DE turns down offers to be a Razorback

Defensive end Karl Roesler turned down scholarship offers to walk on at Arkansas.

Defensive end Karl Roesler III made the decision to walk on and be a part of Arkansas' 105 squad to begin fall practice before an unofficial visit on Monday.

"I’m part of the 105 and I’ll be down in July for class and working out with the team," Roesler said. "I'll be playing for Arkansas."

Roesler, 6-3, 235, 4.74 seconds in the 40 yard dash, of Louisville St. Xavier High School turned scholarship offers from Miami of Ohio, Toledo and Tiffin University, a Division-II school in Ohio to be a Razorback.

A current Hog, quarterback Brian Buehner, who also attended St. Xavier, told the Arkansas coaching staff about Roesler. His coach, Mike Glazer sent his video to the Razorbacks.

"They started looking at me about three months ago, I would say," Roesler said. "They liked my film and they talked to me after that."

Arkansas let him know about three weeks ago they wanted him to be part of the 105.

"That was probably the best offer I had" he said. "I was really thankful for that and was ready to go down to play for Arkansas."

His father and coach accompanied him on his visit.

"I really love the coaching staff," Roesler said. "My defensive line coach (Charlie) Partridge is really nice guy. Especially with the new football building going in right behind the stadium was really surprising and nice that helped too."

Roesler reports bench pressing about 340 pounds and squatting 475, said his father liked the Hogs.

"Oh yeah, he was definitely sold," he said.

The decision to play his college football in Fayetteville was an easy one.

"I had looks from the MAC but there’s nothing like the SEC," he said. "There’s nothing as fast and the competition is so good. That’s why I held off and trying to go to a bigger school and Arkansas is pretty much as big as you can get.”

Roesler had some other options.

"UCLA was in the mix for awhile and Purdue and Notre Dame," Roesler said. "It was those three."

He described his skills as a defensive end.

"I'm quick off the ball very good, getting people's hands off of me," Roesler said. "I really have good hands and then get off the ball quickly as possible and I’m a big-time pass rusher I would say."