THE RECRUITING GUY

Ohioan: Johnson’s style refreshing

Arkansas has made a strong push to recruit Ohio under Coach Bret Bielema, and the Hogs are taking advantage of the connections of cornerbacks coach Taver Johnson, shown, and graduate assistant Nick Caley, who are from Cincinnati and Canton, Ohio, respectively.

Arkansas cornerbacks coach Taver Johnson recruits Georgia and his home state of Ohio where he’s on several top prospects, including highly touted defensive tackle Daniel Cage of Cincinnati Winton Woods High School.

“I’m interested in Arkansas,” Cage said. “I’m looking forward to going down there and seeing what they have to offer me, see the facilities and seeing the athletic program and get a feel of Arkansas. “

Cage, 6-2, 295 pounds, 4.9 seconds in the 40-yard dash, has received about 30 scholarship offers, with Arkansas, Tennessee, Nebraska, Florida and Georgia Tech among them.

Cage said Johnson, who attended high school in Cincinnati, takes a different approach than a lot of coaches who have recruited him.

“He doesn’t preach NFL,” Cage said. “He preaches hard work and dedication.”

Arkansas is one of several schools Cage said he is planning to visit during the summer. He also mentioned Tennessee, Louisville Florida and Georgia Tech as others he intends to visit.

Cage said he has a 2.9 grade point average and a 375-pound bench press, and he said he likes the Hogs’ winning tradition.

“I don’t want to go to a school that’s a losing program and not get as much recognition,” Cage said. “I play for championships. I’ve been a part of championships all my life.”

STUDYING UP ON UA

Taver Johnson is recruiting another Ohio prospect, Alex Dalton of Troy High School.

Dalton, an offensive and defensive lineman, is also handy as a deep snapper.

Dalton said he and Johnson are working on developing a relationship, which will determine whether he visits Arkansas.

“That’s what I look at before I make the decision to travel a far distance like that,” said Dalton, who is being recruited by the Hogs to play on the offensive line. “A relationship is important in deciding what I do.”

Dalton, 6-4, 280 pounds, 5.1, reports having scholarship offers from 22 schools, including Arkansas, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Michigan State, Stanford and Kentucky. He has a 390-pound bench press and a 450-pound squat.

“Right now, I don’t know how high my level of interest is in Arkansas,” Dalton said. “I know they’re a great football team, they’re a great program. They have a new coaching staff.”

The fact Coach Bret Bielema has had three offensive linemen taken in the first round of the NFL Draft over the past three years impressed Dalton. He also was impressed with offensive line coach Sam Pittman, who has had 10 linemen drafted during his career, including four in the recent draft.

“I knew that Coach Bielema came from Wisconsin,” he said. “I wasn’t sure where the other coaches came from, but that is what I look at in a school, the history of the coaches.”

HOGS IN TOP 3

Arkansas is in the top three for Kevin Shorter, who is one of the nation’s more exciting athletes.

Shorter, 5-11, 185 pounds, 4.38, plays at Newton, Texas, and has narrowed his list of more than 20 scholarship offers to Arkansas, LSU and Texas A&M. He rushed 151 times for 1,810 yards and 31 touchdowns as a junior.

He also has offers from Texas, Georgia, Tennessee, Oklahoma and Baylor. Numerous schools are recruiting Shorter as an athlete, but the Hogs like him as a running back.

Shorter, who has been laser-timed at 10.63 seconds in the 100, is cousins with Arkansas cornerback signee D.J. Dean. He also has the ability to return kicks.

CLOSE TO COMMITTING

Razorbacks running backs coach Joel Thomas visited the school of running back Sione Palelei on Thursday afternoon.

Palelei, 5-10, 197 pounds, 4.35, plays for East Ascension High School in Gonzalez, La. He visited the Hogs for the Red-White spring game in April and was surprised by what Arkansas had to offer.

Palelei used his speed and elusiveness to rush 111 times for 828 yards and 13 touchdowns in 9 games as a junior and had 20 receptions for 283 yards and 3 touchdowns.

He said he came close to pledging to Arkansas during his visit but plans to visit again in July.

Several schools have offered Palelei a scholarship, including Arkansas, Louisiana Tech, Brigham Young, Utah and Southern Miss.

MARYLAND?

In a surprise move, running back Johnathan Thomas of Danvers (Mass.) St. John’s Prep orally committed to Maryland on Thursday after visiting Arkansas on Monday.

Thomas, 5-11, 205 pounds, 4.47, spoke glowingly of the Hogs after his visit and said he was tempted to pledge to the Razorbacks during his visit.

E-mail Richard Davenport at rdavenport@arkansasonline.com

Sports, Pages 24 on 05/10/2013