other team’s best receiver,” Vigor defensive coordinator Tony Jones said. “For example, this Friday night we play Murphy High School, and he’s covering the guy that got second place in the 100-meter dash last year.”

Robinson also has the intangibles to be successful on the field, Jones said.

“Marcal is a very coachable kid,” he said “He’s football smart, plays intelligent football. He never busts coverage. He’s always going to keep everybody where they’re supposed to be in the secondary.”

Robinson, who is rated the 30 th-best cornerback in the nation, said he likes playing man-toman coverage but admits he gets frustrated when teams go away from him.

“You have to stay focused,” Robinson said. “A lot of people get kind of nervous when they’re over there by themselves, but I like it over there, because when you make a big play, I want everyone to see.”

Jones has been coaching for 20 years and said Robinson is as good as any corner he’s coached. “He’s as good as any of them, and I’ve seen some good ones,” he said. “He’s going to be a great SEC football player.”

BASKETBALL RECRUITING Arkansas’ basketball staff will host three high school prospects on official visits this weekend. They are ESPN Top 150 player Terrance Henry, a 6-9, 185-pound forward from Monroe, (La. ) Carroll; shooting guard Terrico White, 6-5, 190, of Memphis Craigmont; and point guard Courtney Fortson, 5-11, 175, of Patterson, N. C..