RECRUITING : Junior college players have eyes on Razorbacks

OTIS KIRK

Posted on Sunday, September 21, 2008

URL: http://www.wholehogsports.com/adg/237983/

INDEPENDENCE, Kan. — The rain came down so hard that both Independence (Kan. ) Community College and Highland (Kan. ) Community College struggled to get anything going offensively in their Sept. 13 game.

In the end, Independence, with its trio of Division I prospects who are all interested in the Arkansas Razorbacks, took a 13-7 victory. Wide receiver Andre Simmons, 6-3, 201 pounds, 4. 42 seconds in the 40-yard dash, safety Emmanual Lamur, 6-5, 218, 4. 5, and linebacker Mychael McJunkins, 6-0, 240, 4. 5, all said after the game they like the Razorbacks.

Through three games, Simmons had 13 receptions for 165 yards and 1 touchdown, but against Highland he only managed two catches for 29 yards in the mud.

“The quarterback couldn’t grip the ball,” Simmons said. “[The rain ] definitely affected the ball and the game. I have never played in worse conditions.”

Simmons, who is from South Carolina, is getting plenty of recruiting looks after being named first-team All-American by The Sporting News and second-team by J. C. Grid-Wire.

“Georgia called the other day, and I have several offers,” Simmons said. “My recruiting is getting pretty heavy right now. I’m getting looks from a lot of schools, and I’m interested in any school that offers me a scholarship. I’m not going to make any kind of decision until I sit down with my parents and discuss this.”

The Pirates got a bye this weekend, and Simmons said that would help the team as it returns to conference action next Saturday.

McJunkins leads Independence with 34 tackles, including 27 unassisted, 7 tackles for loss, 2 sacks and 2 forced fumbles.

“I feel like we’re doing pretty good this year,” McJunkins said. “It was tough out there today with that much rain.”

McJunkins said he’s looking at three schools and will add Arkansas if the Razorbacks start recruiting him.

“I’m a good run-stopper from sideline to sideline,” McJunkins said. “I like Kansas, Kansas State, New Mexico, and I would love to hear from Arkansas.”

The Pirates share their naturalgrass stadium with a high school team. The rain never stopped on Saturday night and actually got harder during the game.

“It was slick and kind of hard to wrap up out there,” McJunkins said. “That is the most rain and mud I have ever played in.”

Despite the bad conditions, McJunkins had 8 tackles, including 6 unassisted, 2 tackles for loss and 1 forced fumble. The victory allowed the Pirates to stay in the hunt for the conference title.

“I think we can be really good,” McJunkins said. “I don’t think we have reached the level we are capable of reaching and can do better than we are doing right now. When all the pieces come together, we will be very explosive.”

McJunkins said he isn’t close to making a decision and will continue to explore his options.

Lamur has 14 tackles on the season from his safety spot. The former West Palm Beach (Fla. ) standout is getting a lot of looks and has the size to play a lot of positions at the next level.

“I feel I can play strong safety, free safety or linebacker,” Lamur said. “I will play wherever the team needs me. I will do anything to help my team.”

Lamur admitted he didn’t have to play in tough weather conditions often in the Sunshine State.

“I think I played good tonight,” Lamur said. “I learned from some of the little mistakes I made earlier this season. We’re staying focused as a team right now.”

Lamur said he’s looking at Arkansas, Miami, Auburn, South Florida, Central Florida, Kansas State, Kansas, Missouri and Louisville.

“I like Arkansas’ defense,” Lamur said. “The SEC is a great conference, and I just like how Arkansas plays as a team. Their fans are good, too, and have their backs.”