When Arkansas hosted one of the nation's top running backs, Ronnie Wingo Jr., on an unofficial visit June 19, his father also made the trip to Fayetteville, a venture the elder Wingo almost made about 17 years ago.

Wingo Sr. was a two-time allstate cornerback at Sumner High School in St. Louis in 1989-1990 and considered being a Razorback but ended up signing with Michigan State in 1991.

"I actually was supposed to visit Arkansas, but after I visited Michigan State, I committed," Wingo said.

Wingo did not visit or sign with Arkansas back then, but the Razorbacks have a legitimate chance at landing his talented son.

Ronnie Wingo Jr., 6-3, 212 pounds, 4. 41 seconds in the 40-yard dash, of St. Louis University High School, has 12 scholarship offers, including invites from Arkansas, Nebraska, Alabama, Oklahoma, Missouri and Tennessee. He rushed for more than 1, 500 yards and 17 touchdowns as a junior, and as a sophomore rushed for 1, 475 yards and 11 touchdowns.

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Father and son were impressed by coaches at Arkansas.

"The coaching staff was first class," the elder Wingo said. "They stressed how much they needed a big back. They said they have some good backs coming in but they need a bigger back. I think there's a need after looking at their roster and it's a good situation for Ronnie, too. I think they did a good job of selling the University of Arkansas."

"If you look at Arkansas over the last few years, they've had two big backs, and then Coach [Bobby ] Petrino has four or five backs that he's coached that's in the NFL. That's pretty impressive. He's shown he will run and throw the ball."

Wingo Jr. 's three siblings - Raymond, 12, Ronnesha, 9, and Ryan, 2 - made the trip to Fayetteville. Mom Tiffany was unable to make the trip because of her job.

The elder Wingo said he will help guide and advise, but the ultimate decision will be left up to his son.

"I want him to be comfortable wherever he goes; I want him to make a decision for himself not so much for his parents and his siblings," the elder Wingo said.

The Wingos had visited Oklahoma, Missouri, Nebraska, Iowa and Kansas before their Arkansas visit. Wingo Sr. said the trip to Fayetteville was outstanding.

"I would say Arkansas stood out the most," he said. "I like how they tutor the student-athlete. They have one tutor and one kid in an individual room. I think the kid can focus more by being in that one room. I enjoyed talking to [assistant ] coach [Tim ] Horton; he was good because he's a graduate of Arkansas. He knew everything; you would've thought he was on the academic staff because he knew so much. He has so much pride in Arkansas. I think that's a big plus for their coaching staff."

But Coach Bobby Petrino's desire for Wingo Jr. to take an official visit to Arkansas after the season is what impressed the Wingos most.

"I think that was great that a head coach of a football team would tell you he didn't want Ronnie to take an official visit during the season," Wingo said. "He said he wanted Ronnie to take it after the season so he can spend a little more time with him because he wants to concentrate on the season."

Wingo said he was made fully aware of Arkansas' past success with St. Louis athletes, such as Steve Atwater, Bobby Joe Edmonds and Ben Cowins, who also attended Sumner. Once Wingo Jr. decides on a school, his father wants the decision to be final. "If he commits to a school, I want him to stay committed to it just like the school did by offering him a scholarship," the elder Wingo said.

KICKER WALKING ON Place-kicker Mitch Russo of Texas City, Texas, will report to Arkansas on Aug. 2 as a walk on. Russo visited Arkansas in April and met with Coach Bobby Petrino and decided to be a Razorback. The chance to compete in the SEC was one of the main factors in choosing the Hogs, Russo said. He hopes to earn a scholarship after the season. He had a scholarship offer from Idaho State and drew interest from Stephen F. Austin and Louisiana Tech. Russo was 23 of 26 on extra points and 7 of 8 on field-goal attempts this past year. He had a long of 47 yards. He made 93 of 104 extra points and 17 of 27 field goals in his high school career.

EX-HOOSIER VISITS HOGS Former Indiana point guard Armon Bassett made an official visit to Arkansas last Thursday through Saturday. Bassett, 6-1, 170, signed with the Hoosiers out of Terre Haute, Ind., and averaged 11. 1 points a game last season. He was dismissed from the team by interim coach Dan Dakich. New Coach Tom Crean upheld the dismissal. Bassett is scheduled to visit Alabama-Birmingham sometime this week and will make a decision soon afterward. E-mail Richard Davenport at rdavenport@arkansasonline. com