THE RECRUITING GUY

Kansas TE considering Arkansas

Tight end DeAndre Goolsby, who's a major recruiting target of Arkansas, visited the Razorbacks on Thursday before taking part in the Southwest Elite Showcase.

SPRINGDALE - A day before taking part in the Southwest Elite 7-on-7 Showcase at Shiloh Christian High School on Friday, highly regarded tight end DeAndre Goolsby visited Arkansas for the second time this year.

Goolsby, 6-5, 232 pounds, of Derby, Kan., has 16 scholarship offers, including ones from Arkansas, Oklahoma, Florida, Kansas, Kansas State, Ohio State and Oregon. He also visited Fayetteville in early May and said the highlight of the latest trip was being able to see the nearly completed football complex.

“Definitely the upgrades,” Goolsby said.“They’ve done a lot up there. All of the facilities they really upgraded a lot.”

Arkansas receivers coach Michael Smith coached Goolsby’s father, Brian, when he was a fullback at Kansas State in 1995-1998.

“I’ve known Smitty since I was little,” DeAndre Goolsby said. “We have a tight connection. I like talking to him. He’s close to my parents. He definitely plays a role in me coming here.”

Goolsby, who recorded 42 receptions for 605 yards and 11 touchdowns as a junior, was able to meet Arkansas strength and conditioning coach Ben Herbert on his May visit.

“He seems like the real deal,” Goolsby said. “He’ll get you right.”

The elder Goolsby said was also impressed with the Hogs’ new football complex.

“It was awesome,” he said. “It was one of the better facilities that we’ve seen, and we’ve seen quite a few. I see Arkansas on the uprise and with their facilities, I’m pretty sure it’s not going to be hard to get kids there.”

Because of their background together, he said it’s odd to see Smith recruiting his son.

“It’s kind of crazy and now my son’s coming along,” Goolsby said. “Mike is a good guy. I know he knows what he’s doing. I trust him if my son was to go to Arkansas.”RAFE’S RELIEF

Quarterback Rafe Peavey, an Arkansas commitment from Bolivar, Mo., said knowing where he’ll play his college football allows him to have a peace of mind going into his senior season of high school.

“It’s a weight off my shoulders for sure,” said Peavey, who was seen talking to De-Andre Goolsby on Saturday morning at the Southwest Elite 7-on-7 Showcase. “Getting to focus on my senior year is great, just a blessing to get that off my shoulders and getting to enjoy it. I have six months left with my teammates and my classmates, and I plan to cherish it.”

Peavey, 6-2, 207, 4.5 seconds in the 40-yard dash, is actively recruiting other prospects to join him in Fayetteville. One of his selling points is Coach Bret Bielema and the staff.

“Coach Bielema is like really laid back,” said Peavey, who accumulated approximately 30 scholarship offers during the recruiting process. “A lot of coaches don’t really have a relationship with their players. Coach Bielema has a open door policy - anytime you want to go by and just say hi or check in with him. It’s the same with the whole staff. They’re really a neat staff and you can tell they’re really clicking together. The chemistry is there.”

Peavey was able to spend a some time with one of his idols, New England Patriots quarterback Tim Tebow, who was a guest speaker at the 7-on-7 event.

“It was a dream come true,” he said. “Now that’s off my bucket list. I always wanted to meet Tim Tebow. I never thought it would actually happen.” TY-IN

Charleston junior quarterback Ty Storey, who pledged to Arkansas about a monthago, displayed a strong and accurate arm during the Southwest Elite 7-on-7 Showcase.

Shortly after committing to the Hogs, Storey started recruiting for the Razorbacks and Arkansas soon received the commitment of highly touted junior offensive lineman Zach Rogers of Lewisville (Texas) Hebron. He said he expected Rogers to jump on board.

“I kind of figured that,” said Storey, who led the Tigers to a 10-3 record during the 7-on-7 competition. “He’s a great guy and a great addition to the Hogs.”

Storey, 6-3, 217, 4.92, chose the Hogs over scholarship offers from Alabama, Auburn and Arkansas State. He completed 328 of 503 passes for 4,397 yards and 46 touchdowns last year and was named to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Super Sophomore team.

He downplayed his role in recruiting Rogers to Fayetteville.

“It was his decision,” Storey said. “I think he made the right one. He wants to be a Hog, and that’s where he’s going.”

E-mail Richard Davenport at rdavenport@arkansasonline.com

Sports, Pages 19 on 07/16/2013