Rogers linebacker Zack Wary, who has a brother and a sister attending Arkansas, has been on campus several times but was able to experience more of what the Razorbacks were all about during his 48-hour official visit during the weekend.
“I didn’t realize how energetic and lively of a campus it was,” Wary said. “I was aware of all the Hog spirit around here, but it’s pretty crazy. The closer you get, the more crazy it gets. Everybody down here is pretty hyped up about the Hogs. It’s a fun and energetic place.”
Wary, 6-4, 215 pounds, 4.45 seconds in the 40-yard dash, has scholarship offers from Arkansas, Illinois State, Arkansas State, Air Force, Memphis, Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Missouri State and others.
“The coaches seem like they’re players’ coaches,” Wary said. “They’re not just there to get you in and get you out and get their program better. They want what is best for you. I think that’s important.”
The Hogs like Wary as a linebacker while others have talked multiple positions.
“I’m young so it’s kind of hard to project how I’m going to grow,” Wary said. “They said I could play safety, linebacker and if I grow a lot I could play defensive end. I’m not sure, but I have always seen myself as an outside linebacker. I feel comfortable there, I feel comfortable at safety, but I guess I will play wherever teams need me to.”
Wary played safety for the Mounties and recorded 67 tackles, 4 tackles for loss and 1 interception despite missing four games because of a sprained ankle. He spent time with Arkansas defensive coordinator Chris Ash and linebackers coach Randy Shannon.
“If I come here they will probably redshirt me,” said Wary, who has a 4.0 grade point average and has scored a 33 on the ACT. “Granted, I just recently turned 17. That’s pretty logical. Talking to the coaches was great. I really enjoyed what they had to say. They’re very personable guys and made it really easy to talk to them. It made it real easy for me to be myself and comfortable around them.”
He plans to take official visits to Arkansas State on Jan. 17, Air Force on Jan. 24 along with Oklahoma State, for which he has expressed fondness.
“I have always liked them,” Wary said. “After going to a few games, I really like the coaching staff and the atmosphere there in Stillwater. I don’t know if they’re my favorite. They’re up there.”
HOGS ON DUPRE’S RADAR
Arkansas is still under consideration for an official by ESPN’s No. 1 rated receiver, Malachi Dupre.
Dupre, 6-3, 192, 4.4 seconds in the 40-yard dash, of River Ridge (La.) John Curtis has scholarship offers from Arkansas, LSU, UCLA, Miami and Notre Dame. Being cousins with receivers coach Michael Smith helps the Hogs’ cause.
“It’s pretty good,” Dupresaid of his level of interest in Arkansas. “Having family there helps. They’ve had good receivers in the past and I’ve heard good things from people who have played there.”
He had 34 catches for 607 yards and 6 touchdowns for the Patriots, who won their third consecutive Division II state title on Dec. 12. As a junior, he had 36 receptions for 816 yards and 15 touchdowns.
Dupre, who hopes to take all five of his official visits, hasn’t set any dates but said he’s considering Arkansas, Florida State, Alabama, LSU, UCLA and Ole Miss for trips.
He said Smith sells the family ties.
“Well, I mean he knows he’s family, so he just tells me things I could accomplish there and I’d be happy and he only wants the best for me,” Dupre said.
He said he could see himself playing for Smith.
HAMPTON’S DECISION
Safety C.J. Hampton, 6-1, 198, 4.48 seconds in the 40-yard dash, of Meridian, Miss., will announce his college decision at 5:30 p.m. today. He officially visited Arkansas on Dec. 5 and will decide between Arkansas, Alabama and Florida State.
HOGS IN WR’S TOP 5
Highly rated defensive end Solomon Thomas has Arkansas as one of his top five schools, Coppell (Texas) Coach Jim McBride said on Twitter.
Thomas, 6-3, 256 4.7 seconds in the 40-yard dash, lists in no particular order Arkansas, Texas, Stanford, UCLA and Ohio State as his top schools.
His lead recruiter is running backs coach Joel Thomas. He’s the No. 24 prospect in the nation according to national recruiting analyst Tom Lemming of CBS Sports Network. He plans to make an official visit to Fayetteville in January.
E-mail Richard Davenport at rdavenport@arkansasonline.comCommitments list2014 COMMITMENTS WR JARED CORNELIUS 6-1, 190, 4.48, Shreveport Evangel RB JUAN DAY 6-2, 210, 4.5, North Little Rock LB DWAYNE EUGENE 6-2, 220, 4.5, Metairie (La.) Rummel LB KHALIA HACKETT 6-2, 208, 4.63, Douglasville (Ga.) S. Paulding DE JAKE HALL 6-5, 230, Springdale Har-Ber K COLE HEDLUND 5-10, 170, Argyle, Texas DL BIJHON JACKSON 6-2, 325, 5.1, El Dorado TE JACK KRAUS 6-5, 240, 4.9, Bentonville WR COREY MCBRIDE 6-2, 180, 4.34, Geismar (La.) Dutchtown WR TORRANCE MOSLEY 5-10, 175, 4.4, Geismar (La.) Dutchtown CB CHRIS MURPHY 5-10, 180, 4.4, Marietta (Ga.) Lassiter QB RAFE PEAVEY* 6-2, 208, 4.5, Bolivar, Mo.
TE RAVIAN PIERCE 6-4, 230, 4.53, Plantation, Fla.
OL JOVAN PRUITT 6-6, 295, 5.1, Dallas Bishop Dunne DB SANTOS RAMIREZ 6-2, 180, 4.55, Shreveport Evangel CB HENRE TOLIVER 6-1, 180, 4.56, Metairie (La.) Rummel DL ARMON WATTS 6-5, 270, 5.1, St. Louis Christian Brothers SIGNED WR CODY HOLLISTER 6-4, 205, 4.5, Arizona Western CC OL SEBASTIAN TRETOLA 6-4 ½, 315, 4.9 Iowa Western CC 2015 COMMITMENTS DE-TE JAMARIO BELL 6-6, 230, 4.7, Junction City DE HJALTE FROHOLDT 6-5, 275, Denmark OL COLTON JACKSON 6-6, 291, Conway OL ZACH ROGERS 6-3, 295, 5.09, Carrollton (Texas) Hebron QB TY STOREY 6-3, 217, 4.92, Charleston *Has signed an institutional financial aid agreement and will enroll in January.
Sports, Pages 29 on 12/20/2013