Arkansas trip a big hit with Missouri prospect

Tight end-defensive end Hale Hentges spoke highly of Arkansas following his visit at the Razorbacks' game against Southern Miss.

Arkansas football players have tweeted glowingly about the results they've seen from working with strength and conditioning coach Ben Herbert. Highly regarded sophomore tight end and defensive end Hale Hentges echoed similar thoughts after visiting Fayetteville last Thursday.

"All the nutrition and everything he emphasized really made it clear he was serious about developing players in being the best they can be," Hentges said. "The exercises he comes up with are really, really stuff I haven't seen before and are really cutting edge. Strength and player development that goes above and beyond."

Hentges, 6-4, 220, 4.83 seconds in the 40 yard dash, of Jefferson City, (Mo.) Helias made All-State on both sides of the ball last season after recording 43 receptions and 7 touchdowns, along with 63 tackles, 7 sacks, 6 tackles for loss and 5 pass deflections. Video highlights click here

He and his father, Chris, who's the offensive line coach at Helias, were able to watch the Hogs' practice.

"They did a lot of team sessions and a lot of offense," Hentges said. "I liked how much they targeted their tight ends. That really got me excited on how involved they are in their passing game and I liked all the different sets and formations they ran with the tight end. Sometimes they had two tight ends on the field and they always had at least one so I was really excited about that."

Hentges, who has scholarship offers Arkansas, Missouri, Iowa, Wisconsin and Iowa State, visited the Badgers twice last year while Coach Bret Bielema was in Madison. He also visited the Hogs last spring.

Chris Hentges spoke well of the facilities but it was the warmth of the people at Arkansas that was even more impressive.

"Just very nice, very friendly and very accommodating throughout the whole day from the academic center to coach Bielema and the whole staff, their athletic trainers and their support staff," Chris Hentges said. "They were very courteous, very helpful and very informative. I thought it was just a very enlightening day. Arkansas should be very proud of what they have in place right now. I think they're definitely set for success."

The younger Hentges said the trip made the Razorback program more appealing.

"I would say it helped a lot," Hentges said. "We had been up there last year with the old staff and didn't get back over the fall but since we've been up here we really, really liked it. I enjoyed all the people. I loved the facilities. Everybody that works there is really helpful and nice. It seem like I was really at home. You could really to get to know the people there and live there."

Last week's visit won't be the last for Hentges.

"We're definitely coming back for a fall game," Hale said. "I'm not sure if we'll try and come back before that but we're definitely coming up for a football game in the fall."