THE RECRUITING GUY

Lone official visitors officially impressed

University of Arkansas assistant coach Taver Johnson during media day Sunday, Aug. 11, 2013 at the Fred W. Smith Football Center in Fayetteville.

Arkansas hosted approximately 60 prospects for the Texas A&M game last Saturday night, and one of their top remaining targets, highly recruited safety Steven Parker II and his father were impressed.

“The one thing I will say, I liked how everybody at Arkansas is on the same page,”said the elder Parker. “They’re in the know. They k n ow what the university is looking for, they know what the university is trying to do.”

Parker,6-3, 195, 4.46 seconds in the 40-yard dash, of Jenks, Okla., has approximately 25 scholarship offers, including Arkansas, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Ohio State, Texas A&M and Tennessee. Recruiting coordinator Chris Hauser drew praise from Parker’s father.

“Chris Hauser, top notch,top notch,” Parker said. “He went above and beyond the call of duty.”

Much of the Parker’s interest in Arkansas is because of his relationship with defensive coordinator Chris Ash. They were able to spend time with Ash before the game in the Miller Room located in the Broyles Complex.

“Coach Ash came in there and we had a chance to break bread,” said Parker, who played safety at Oklahoma State in 1978-1979. “It was the first time we met. He was very clear and decisive about what we’re looking at, what he was trying to do, which direction he was going. That was one thing that gained my attention and got my respect.”

Parker, who had 74 tackles, 4 interceptions, 6 pass breakups and a forced fumble as a junior, has the ability play immediately and replace senior safety Eric Bennett. He’s rated a 4-star plus by national recruiting analyst Tom Lemming of CBS Sports Network.

“He has explosive speed and does a great job of reading the quarterback’s eyes and is rarely caught out of position,” Lemming said. “He’s one of the top three players in the state.”

They were able to spend time with Coach Bret Bielema.

“Coach Bielema, great guy, great guy,” Parker Sr. said. “Very direct, sometimes you can be a little bit too direct, but I get the gist to where he’s coming from.”

Parker said his son will be be back for an official visit sometime in the future.

“In my opinion from my ride home, it’s a definite official visit,” he said.

NO HURRY TO LEAVE

The lone official visitor, tight end Ravian Pierce, said he wasn’t ready to leave for Florida when his visit ended on Sunday.

“It was great, I loved it,” Pierce said. “I kind of don’t want to leave but I have to go back home.”

Pierce, 6-4, 230 pounds, 4.53 seconds in the 40-yarddash, Plantation High School, has approximately 27 scholarship offers, including Arkansas, Alabama, Georgia, Miami, Ohio State and Ole Miss. He said he felt comfortable in Fayetteville.

“It was just mad love they showed me,” Pierce said. “I don’t know how to explain it. I met the team, they were cool. We hung out and did a lot of fun stuff. I felt like I was already a player there.”

Pierce said before he visited that he would probably commit if he enjoyed his visit. After speaking with his coach, Steve Davis, he’s decided to take a couple more official visits.

‘INSANE’ MEETING

Highly regarded junior offensive lineman Keaton Sutherland found out howmuch Arkansas wanted him in Fayetteville during his visit on Saturday.

Sutherland, 6-5, 260, 5.13 seconds in the 40-yard dash, of Flower Mound, Texas, Marcus,has scholarship offers from Arkansas, Baylor, Oklahoma, Texas Tech and TCU. He was able to spend about 20 minutes with Coach Bret Bielema before the game.

“That’s definitely big for me for him to take the time right before a game while he’s preparing,” Sutherland said. “That’s insane.”

Also impressing Sutherland was the intensity of the Razorbacks crowd and their steadfastness under less than idea weather conditions.

“Something that caught my attention was how all the fans were diehard fans because it was raining all day and raining during the game and the stadium was still packed.” said Sutherland, who has two brothers attending Arkansas.

U.S. ARMY ALL-AMERICANS

Springdale Har-Ber defensive lineman Josh Frazier, 6-4, 308, 5.1 seconds in the 40-yard dash, received his game jersey for the U.S. Army All-American game being played in San Antonio on Jan. 4 during a ceremony at the school on Monday.

Arkansas defensive line commitment Bijhon Jackson of El Dorado has also been chosen to play in the game and will receive his jersey on Nov. 7.

E-mail Richard Davenport at rdavenport@arkansasonline.com

Sports, Pages 21 on 10/01/2013