THE RECRUITING GUY : Texas trio arise early to attend UA-Florida game

RICHARD DAVENPORT

Posted on Tuesday, October 7, 2008

URL: http://www.wholehogsports.com/adg/239562/

Arkansas entertained more than 40 prospects during the Florida game Saturday, including three talented defensive linemen from Maud, Texas, who are orally committed to TCU.

Defensive end Bryant House, 6-4, 265 pounds, 4. 9 seconds in the 40-yard dash; defensive tackle Ray Burns, 6-1, 283, 5. 2, and defensive end James Dunbar, 6-4, 290, 4. 8, helped the Cardinals defeat Ore City 35-12 on Friday night and then had to get up about 3: 30 Saturday morning to make the trip with Dunbar’s mother, Chequita, to Fayetteville.

“They enjoyed the visit,” Chequita Dunbar said. “They were impressed with some things at Arkansas. It was a very enjoyable visit.”

The coaching staff impressed Dunbar by focusing on education.

“They spoke with us very extensively about what to expect at Arkansas,” she said. “I was impressed with the attention they showed him [James ] and assured him that if he came to the school that he would be taken care of as far as getting his education. They wanted to emphasize the education part and that’s important to me as a parent.” Dunbar said she and her son, along with his father, will discuss the possibility of taking an official to Arkansas, but nothing has been decided yet.

OFFICIAL, UNOFFICIAL Safety Jerry Mitchell, 6-1, 198, 4. 5 of Mandeville, (La. ), made an official Saturday and was hosted by redshirt freshman Matt Marshall. He orally committed to the Hogs in early September.

A group of talented junior prospects made unofficial visits, including Pulaski Academy offensive lineman Parker Mack, 6-4, 305, 5. 3; offensive lineman Cam Feldt, 6-4, 285, 5. 3 of Pilot Point, (Texas ); tight end Josh Hale, 6-4, 220, 4. 63; athlete Eric Bennett, 5-10, 175, 4. 4, of Tulsa Washington, and defensive tackle Calvin Barnett, 6-3, 310, 5. 5, of Tulsa Washington.

Mack has scholarship offers from North Carolina and Boston College, while Feldt committed to the Razorbacks in June after attending Arkansas’ football camp and receiving a scholarship offer.

Bennett recently received an offer from the Hogs — his first — and has attended two of Arkansas’ homes games. Barnett is also receiving interest from Oklahoma, Oregon, Notre Dame, Tennessee, Tulsa and Kansas State. He’s been a starter for the Hornets since his freshman year and is considered a top 2010 prospect in Oklahoma.

OKLAHOMA SHOWDOWN Two Arkansas recruits bumped helmets when Oklahoma powers Broken Arrow and Muskogee met Friday night. Muskogee won 25-22 on a 24-yard pass as time expired in a game that featured Broken Arrow offensive lineman Alvin Bailey, 6-4, 325, 5. 3, and Muskogee defensive lineman Robert Thomas, 6-1, 290, 4. 89. Bailey is an Arkansas commitment, while Thomas is taking a serious look at the Hogs. Muskogee offensive line coach Jason Medrano said while they didn’t go head to head every play, both had good games and neither outshone the other. “It was battle between both of them,” Medrano said. “I would say it was even. They were knocking the cr ** out of each other. Robert would win one and then Bailey would get a block and they would spring something.” Thomas had 9 tackles, 3 tackles for losses, a blocked extra point and a blocked field goal. He also had a 4-yard rushing touchdown. Bailey graded out at 93 percent and had 12 knockdowns.

FOOT IN THE DOOR Central Arkansas women’s basketball Coach Matt Daniel will be hosting one of the most soughtafter prospects in the nation on an official visit this weekend. Center / forward Cokie Reed, 6-4, of Waco, (Texas ) Midway, is ranked the No. 5 player in the country by ESPN. Her sister, Whitney Betts, is a junior forward for the Bears. “It’s a good school and my sister goes there, and I know a lot about it,” Reed said. “She’s really enjoying herself and she really likes Coach Daniel.” Reed has taken visits to South Carolina, LSU and plans to travel to Rutgers and Texas after her trip to Conway. Reed said she has been to Conway once and was impressed with Conway and the campus.

“The environment and the relationships I have with the coaches and the players are the most important things in choosing a school,” said Reed, who has been in contact with Central Arkansas assistant Caronica Randle.

Coach Teri Morrison said Reed is one of the country’s elite post players.

“I think what separates her from the field is her ability to face the basket,” Morrison said. “Cokie has the capability to run the floor, face the basket and shoot from outside and defensively, she’s just very gifted.”

Reed said she plans to make her decision after her last visit in time to sign when the early period begins in November.

E-mail Richard Davenport at rdavenport@arkansasonline. com