Recruiting Guy

Florida cornerback's instincts lead him to Arkansas

Ryan Pulley

With Ryan Pulley signing with Arkansas, Cape Coral (Fla.) Island Coast Coach Wayne Blair now has two cornerbacks playing in the SEC.

Blair also coached Alabama sophomore Eddie Jackson while at Miami Boyd Anderson.

"He's an athletic cornerback, played a lot of receiver for us," Blair said of Pulley. "His hands are tremendous. His grip is pretty ridiculous."

Pulley, 6-0, 195, 4.39 seconds in the 40-yard dash, inked with the Hogs over scholarship offers from Michigan State, Louisville, Arizona, Indiana, South Florida and others. He has a time of 10.65 seconds in the 100 meters.

"His instincts and ability to get out of the break are second to none," Blair said. "He's a long rangy kid that can definitely develop and can become a good man-to-man corner."

As a senior, Pulley had 24 unassisted tackles, 5 assisted tackles, 2 interceptions, 16 pass break-ups while also 25 receptions for 410 yards and 7 touchdowns.

Blair noted the differences between Pulley and Jackson.

"You're talking about two different techniques," Blair. "Eddie is long and rangy, good hips. He's very long and rangy with be 6-foot-1 plus. Ryan is like 5-11 3/4 to 6-foot. He actually has a longer wingspan. They have different styles, but both of them are from the state of Florida."

Harvey coming to Arkansas

Corning offensive lineman Klint Harvey will report to Arkansas shortly after graduating in late May as a preferred walk-on.

Harvey attended several Razorbacks summer camps and got the attention of offensive line coach Sam Pittman.

"He said he really liked me and he's just a really cool guy," Harvey said. "He thinks I have a chance of earning a scholarship up there. He told me I could get a scholarship if I work hard enough."

Harvey, 6-7, 325 pounds, also received interest from Missouri, Arkansas State, Arkansas-Monticello and Central Arkansas. He's averaging about 10 points and 9 rebounds while playing the post for the Bobcats in basketball.

Harvey lifts weights late into the night after basketball practice as he prepares to be a Razorback.

"I'm trying to raise my bench quite a bit. I want to be able to rep 225 [pounds] in the high 20's," Harvey said. "I can do around 18 to 19."

Harvey will be realizing a childhood dream once he arrives in Fayetteville.

"I've wanted to go there since I was pretty young," Harvey said. "I've always liked the Razorbacks."

Coach endorses English

Receiver Zack English of Prosper, Texas, has agreed be a preferred walk-on at Arkansas and his former coach thinks the Hogs are getting a player worthy of scholarship offers.

"I think the University of Arkansas got a steal," said Kent Scott, who resigned as Prosper's coach in November. "Somebody ought to be giving money for that child to play football. He's not very big. That's why he's walking on and of course he's excited about coming to Arkansas."

English, 5-9, 170, 4.51 seconds in the 40 yard dash, had 60 receptions for 781 yards and 9 touchdowns as a senior and earned first team All-District 10-5A honors.

"He's a very tremendous talent, very quick real good hands, super coachable," Scott said. "When people have asked me about him he's very reminiscent of Wes Welker type guy. "

As a junior, he had 46 catches for 540 yards and 8 touchdowns while having 36 receptions for 402 yards and 3 touchdowns as a sophomore. Scott said English can make defenders look bad.

"Best way to say it is he's broken people down like a shotgun," Scott said. "He'll get to going side-to-side. I've seen kids. They don't lunge and miss, they just buckle and go down when he makes a move."

Scott said Coach Bret Bielema and his staff will be happy with what they see in English.

"I don't know if they realize what they're getting with him," Scott said.

E-mail Richard Davenport at rdavenport@arkansasonline.com

Sports on 02/15/2015