Juco WR next Razorback pledge?

Cody Hollister

Tight end Blake Whiteley and receiver Cody Hollister of Arizona Western Community College will arrive about 5:40 p.m. Thursday for their official visits to Arkansas.

While Whiteley will be leaving Saturday to visit Texas, Hollister could very well end his recruitment if he likes his time in Fayetteville.

“I’m going to talk to my family before I leave and make sure we’re on the same page,” said Hollister, who’s a December graduate and will have three years to play three. “If I really love it, then yeah, I could see myself committing on the spot.”

Hollister, 6-4, 205, 4.5 seconds in the 40 yard dash, received his scholarship offer from the Hogs last week after Coach Bret Bielema visited his school a week ago and tight ends coach Barry Lunney Jr. told him he had an offer a day later. He came away impressed with the Hogs’ head coach. Video highlights CLICK HERE

“After talking to Blake, we both agreed he’s one of those coaches you want to play for,” Hollister said. “He’s a player’s coach. That’s what coach Lunney said too, that he’s a player’s coach and everyone loves playing for him. It’s exactly what you want to look for in a coach. So it’s amazing.”

He attended Mountain View High School in Bend, Oregon and in 2012 agreed to be a preferred walk-on at Nevada in 2012. He redshirted as a freshman with the Wolf Pack before transferring to Arizona Western.

Hollister recorded 69 receptions for 934 yards and 5 touchdowns this season. Bielema complemented him on his talent.

“It’s crazy, because he mentioned exactly what I wanted to hear,” said Hollister, who has a 34-inch vertical. “When I match up with a guy it’s not just about my forty time or anything like that. It’s about me against him as a football player and I’m a true football player. I know how to play that position really well.”

“I know I’m going to beat him. I know what I have advantage wise over my opponent. So when he talked to me it was just what I wanted to hear. If a guy has speed on me or anything on me I find a way to overcome it and beat him on it. I think Coach Bielema just really saw it in me and I’m really glad he did, because I’m really ready for it.”

Hollister also has scholarship offer from Wyoming and Troy. He officially visited the Trojans, but left open this week in case another school was interested.

“I kind of left it open to just see what happens with other schools,” Hollister said. “When Arkansas came in it was a good thing that I kept it open.”