Arkansas Coach Bobby Petrino is not being subtle in his recruitment of St. Louis running back Ronnie Wingo Jr.

Wingo has known for some time that Petrino wants him to be a Razorback, but a call from Petrino on Thursday night re-emphasized that notion.

“It was funny that it was him,” Wingo said. “It surprised me because I didn’t know the head coach would call because the season has started. I thought he was focused on his own team. I didn’t think the head coach would call until at the end of the season. It really emphasized that they really want me.”

Wingo, 6-3, 212 pounds, 4. 41 seconds in the 40-yard dash, of St. Louis University High School, has narrowed his original list of 12 schools to Arkansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Illinois and Alabama. Wingo made an unofficial visit to Fayetteville on June 19, accompanied by his father, two younger brothers and younger sister.

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Petrino was not the only coach to contact Wingo last week, but Petrino is the first and only head coach who has called Wingo. Assistant coaches from Missouri, Kansas, Iowa, Oklahoma, Minnesota and others also contacted Wingo last week.

Wingo said his conversation with Petrino lasted about 20 minutes. “We were trying to figure out a date for my official visit,” said Wingo, who rushed for nearly 3, 000 yards in his sophomore and junior seasons. “He told me how much they really needed me and wanted me to be a Razorback. He asked how my season was going and have I seen them play yet. It was the same way when I took my trip down there [Fayetteville ] and how he wanted a big back like me.” Arkansas recruiting coordinator and running back coach Tim Horton traveled to St. Louis to watch Wingo on Friday night, the day after Petrino’s call. Wingo rushed for 62 yards on 12 carries in a 35-0 loss to DeSmet Jesuit. “That was good, too,” said Wingo, who has rushed for 367 yards and 3 touchdowns in 3 games this season. “We really didn’t get to showcase what we could do because we got spanked. But I believe he was the first coach that came to watch me play. That shows a lot. They’re the first in everything.” Wingo said Arkansas planned to call him this week to set up his official visit.

BREAKING NEW GROUND Arkansas assistant coach Lorenzo Ward primarily recruits Georgia, but Ward has ventured up to Virginia in hopes of luring offensive tackle Kory Gough to Fayetteville. Gough, 6-6, 260, 4. 96, of Bealeton (Va. ) Liberty was offered a scholarship by the Razorbacks about two weeks ago. He also has offers from Marshall, Ohio, East Carolina, Liberty, James Madison, Hofstra, Army and others.

He said he plans to take an official visit to Arkansas for the Florida game Oct. 4.

“I really don’t know much about Arkansas,” said Gough, who reports a 4. 50 pro-shuttle time and a 31-inch vertical jump. “I know they’re in the SEC. I know a little bit about them from what I read online. I’m really looking forward to flying out there and checking it out and seeing what they have to offer.”

Gough visited Virginia Tech last weekend and Penn State a couple of weeks ago. Gough said the visits were fruitful and he said he is hopeful to hear from both schools. Gough, who said he ran his 4. 96 40 at the James Madison camp this summer, said he’s graded out in the 90-percent range for performance and high 80 s for fundamentals at offensive tackle this season. He also plays on the defensive line,

1 where he had 37 tackles, 2 / 2 sacks, 2 pass deflections and a recovered fumble last season. He said he bench presses 310 pounds and squats 525. Gough used his strength and agility in recording a 56-4 record in wrestling at the 285-pound weight class last year despite only weighing 230 pounds. Gough, who said proximity wouldn’t factor into his decision, said he wanted to see who else might offer him before deciding on a school. DEAN RECEIVES OFFER Fayetteville sophomore

re-1 ceiver Demetrius Dean, 6-2 / 2, 225, 4. 75 speed in the 40-yard dash received a scholarship offer from Arkansas on Monday, according to Coach Daryl Patton. Dean has recorded 12 receptions for 152 yards and 4 touchdowns so far this season. FAMOUS RECRUIT Arkansas is known to be recruiting junior college center / power forward Jarrid Famous of Westchester Community College in New York.

Famous, 6-11, 235, earned All-Region XV honors last season while averaging 21. 6 points and 10. 9 rebounds a game and shooting 59. 2 percent from the field.

He’s also being recruited by Missouri, West Virginia, Providence, Rutgers and others.

CBS College Sports national recruiting analysts Van Coleman said Famous is an elite prospect.

“Jarrid Famous is a big strong physical rebounder,” Coleman said. “He can score in close to the basket. He’s a very mobile kid who has great hands and probably will be one of the top 25 to 30 kids in junior college basketball this coming year.”

E-mail Richard Davenport at rdavenport@arkansasonline. com