Arkansas went from little interest to a high level of interest in the eyes of highly recruited cornerback Chris Murphy after visiting the Hogs on Saturday.
Murphy, 5-10, 180, 4.4 seconds in the 40 yard dash, of Marietta,(Ga.) Lassiter High School didn't see Arkansas pulling in an estimated 51,088 fans for the Red-White spring game.
"I didn't except that many people to be out there," said Murphy, who has 16 scholarship offers, including Arkansas, Oklahoma State, Vanderbilt and Missouri." I showed up at the stadium at about 9:40- 9:45 I didn't expect nearly that many fans to there. I was shocked to see that many people out there to be honest."
His expectations of Arkansas were surpassed after touring the campus, including the facilities and the new football complex to be completed this summer.
"We saw everything they're putting together and what it would look like afterwards," he said. "It looks like it's going to be real nice We saw the indoor and the weight room. Everything is real nice."
Relationships in recruiting are key and the visit allowed Murphy to learn more about his lead recruiter and cornerbacks coach Taver Johnson and defensive coordinator Chris Ash.
"It was great," said Murphy, who has recorded a 4.12 pro-shuttle time and 35-inch vertical. "I got to spend a lot of time with coach Johnson and Coach Ash before and after the game. That was really nice and getting to know them better not only on the level of just talking about football but personally also."
Murphy, who recorded 25 tackles, 12 pass break ups, 3 interceptions and 3 recovered fumbles as a junior, is friends with Arkansas redshirt freshman cornerback Ray Buchanan Jr.