Yes, sir, receiver is ready to be a Hog

Deon Stewart is a sophomore at Highland.

Arkansas Coach Bret Bielema received good news a few hours before the start of the Red-White game Saturday when Highland receiver Deon Stewart orally committed to the Razorbacks.

“He asked if I thought I was ready to commit and I said, ‘Yes, sir,’ ” Stewart said.

“He said, ‘Are you sure?’ and I said, ‘Yes, sir’. He kind of jumped around and got all excited.

“We walked out to the tunnel where all the players come out and he told all of the coaches and they all came over and congratulated me.”

Stewart, 6-1, 163 pounds, 4.48 seconds in the 40-yard dash, chose Arkansas over scholarship offers from Mississippi, Louisville, Tulsa, Southern Miss and Arkansas State. Stewart said the wheels started churning toward a commitment when he watched the Razorbacks practice April 15.

“It helped me realize a lot of stuff,” he said. “There’s really nothing like being a Razorback, and being an in-state kid I thought about life after football and how the community would take care of me because I was a Razorback and an instate kid, and that really means a lot to me.”

Stewart recorded 36 receptions for 757 yards and 8 touchdowns, 27 carries for 448 yards and 4 touchdowns, and intercepted 6 passes as a junior. He also was named to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette’s All-Arkansas Preps team as a cornerback.

Highland Coach Spencer Hill said he believes the Razorbacks are getting a player who can make plays.

“He is just a big-play kid that all coaches are looking for,” Hill said. “I tell everybody he makes hard things look easy. That’s his talent right there. He is an explosive play-maker that is going to be a difference maker.”

Stewart’s mother, Chrissy, sat in the meeting with Bielema and Stewart said he could tell his mother was happy with the decision.

“She couldn’t stop smiling,” Stewart said. “She was just so happy. I could tell by looking at her face.”

Stewart is Arkansas’ eighth commitment for the 2015 class. Oral commitments are nonbinding.

Sports, Pages 31 on 04/27/2014