THE RECRUITING GUY

Hogs expected to make the cut with safety

Arkansas redshirt freshman defensive end Deatrich Wise Jr. (right) was a high school teammate of Razorbacks recruit Jamal Adams.

Arkansas will be among the finalists when highly sought safety Jamal Adams of Carrollton (Texas) Hebron High School narrows down the list of schools he is interested in attending.

“I’ve been in talks with my family,” said Adams, who has 20 scholarship offers. “When I do narrow it down, I’ll probably narrow it down to at least a top seven.”

Adams, 6-0, 190 pounds,4.4 seconds in the 40-yard dash, said he believes Arkansas will regain its footing under the direction of Coach Bret Bielema.

“I feel like Arkansas has a great opportunity to get back on top where they use to be in the next couple of years,” Adams said.

Adams, who has offers from Arkansas, Texas, Texas A&M, Florida, Ole Miss and Oklahoma, recorded 63 tackles, 3 interceptions, 3 pass deflections, 1 forced fumble and1 blocked field goal as a junior. He said he has been talking to Arkansas cornerbacks coach Taver Johnson by telephone. Adams said Johnson also visited his school during the contact period leading up to national signing day.

“He’s a cool guy,” Adams said. “I can tell that.”

Arkansas defensive end Deatrich Wise Jr. attended Hebron as well and signed with Arkansas in 2012. The two were teammates, and Adams said Wise’s opinion of Arkansas carries a lot of weight with him.

“Most definitely,” Adams said. “Coming in my freshman year, I was on varsity a little bit as a freshman and I was blessed to actually start in the middle of the season. He was coming up and he has kept me under his wing.”

Adams plans to visit Arkansas during the summer.

LINEMAN: HOGS ON RISE

Arkansas appears to be in good shape for a visit from one of the better offensive line prospects in the Midwest.

Offensive tackle Roderick Johnson of Florissant (Mo.) Hazelwood Central has scholarship offers from approximately 20schools, including Arkansas, Missouri, Michigan, Ohio State and Illinois. Johnson, 6-7, 325 pounds, 5.2 seconds in the 40-yard dash, said he has been communicating with Arkansas offensive line coach Sam Pittman.

“Their football program is pretty good,” Johnson said. “The next few years they’re going to be on the rise.”

Johnson said the Razorbacks are one of the schools he hopes to visit over the next few months.

“I plan to do a lot of traveling during the spring and the summertime when I get some days off,” Johnson said. “Get a little traveling done with the family. Hop in that truck and go about our way.”

Johnson, whose late great-grandmother lived in Little Rock, said he has about a 3.3 grade-point average and is considering computer programming or computer science as possible majors. He said academic success will be a key in making his college decision.

“Graduating rate, the academic progress rate,” said Johnson, who said he has a 575-pound squat. “Do they have my major ? Is the campus life safe? On and off campus? Do the students around the campus like it? I want the football program at a top level.

DAY, HOGS ON SAME PAGE

North Little Rock running back Juan Day visited Arkansas on Friday and Saturday for the first time since his commitment to the Hogs in early January.

Day, 6-2, 210 pounds, 4.5seconds in the 40-yard dash, visited with running backs coach Joel Thomas and tight ends coach Barry Lunney Jr. on Friday before watching the Charging Wildcats’ basketball team play in the Class 7A playoffs in Fayetteville.

“Coach Thomas broke down the running game to me,” Day said. “He’s a cool person. He and I are on the same page on everything. We made a good connection.”

Day, who is first cousins with former Razorbacks running back Cedric Cobbs, rushed 115 times for 930 yards and 13 touchdowns in 9 games this past season. He also visited Saturday and talked to Coach Bret Bielema and told him he’s firm in his pledge to the Hogs.

“He said if I work hard I could come in and play right away,” Day said. “I told him I was serious about the commitment.”

GIBSON’S INTEREST ‘HIGH’

Dumas offensive lineman Johnny Gibson Jr., 6-4, 320 pounds, 5.0 seconds in the 40-yard dash, is one of the more talented linemen in the state and has the size and athleticism to attract college coaches.

He said he talked to Arkansas tight ends coach Barru Lunney Jr. Sunday night and he’s hoping to visit Arkansas on Saturday.

“I have a very high interest,” said Gibson, who has a 3.8 grade-point average. “I have a few family members that go there and a lot of my family wants me to go there. I like the idea of playing in state too.”

E-mail Richard Davenport at rdavenport@arkansasonline.com

Sports, Pages 22 on 03/05/2013