LITTLE ROCK — Junior quarterback David Cornwell of Jones (Okla.) High School will get his fill of college football Saturday.
Cornwell said he plans to attend Arkansas’ game against Ole Miss at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock before heading to Tuscaloosa, Ala., to catch the Crimson Tide take on Mississippi State later in the evening.
Cornwell, 6-5, 200 pounds, 4.9 seconds in the 40-yard dash, has scholarship offers from Indiana and Auburn and is drawing interest from Arkansas, Alabama, Michigan, Oklahoma State, Colorado and UCLA.
He said he is looking forward to Saturday.
“I view this really like a business project and a business trip,” said Cornwell, who has completed 111 of 202 pass for 1,640 yards with 16 touchdowns and 5 interceptions this season. “I’m out there to market myself and get the best deal I can and really work from there and help the team and help myself to get where I want to be.”
The Omaha, Neb., native moved to Jacksonville, Fla., two years ago before making his way to Oklahoma. Cornwell watched the Razorbacks defeat Auburn 24-7 Oct. 6 while on a visit to Auburn and said his interest in Arkansas is strong.
“That’s a great team,” Cornwell said. “Any passing team in the SEC, I love them. The SEC is really where I would like to play. Really any school where I find the best fit at is where I’ll play.
“Arkansas, I’ve always been a fan of them, always liked them. Tyler Wilson is a great guy.”
CURTIS STILL HIGH ON HOGS
Arkansas’ football coaches hit about eight states while recruiting during last week’s open date.
Offensive line coach Chris Klenakis visited Phoenix Mountain Pointe High School in Arizona last Friday to check on highly recruited offensive lineman Kenny Lacy, who is committed to UCLA, and highly regarded junior offensive lineman Natrell Curtis. Curtis, 6-3, 295 pounds, received his sixth scholarship offer from Arkansas in the spring. Now he is up to 12 offers, with Nebraska and Arizona the latest schools to offer.
Curtis said he was excited when the Hogs offered.
“I like the school,” he said. “I like the program. I watch them every Saturday night. I feel like I can go there and help out a lot.”
Curtis said he calls Klenakis every Thursday.
“He wants to get me down there to play for him and go and look at the atmosphere and how it is down South,” Curtis said.
MORE EYES ON MORGAN
Greenwood’s Drew Morgan opened eyes last year with his play, and he’s getting even more attention this season.
Morgan, 6-0, 180 pounds, 4.5 seconds in the 40-yard dash, has 32 carries for 367 yards and 8 touchdowns and 52 receptions for 744 yards and 9 touchdowns this season. He also has recorded 41 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, 1 1/2 sacks, 1 interception and 1 pass breakup in 8 games.
Greenwood Coach Rick Jones said Morgan, who is orally committed to Arkansas State, is asked to do a lot because he has “unbelievable hands” and “great ball skills.”
“He’s also elusive and has excellent acceleration,” Jones said. “When he catches a ball in space he can make people miss, when he runs out of the backfield he can make people miss, and also has a good enough burst that when he gets by he doesn’t get caught very often.”
Jones said schools are calling and asking about Morgan, but Jones said Morgan is happy with his commitment to the Red Wolves.
“He loves the coaches and he’s excited about going there, and it’s a great opportunity,” Jones said. “I think, as most people do in Arkansas, I think Gus [Malzahn] is going to get that thing rolling.”
E-mail Richard Davenport at
rdavenport@arkansasonline.com
Sports, Pages 24 on 10/26/2012