Lawton, Okla. Coach Randy Breeze said Arkansas offensive line target Jalin Barnett had the most dominant game he's ever seen by an offensive lineman against cross-town rival Eisenhower Thursday night.
Barnett, 6-4, 305 pounds has more than 50 scholarship offers, including schools like Arkansas, Oklahoma, Oregon, Oklahoma State, Alabama, Auburn, Stanford and Tennessee. ESPN rates Barnett the No. 1 offensive guard and the nation's No. 43 overall prospect.
Breeze said Barnett graded 95 percent and had 18 pancake blocks in the Wolverines' 72-27 victory. Two of the pancake blocks came on one play, called 44 inside, and started with Barnett blocking the defensive lineman across from him.
"He puts his hands on his chest and throws him to the ground and immediately comes off to the linebacker who flips, shoulder pads on the ground, feet in the air," Breeze said.
Barnett went on to the third level and blocked the safety.
"The safety staggers about 4 feet never does fall down; he stumbles but never really goes down to the ground or he gets three pancakes," Breeze said.
Barnett said Thursday's performance was probably his best yet.
"Physically, I just went out and destroyed people," Barnett said.
He seeks out linebackers and defensive backs after completing his first block.
"It really motivates me for me to be 300 plus pounds and can catch somebody that's only like 160," he said. "That makes me so happy. I feel like I can prove myself and I can get to the third level and most people can't really do that."
Barnett made an official visit to Fayetteville for the Northern Illinois game on Sept. 20 with his grandmother, Charlotte Burse, and they came away impressed with the fan base.
"I really loved how people were just into the school," Barnett said.
Arkansas' football team also impressed Barnett on the field in its 52-14 victory over the Huskies.
"I loved the way the guys played the game that weekend," he said. "It was overall a great trip."
Barnett said he's looking to officially visit Oklahoma State this weekend and has plans to officially Oklahoma on Nov. 8. His last visit will go to Oregon State.
"I really do like Oregon State and I'm looking forward to this visit to OSU, because I want to see what they can offer," Barnett said.
Barnett said he has been communicating with Arkansas offensive line coach Sam Pittman on a regular basis.
"The last few weeks have been really good conversations," Barnett said. "I can tell he's worried about me."
OLE MISS VISIT DELAYED
Nashville receiver La'Michael Pettway was planning to visit Ole Miss over the weekend, but instead took in the Hogs' game against Georgia.
Pettway, 6-3, 200, 4.47 seconds in the 40 yard dash, has 14 scholarship offers, including Arkansas, Alabama, Louisville, Ole Miss, Arkansas State, Nebraska, Southern Miss and others.
"Since it was two hours away I could go ahead and go talk to coaches here and reschedule down there at Ole Miss," Pettway said.
Coach Bret Bielema, tight ends coach Barry Lunney Jr. and receivers coach Michael Smith joked with Pettway, he said, that they were hoping to see him take the field.
"They're just happy to see me," Pettway said. "Everyone of them asked me if I was ready to suit up, if I wanted to suit up that day. They talked to my parents a bunch."
Pettway, who committed to Ole Miss in late May, reopened his recruiting Sept. 1 and lists the Hogs and Rebels as his top two schools. He said he thought of pledging to the Hogs during Saturday's visit.
"Yeah, there was some temptation," he said. "But I'm still looking to be around both schools more."
HOPE PROSPECT OPTIMISTIC
The state's top junior prospect, Hope defensive end McTelvin Agim attended Arkansas' game against Georgia in Little Rock on Saturday.
Agim, 6-3, 258, 4.68 seconds in the 40-yard dash, has 10 scholarship offers from schools like Arkansas, Alabama, Auburn, Stanford, Ole Miss, Clemson, Oklahoma and others. The Hogs were the first school to offer him.
He's impressed by the Razorbacks' progress from last year to now.
"I've seen big improvement," Agim said.
Agim said he is convinced the Hogs are close to being among the SEC's elite.
"If they had a couple more playmakers to add depth to what they already have, they're going to be SEC contenders," Agim said.
He said he plans to visit Auburn this weekend and Oklahoma Nov. 8 and possibly Arkansas or Alabama for Nov. 15. He's looking at a trip to Baylor Nov. 22 and may visit Mississippi State when it hosts the Hogs Nov. 1.
Quality time was spent before the game with the coaches and Director of Recruiting E.K. Franks, who kept Agim laughing
"We were talking about the recruiting process," Agim said of Franks. "He's a trip. He's a really cool person to talk to."
OFF THE DIME
Junior-college forward Malik Dime, an Arkansas target, has confirmed via text message that he committed to Washington on Monday.
Dime, 6-10, 220 pounds of Indian Hills Community College in Iowa picked the Huskies over Arkansas, Rutgers and Iowa State.
E-mail Richard Davenport at rdavenport@arkansasonline.com
Sports on 10/21/2014