Running back switches to UA

BY RICHARD DAVENPORT

Posted on Monday, February 4, 2008

URL: http://www.wholehogsports.com/adg/215800/

Purdue’s loss is Arkansas ’ gain.

Running back / safety Jerico Nelson of Destrehan, La., orally committed to Razorbacks Coach Bobby Petrino on Sunday morning.

Nelson, 5-10, 185, 4. 45 seconds in the 40-yard dash, committed to Purdue on Jan. 21 but said Sunday that he decided he wanted to be closer to home and switched to Arkansas.

“My mom will be able drive to the games now and not have to fly to games,” Nelson said. “I have to call the [Purdue ] coaches and tell them there’s a change of plans. Purdue offered me early playing time just like Arkansas. Also, I like the big conference [SEC ].”

Nelson said host Ernest Mitchell and other Razorback players made him feel right at home during his visit.

“I met a couple of the players and I liked them,” Nelson said. “My host was Ernest Mitchell. It felt like back home with my own players on my high school team. I joked and had fun with them.”

Nelson, who generally is regarded as one of the top 10-15 players in Louisiana, said he had scholarship offers from Florida, Auburn, Purdue, Tennessee, Ole Miss, Louisiana Tech and Memphis.

He said there were several other factors that played into his choosing the Razorbacks over the Boilermakers.

“Everything, the football players,” Nelson said. “I met offensive players and defensive players. We kicked and chilled. I met all the coaches and I saw the facilities. The weight room is 100 yards long.”

Nelson rushed for more than 1, 300 yards and scored 32 touchdowns this past season. His junior year he rushed 164 times for 1, 069 yards and 14 touchdowns. He said Petrino plans to try him out at running back and safety and that he’ll play the position that fits him best.

THOMAS COMMITS TO UA Arkansas won over another committed prospect late Sunday night when athlete Tramain Thomas of Winnie, Texas, switched his commitment from Arizona to the Razorbacks. Thomas, 6-1, 175, 4. 5, made an official visit to Arkansas on Jan. 25, and that convinced him to become a Razorback.

“I actually knew I wanted to be a Razorback when I took the visit, but I told the coaches I was going to sign with them today,” Thomas said. “I liked the coaches, and the facilities were great. It felt like home to me.”

Thomas said Arkansas ’ coaches want him to play cornerback.

“They expect me to come in and play corner,” Thomas said. “Hopefully I’ll get a lot of playing time.”

Defensive end / special teams coordinator Kirk Botkin recruited Thomas.

“I really like Coach Botkin,” Thomas said. “We really have a close relationship right now.”

Arkansas has 21 oral commitments. Oral commitments are nonbinding.

National signing day is Wednesday.