Being committed to Arkansas brings extra attention and a few more aches and pains for receiver Jared Cornelius.
Cornelius, 6-1, 190, of Shreveport Evangel Christian picked the Hogs over eight scholarship offers, including ones from Missouri, Tennessee, Tulsa and San Diego State in August.
As a junior, he had 87 receptions for 1,589 yards and 18 touchdowns. Video highlights CLICK HERE
“I took a beating last Friday,” said Cornelius, who had 48 receptions for 849 yards and 11 touchdowns going into last week’s game. “I really took a beating They had me tripled covered the whole night. There were a lot of crazy catches the quarterback had thrown up and I’m jumping and I’m get chopped.”
The pounding didn’t seem to be a big deal after Cornelius received a call from Razorback receivers coach Michael Smith and informed him that Coach Bret Bielema and himself would attend Monday’s practice.
“I was kind of shocked,” Cornelius said. “I wasn’t expecting it. It doesn’t happen often. So it was kind of shocking. Real cool.”
Having Bielema at practice was a big deal.
“He didn’t have to do that Coach B is a busy man,” Cornelius said. “He took time out of his schedule to come see me.”
Later in the day, his teammate and defensive back Santos Ramirez joined Cornelius as a Hog commitment. Both might officially visit Arkansas on Dec. 6.
“I think we have a bye week before our state championship,” Cornelius said. “More and likely it’s going to be on that week.”
Cornelius, who along with Ramirez participated in Arkansas’ Elite Prospect camp, said urged his teammate to join him in Fayetteville.
“I said ‘What if both of us went down there and totally turned the program around and turn it to a powerhouse like it should be’, “ he said.