Arkansas Briefs

Dallas lineman commits to Hogs

Arkansas offensive line coach Sam Pittman works with the Razorbacks during an April 6, 2013 practice at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium.

Arkansas’ football program continued its recruiting momentum when heavily recruited offensive lineman Jovan Pruitt orally committed to the Razorbacks during a visit Friday. The Razorbacks also received a commitment of junior college cornerback Kweishi Brown on Thursday.

Pruitt, 6-6, 295 pounds, 5.2 seconds in the 40-yard dash, of Dallas Bishop Dunne, chose the Hogs over 24 other scholarship offers, including ones from Texas, Oklahoma, Baylor, Ole Miss, Texas Tech and Arizona State. He visited the Hogs for last year’s Alabama game and made a trip to Fayetteville on June 8-9.

“Really the second time I came up here, it really made a big impact on me,” Pruitt said. “I just knew this is the place where I wanted to go, and I had no doubts about it. There were a lot of people trying to get into my head, but I just knew this is the place for me.

“The players and the coaches are remarkable and overwhelming. I just really loved it.”

Pruitt said he now plans to recruit his teammate, highly touted safety Payton Hendrix, who has approximately 20 scholarship offers, including ones from Arkansas, Nebraska, Washington, North Carolina and Arizona State. He visited Arkansas about a month ago.

“Definitely I think the third time will be the charm like it was for me,” Pruitt said of Hendrix, who is also visiting the Hogs today. “We just need to get him down here one more time.”

Pruitt said Arkansas Coach Bret Bielema and offensive line coach Sam Pittman were ecstatic when he told them he was ready to be a Hog.

“I thought Coach Pittman was about to have a heart attack,” Pruitt said. “He was really excited. Coach B hugged me for like 15 to 20 seconds. They were really excited, and I was, too.”

He said he may visit Oklahoma or possibly Ole Miss.

Pruitt becomes the Hogs’ eighth commitment of the 2014 class. Oral commitments are nonbinding.

Also, junior offensive lineman Colton Jackson, 6-6, 291, of Conway, received a scholarship offer from Arkansas after performing well at the Hogs’ Elite Camp on Friday.

  • Richard Davenport

GOLF Lavy loses in round of 16

University of Arkansas senior Emma Lavy of Fayetteville was defeated 5 and 4 in match play by Mariah Stackhouse of Riverdale, Ga., in the round of 16 Friday at the 111th annual Women’s North and South Amateur Championship in Pinehurst, N.C.

Stackhouse won the first two holes of the morning, then went 4 up after winning at Nos. 8 and 10. Lavy won her only hole of the day at No. 11 to get to 3 down, but Stackhouse put the match out of reach by winning the 12th and 13th.

Stackhouse lost in the quarterfinal round later Friday to Michelle Piyapattra of Corona, Calif., who will play in a semifinal match at 7 a.m. today against Ally McDonald of Fulton, Mass.

Sports, Pages 25 on 07/20/2013