Arkansas defensive end commitment Hjalte Froholdt of Denmark called Arkansas defensive line coach Rory Segrest on Monday.
“He told me a little about himself, where he has coached before and so on and that he’s seen my tape and is looking forward to working with me,” Froholdt said. “It was a short call since overseas calling is pretty expensive.”
Froholdt, 6-5, 275 pounds, orally committed to Arkansas on Dec. 2 and is part of a 2015 class that features four other highly regarded prospects. He became a highly recruited prospect after coming to the United States as an exchange student in 2012 and being a standout at tight end and defensive end as a sophomore at Warren (Ohio) Harding High School.
He was equally impressed with Segrest.
“A great guy who’s very friendly and easy to talk to,” Froholdt said. “But from where he has been and what he has done there, he must be a great coach too.”
He plans to return to the United States this summer and attend a prep school in the fall for his senior year.
“I’m looking into prep schools in Florida and Connecticut,” Froholdt said. “But nothing is settled yet.”
His older brother, Lars, who turns 20 on Aug. 19, has been inspired by his brother’s success in football and plans to play at a junior college in America. Lars, 6-1, 320, will likely play fullback or on the defensive line.
“We’ve been looking into a couple [junior colleges],” Hjalte Froholdt said. “One in Texas, a couple in California and a few others in the southeast of the U.S.”
Lars’ goal is to join his brother at Arkansas.
“Yeah, that is the big goal, so we can play sports and study together,” Lars Froholdt said.
Hjalte Froholdt has read up on Arkansas defensive coordinator Robb Smith, and Segrest’s five seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles excites Hjalte Froholdt.
“It’s awesome,” he said. “He has a lot of experience with pro players, and if he can coach one of the top D-lines in the NFL at that time then he can make me great too.”
Football is played at the club level in Denmark, not in high school. Froholdt played four games for a club team in the fall and will begin practice next week for the spring season.
“I’ve been like a bull in a china shop since the season ended,” Froholdt said.
Hjalte and Lars have been workout partners and have seen gains in the weight room, with Hjalte increasing his bench press from 285 pounds to 325 and his squat from 500 to 575 since the summer. Lars reports a 365-pound bench press and a 650-pound squat after previous bests of 285 and 470.
“It’s good to work out with Lars because he’s so much stronger than me,” Hjalte said. “I push myself more.”
The younger Froholdt is hoping to get to back to Fayetteville this summer.
“Probably for an Arkansas camp, but if not, then in July when I enroll in school,” he said.
SMALL CONSIDERATION
Arkansas has extended six scholarship offers to in-state prospects for the 2015 class and are evaluating several other juniors, including safety Jaylin Small of Nettleton.
Nettleton Coach Steve Hampton said Small is an extremely athletic and physical player who can play the run and the pass.
“He was very active against running teams and is athletic enough to play man coverage,” Hampton said. “Athletically, he has all of the ability to play, but what sets them apart is all the intangibles. He’s a very smart kid and makes great grades, very, very good character. You add all those things together and it’s just a complete package.”
Small, 6-0, 185 pounds, recorded 80 tackles, 2 interceptions, 5 pass deflections, 1 forced fumble and 1 recovered fumble this past season. He also is drawing interest from Arkansas State and Troy.
Razorbacks tight ends coach Barry Lunney Jr. visited the school about two weeks to check on Small.
“I have a lot of interest in them now that I know that they’re looking at me,” Small said.
The Hogs want to evaluate Small at camp in June. He attended the Hogs’ game against Texas A&M on Sept. 28.
E-mail Richard Davenport at rdavenport@arkansasonline.com
Sports, Pages 23 on 02/14/2014