Junior offensive lineman Thiyo Lukusa's relationship with Arkansas offensive line coach Sam Pittman and graduate assistant Eric Mateos is a key part of his desire to visit the Razorbacks.
"They seem to be down-to-earth guys, and it seems like they put guys in the league," said Lukusa, who attends Traverse City (Mich.) West High School and received a scholarship offer from Arkansas on Feb. 19. "I heard Arkansas had one of the better business degrees in the country, so that turned me on. That's the SEC, that's football down South, so I'm very interested in it."
Lukusa, 6-6, 292 pounds, 5.19 seconds in the 40-yard dash, has about 10 other scholarship offers from schools that include Michigan, Michigan State, Nebraska, Ohio State and others.
Lukusa said he likes what he's heard from Pittman, who has had 16 offensive linemen drafted into the NFL.
"He's an old-school dude, but I like him," said Lukusa, who is considering visiting Fayetteville in the spring. "I just get the impression he knows football and he knows what it takes."
Tom Lemming of CBS Sports Network likes Lukusa and rates him a four-star prospect.
"I've seen him in person and watched film of him, and four stars is legit," Lemming said. "This guy can play the game. He has dominated everyone he's gone against and is a potential All-American."
Lukusa, who has a 300-pound bench press and a 450-pound squat, also was impressed with Mateos.
"He knows how to relate with the players," Lukusa said. "He does a really nice job of recruiting in talking to you and giving you space, but at the same time letting you know they're wanted."
He has a 3.3 grade-point average and is exploring his options for a major.
"I'm leaning towards criminal justice and criminology right now," he said. "But a business degree, I'm definitely interested and something I want to look at."
Lukusa doesn't have a firm date for choosing a college.
"I would like to get it down before my season," he said, "but I'm not going to rush to make a choice."
END OFFERED
Arkansas became the sixth school to offer a scholarship to highly regarded defensive end Willie Baker of Livonia, La.
"My interest is high mostly because of the conference they're in," said Baker, who received an offer from Arkansas on Feb. 19. "They have a nice football program that's getting on up there on defense. I really like the defense of Arkansas. I really want to make the trip up there so I can check it out."
Baker, 6-4, 230, also has scholarship offers from Michigan, Tennessee, Louisville, Arizona State, Louisiana Tech and Tulane among others.
Baker said Arkansas receivers coach Michael Smith has told him about his chances of early playing time.
"He was telling me if I come in with the right mind-set and be dedicated in the weight room and come work hard, I would be playing early," Baker said.
Baker made plays all over the field and finished his junior season with 108 tackles, 12 sacks, 30 tackles for loss and 6 forced fumbles.
"I was kind of playing a little bit of defensive tackle and end," Baker said. "Kind of switched up and stunted and all that. They talked about playing me at rover because the colleges were talking about playing me at rover or defensive end."
He and Smith are discussing a date for him to visit Fayetteville.
"He said they really want to get me up for a visit so they can show me around that campus and meet all of the coaches," Baker said.
LUNNEY IMPRESSES
Pulaski Robinson junior athlete T.J. Hammonds, who received a scholarship offer from Arkansas on Wednesday, said Razorbacks tight ends coach Barry Lunney Jr. has separated himself from other recruiters.
"Some recruiters aren't very honest like him," Hammonds said. "I feel comfortable with him more so than other recruiters because I talk to him more than other recruiters. He's been there throughout the whole process more like a friend than a recruiter."
E-mail Richard Davenport at
rdavenport@arkansasonline.com
Sports on 02/27/2015