Arkansas has oral commitments from five Texas high school athletes, and it is hoping to add to that number.

Linebacker Roderick Goodlow of Dallas W. H. Adamson High School is being targeted by Arkansas. Goodlow, 6-3, 210 pounds, 4. 58 seconds in the 40-yard dash, said he has 11 scholarship offers including from Arkansas, Nebraska, Wisconsin, Northwestern, Colorado, Iowa State, Kansas and Arizona.

Goodlow’s top five schools are Wisconsin, Northwestern, Nebraska, Colorado and Arkansas, and he said he intends to visit each school during the season.

“I plan to make a decision a week after my last visit.” Goodlow said.

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The amount of TV exposure Arkansas receives in the SEC has helped the Hogs.

“I know a lot about them,” Goodlow said. “I’ve watched them on TV a lot and I like how they run their program.”

Goodlow had 109 tackles and four interceptions last season for the Class 5 A Cougars, who will drop down to 4 A this fall.

“I’m more like a downhill-type linebacker,” said Goodlow, who reports a 4. 19 pro-shuttle time and 38-inch vertical leap. “I really like to go after the ball carrier, plus I can drop back into pass coverage, 1-on-1, well.”

Arkansas quarterbacks coach Garrick McGee has been recruiting Goodlow.

“He’s upfront and he told us what they had to offer and what they plan to do,” said Goodlow, who reports a 275-pound bench press and 405 squat. “He gave me a good visualization of the program.” Goodlow, who said he has a 3. 2 grade-point average and plans to major in business, was very impressed by what McGee told him about the highly regarded Sam M. Walton College of Business at Arkansas. “He’s no longer a sleeper, a lot of people know about him,” said recruiting analyst Tom Lemming, who travels six months a year looking for talent throughout the country. “He got a lot of attention during the May recruiting period. He can run. tThat’s the key to his game, his ability to run so well.”

ARKANSAS WOMEN The Arkansas women’s basketball program received its first commitment for the 2009 recruiting class in mid-July, when Germantown, Tenn., forward Sarah Watkins, 6-3, told Coach Tom Collen she intends to be a Razorback. Watkins said she had approximately 20 scholarship offers from schools like Ole Miss, Vanderbilt, Mississippi State and Florida. She made an unofficial visit to the Commodores.

Watkins has family in the Hope and Little Rock areas. She said Arkansas’ location and comfort level swayed her to the Razorbacks.

“I loved the campus, the coaches, the environment,” said Watkins, who is rated among the top 200 players in the nation by Bret McCormick of All-Star Girls Report. “I loved everything about Arkansas. I got a chance to go to anatomy class and actually loved the feel of the classroom, too. I was amazed by everything, and I think it was the only choice to me that made sense.”

She averaged about 23 points, 10 rebounds and 5 blocked shots last year for the Class 5 A Mustangs.

Arkansas anticipates adding two more recruits to the 2009 class. Arkansas signed nine prospects for the 2008 class, which was the largest recruiting class in the 34-year history of the women’s program.

NEVER TOO EARLY Class of 2010 offensive lineman Parker Mack, 6-5, 302, 5. 3, of Pulaski Academy picked up his second scholarship offer this week when North Carolina joined Boston College in offering. The Eagles offered in late May. Mack made an unofficial visit to Boston College two weeks ago and was able to talk to Coach Jeff Jagodzinki and offensive line coach Jack Bicknell. “When I did get the Boston College offer, I was excited, “ said Mack, who reports a 295-pound bench press along with squatting 415 11 times. “ I don’t think there’s even a word to describe it, with the opportunities it opens up.” Mack said he has a 3. 6 gradepoint average and 28 ACT score. “I plan to go premed and then find a specialty that I’m interested in,” Mack said. “Academics are first.” Mack was born in Houston but moved to Kentucky at 10. He has lived in Arkansas since the seventh grade. Others showing interest are Northwestern, Harvard and Notre Dame. Arkansas sent a questionnaire earlier in the summer.

GOING OUT OF STATE Pulaski Academy receiver Neal Barlow, 6-6, 190, 4. 6, orally committed to Kansas on Tuesday. He chose the Jayhawks over Arkansas, Missouri, LSU and Tulsa. Little Rock Hall point guard A. J. Walton, 6-1, 170, orally committed to Baylor on Tuesday. He narrowed his list to four schools, including Arkansas, Kentucky and Marquette, before opting for the Bears. Oral commitments are nonbinding. E-mail Richard Davenport at rdavenport@arkansasonline. com