One of Texas’ top junior prospects, offensive lineman Zach Rogers of Carrollton (Texas) Hebron, participated Monday in his third Arkansas Football Camp and again was the most impressive player at his position.
Rogers, 6-3, 295 pounds, 5.06 seconds in the 40-yard dash, has scholarship offers from Arkansas, Texas, Oklahoma, Texas Tech, Baylor and UCLA. He has made about 12 visits to Fayetteville since last year.
“They’re up there,” Rogers said of his interest level in the Hogs. “They’re way up there, definitely. Ever since last June I’ve been coming here. I think this is my 12th trip or something up here. I’ve gotten to know the coaches I like the town of Fayetteville.
“If I wasn’t a football player this is where I would come to school, taking football out of the equation.”
Rogers said he has been tempted to orally commit to the Razorbacks.
“That has crossed my mind,” he said. “I’m not sure I’m ready to do that. I just want to make sure I make the right decision because if I say I’m going somewhere I’m done. I’m going somewhere.”
Rogers started as a 14-year old freshman in the highest classification in Texas and as a sophomore he has posted a 355-pound bench press and 470-pound squat.
He said he enjoyed being coached by offensive line coach Sam Pittman and admired Pittman’s way of teaching.
“When he explains things, if you don’t get it the first time he doesn’t say the same thing over again,” Rogers said. “He’ll explain it in a different way to help you understand it.”
Hebron Coach Brian Brazil, whose daughter Danielle is a student at Arkansas and is in her fourth year of working in the video department of the football program, said Rogers is the best lineman he’s coached at the school.
“Zach is a great football player,” said Brazil, who brought his son David, a junior, to participate in the camp. “He’s already started 22 games in two years. He’s never played a game as a 16-year-old kid yet.
“He’s the best lineman we’ve ever had at Hebron High School. He’s a great kid to have, and I’m glad to have him for two more years.”
GRAGG IMPROVING
Pine Bluff junior tight end Will Gragg visited Arkansas on Sunday and participated Monday in the Hogs’ prospect camp.
Gragg said he felt like he left the camp a better player after working with tight ends coach Barry Lunney Jr.
“That’s why you go to camps is to get better, and I feel like I got better,” Gragg said. “He taught me how they block and sticking my routes and becoming a better route runner and a better pass catcher. I feel like I was pretty good at those before, but I feel like I got better .”
Gragg, 6-4, 238, 4.8, received his first scholarship offer from the Hogs last summer and has added offers from Ole Miss and Alabama after recently attending their camps. He said Thursday that the Rebels were his top school.
He and his father, Kelvin, were able to spend time with Arkansas Coach Bret Bielema during his visit.
“We caught up because we hadn’t talked to each other since the Kentucky game in basketball,” said Gragg, whose brother Chris was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the seventh round of the most recent NFL Draft. said. “We were catching up and seeing how each other was doing. My dad was there to ask some questions and he asked him some questions. We felt like we bonded and built a better relationship.”
CAPPS EARNS OFFER
Star City sophomore defensive lineman Austin Capps already had quite a reputation before ever playing in his first high school game last year.
He built on that reputation earlier this week after attending Arkansas’ three day high school camp, where he earned a scholarship offer from the Razorbacks. It’s his first offer.
“I think I did good and got a lot better, honestly,” Capps said. “I got better at pass rush and learned a few things on stopping the run.”
Capps, 6-4, 298, turned heads Sunday when he ran the 40-yard dash in 5.1 seconds. After leading his junior high team to an undefeated season, he moved up to the varsity for the last three games against Lake Village, Dewitt and Crossett and recorded 12 assisted tackles, 6 unassisted tackles and 2 sacks.
He said he received positive feedback from defensive line coach Charlie Partridge.
“He told me I did good throughout the camp,” said Capps, who reports a 315-pound bench press and a 530-pound squat. “He told me I was improving every day.”
Capps said he wasn’t expecting to do so well at the camp.
“Honestly, I really didn’t,” Capps said. “I just did better than I thought I would.”
E-mail Richard Davenport at rdavenport@arkansasonline.com
Sports, Pages 26 on 06/14/2013