LITTLE ROCK — Highly regarded junior college receiver Demetrius Wilson is one of 19 football prospects who will be finishing up their official visits to Arkansas today.
Wilson, 6-3, 180 pounds, 4.4 seconds in the 40-yard dash, of Glendale (Ariz.) Community College, reports having approximately 10 scholarship offers, including ones from Arkansas, Tennessee and Arizona. He visited Tennessee last week.
“They throw the ball a lot,” Wilson said of Arkansas. “They’re always in the Shotgun Spread. There’s an opportunity for me to get to the next level.”
Wilson said the Hogs and the Volunteers have his attention because of the competition in the SEC.
“In my opinion, the SEC is a little bit more speed and more athletes that head to that league and play big,” he said.
Wilson said he and his lead recruiter at Arkansas, offensive line coach Chris Klenakis, have a great relationship.
“He’s a fun guy to hang out with, always has a smile on his face, cracking jokes,” said Wilson, who hosted Klenakis for an in-home visit Tuesday.
Wilson, who had 51 receptions for 927 yards and 10 touchdowns this season, said Arkansas’ success the past few years and expected high rankings in preseason polls excites him.
“They’re top five and have a great opportunity to play for a national title,” said Wilson, who plans to officially visit Arizona next weekend. “That’s the ultimate goal besides getting a degree.”
RB LOOKING
Running back Trey Williams, who has committed to Texas A&M, is one of the better prospects visiting Arkansas this weekend.
Williams, 5-8, 181, 4.37, of Spring (Texas) Dekaney is rated the No. 32 prospect in the nation by national recruiting analyst Tom Lemming of CBS Sports Network.
Williams also said he credits Arkansas offensive line coach Chris Klenakis’ aggressive recruiting for helping him to decide to visit the Razorbacks.
“Whenever you get the type of love that Coach K has been showing me, I appreciate that,” Williams said. “I feel like I should give the love back.”
Williams, who had 427 carries for 3,884 yards and 48 touchdowns as a senior, said he is also attracted to Arkansas because of the success of former Hogs Darren McFadden, Felix Jones and Peyton Hillis in the NFL.
HAYNES VISITS
Highly recruited linebacker Reggie Northrup and his father entertained new Arkansas defensive coordinator Paul Haynes and receivers coach Kris Cinkovich on Monday morning during an in-home visit.
“I think it went good,” Northrup said. “I met Coach [Haynes], and he’s a good guy. I like how he looks at things and how he feels about his defense and how he gets feedback and gives the players a chance to give their input about the how they feel about the defense he’s running.”
Northrup, 6-2 1/2, 220, 4.57, of Jacksonville (Fla.) First Coast is committed to Miami but reopened his search after the Hurricanes were the subject of an NCAA investigation.
He made an official visit to Arkansas for the Tennessee game on Nov. 12 and an official visit to North Carolina in October, along with one to Miami in December.
“I feel like [Arkansas’] scheme fits me well as a player,” said Northrup, who has 26 scholarship offers.
“[Haynes] asked me which position I would feel good at. I told him I feel good at Will linebacker, and he said he sees me at that, too, because how I run around.”
Northrup, who visited Florida State this weekend and will make a trip to Ohio State on Jan. 27, will see Cinkovich and Razorbacks linebacker coach Taver Johnson this week for in-home visit.
Northrup’s father, Reggie Sr., said he appreciates Arkansas’ recruiting approach.
“They don’t come here bringing any false promises or anything,” Reggie Sr. said.
“They say, ‘Hey this is what we got. He has to come in and do what he’s suppose to do, and everything else will work itself out.’ ”
E-mail Richard Davenport at
rdavenport@arkansasonline.com
Sports, Pages 25 on 01/22/2012