THE RECRUITING GUY : Hamilton high on Razorbacks

RICHARD DAVENPORT

Posted on Tuesday, September 23, 2008

URL: http://www.wholehogsports.com/adg/238198/

More than 40 recruits were on campus for the Arkansas-Alabama game this weekend, including Texarkana, Texas, wide receiver Cobi Hamilton, one of the remaining receivers high on Arkansas’ list.

Hamilton, 6-3, 200 pounds, 4. 52 seconds in the 40-yard dash, who took in the game with his parents, is considered a priority for the Razorbacks. He has 10 scholarship offers, including offers from Arkansas, Missouri, Kansas, Kansas State and others.

Hamilton, who made the trip to Fayetteville on an unofficial visit, has stated in the past he wanted to witness Arkansas ’ fan support firsthand. He said he came away impressed.

“Everything went good,” said Hamilton, who caught 29 passes for 726 yards and 7 touchdowns last year. “The fans were excited about the Hogs playing. I was impressed by them cheering on the Hogs. That was my first college game being that close to the environment. I was at the South Carolina game last year, but I was sitting way up high. You really couldn’t see the game.”

In addition to Hamilton’s size, he also has outstanding speed. He finished fourth over the summer in the AAU Junior Olympics in the 200 meters with a time of 21. 41 seconds. He hopes to run track while in college.

Before the game, Hamilton interacted with the coaches and academic advisors.

“The coaching staff was real nice to me when I first got there,” he said. “I talked to both Petrinos [Bobby and Paul ].

He said he also spoke to UA assistants Bobby Allen and Garrick McGee.

The Razorbacks could have some advantages in recruiting Hamilton. Both of his parents attended Arkansas, and he’s good friends with Hogs reshirt quarterback Ryan Mallett.

So far this season, Hamilton has caught 17 passes for 342 yards and 5 touchdowns. Hamilton said he’s yet to decide whether to attend the Florida game on an official visit or visit Kansas State for its game against Texas Tech in Manhattan, Kan., on Oct. 4. He said he’ll probably take another visit after the season and then make a decision. “ I’m going to take at least two visits for sure to look around,” Hamilton said. Hamilton said the Razorbacks still remain his favorite. “Arkansas would probably be No. 1 and then Missouri, Kansas and Kansas State,” he said.

FOCUSING ON THOMAS Arkansas’ need for the defensive line is well documented, and the Hogs are focusing hard on Robert Thomas of Muskogee, Okla. Thomas, 6-1, 300, 4. 89, has orally committed to Kansas State but has shown strong interest in the Razorbacks and made an unofficial visit to Fayetteville for the Alabama game. “I enjoyed the game and the whole atmosphere,” said Thomas, who reportedly can do 11 or 12 reps of 375 pounds on the bench press and squat 650. “The fans, the team was getting beat, and they were still supporting them. It was a nice experience. All of the freshmen playing, that was nice.”

Arkansas’ needs on defense are a bonus, according to Thomas.

“That’s like a big plus and seeing that they need players now,” he said. “So I can go in there as soon as I get there.”

Thomas has been unblockable in the three games the Roughers have played. He’s recorded 19 unassisted tackles, 6 assisted tackles, 7 tackles for losses and 2 sacks. Assistant coach Jason Medrano said Thomas is being double-teamed but is handling it with ease.

“Teams try to block him 1-on-1 and they found out real quick they can’t do that,” Medrano said. “His motor is going a hundred miles an hour all the time. We’ve had three tough games against probably the best three teams in the state and he’s dominated up front every week.” Arkansas quarterbacks coach Garrick McGee, who’s already gotten commitments from cornerback David Gordon and offensive lineman Alvin Bailey out of the Sooner state, is the lead recruiter of Thomas.

“He told me they need me, they need me now,” Thomas said. “He told me that I had a great shot at playing as a freshman. That really excited me hearing that. He’s a great man. He’s the type coach that gets straight to the point, like the truth. I like that because he’s straightforward.”

Oklahoma State recently joined Arkansas and Kansas State in offering scholarships, according to Thomas, but he said he’ll decide between the Hogs and the Wildcats though Texas Tech and Kansas are showing strong interest.

Thomas said he planned to make a final decision soon after his Oct. 17 game against Claremore. Arkansas is in great shape for his services.

“They’re standing great with me,” he said. “It can happen, it can happen [committing to Arkansas ].”

Thomas said he planned to visit Kansas State this Saturday for the Louisiana-Lafayette game.

E-mail Richard Davenport at rdavenport@arkansasonline. com