Arkansas is expected to host about three prospects on official visits this weekend, including defensive lineman Breeland Speaks, an Ole Miss commitment.
Speaks, 6-4, 285 pounds, 4.98 seconds in the 40-yard dash, named The Clarion-Ledger’s 2013 Metro Player of the Year after recording 116 tackles and 26 1/2 tackles for loss last season. Defensive line coach Rory Segrest has made a good impression on him in a short time.
“He’s cool,” Speaks said. “He’s just checking on me most of the time and making sure I’m alright and I like that about coach. I can tell coach is all about business. That’s probably the main thing I like about him.”
Speaks visited Ole Miss this past weekend and LSU the pervious weekend. His parents, Clyde and Brenda, and his brother, Marcellus, the defensive coordinator at Callaway, have accompanied Speaks on his two other visits and will do the same this weekend.
Academics are high on his parent’s and brother’s list.
‘They also want to see the mindset of the coaches and see how they care for their players,” Speaks said.
He reconfirmed his pledge to Ole Miss during his trip to Oxford but maintains the Hogs still have a shot.
“That’s way I’m going on the visit,” Speaks said.
Speaks hosted Segrest for an in-home last week and was able to watch video from his five seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles.
“I’ve actually seen his cut ups for the D-line... the D-line cut ups that he’s brought over and watching his boys get after it,” Speaks said. “His coaching philosophy is all about results.”
Fordyce athlete Gary Cross, 6-2, 190 will arrive with his mother later this afternoon for his official visit. He recently was named to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette All Arkansas Team. The Hogs plan to place him at a junior college with hopes of signing him at a later date.