Arkansas hosted three key targets at positions of need over the weekend, and it looks like the Hogs made headway in trying to land them.
Highly regarded cornerback Nate Dalton, 6-3, 195 pounds, 4.50 seconds in the 40-yard dash, of Houston Cypress Falls, made the trip with his uncle, Ron Mulkey, his aunt, Shaletha, and his cousin, Jordan. He had previously taken official visits to Oklahoma, Kentucky and Liberty. He is scheduled to visit Michigan on Friday.
"I really enjoyed my visit," said Dalton, who will make one last official visit on Friday, at Michigan. "Then, hopefully, I'll make my decision after that."
Dalton has more than 10 scholarship offers, including ones from Arkansas, Oklahoma, Michigan, Utah, Kentucky, SMU and Washington State. He announced Monday he had narrowed his list to Arkansas, Michigan, Kentucky and Liberty in no order.
Dalton said the Razorbacks' fan base made a big impact on him during the weekend, especially during the traditional Friday night dinner.
"I could tell that the fans are really real," he said. "Not only for football but just as alumni of the college. I could tell that they support the players through their hard times and through their best times."
Dalton, who played quarterback before moving to the defensive backfield as a senior, is originally from Baton Rouge and was paired during his Arkansas visit with Razorbacks freshman cornerback Henre Toliver, who is also from south Louisiana.
"It was kind of weird because me and him are like mirror images of each other," Dalton said. "We're both from Louisiana, we both have the same goals, we both have the same situations coming into college except he played corner all his life and I played quarterback."
Dalton also spent time with his lead recruiter at Arkansas, defensive backs coach Clay Jennings, and he said the Razorbacks' defensive backs impressed him. He said the trip helped the Hogs' chances to sign him.
"All I knew was Coach Jennings being an honest, good man, telling me the things I could bring to the program that I actually saw within the DBs," Dalton said. "The relationships he has with the players, that's something I really liked up there."
Hold on, Gators
Linebacker Rayshad Jackson received his first scholarship offer from Arkansas while former Hogs linebackers coach Randy Shannon was on staff and later was offered by Shannon again when he joined the Florida coaching staff.
Jackson, who visited Arkansas this past weekend, was quoted saying he was 80 percent sure he would commit to Florida during his official visit there on Friday.
But that was before he visited Arkansas.
"It's tied up right now because Arkansas really shocked me," Jackson said. "Coach Shannon left, but the coaching staff right now is really excellent."
Jackson, 6-1, 215, 4.58, of Miami Norland, made the trip with his parents Rayshad IV and Brenda. He said the trip exceeded his expectations.
"I thought it was going to be like a little place, but it actually surprising how big it was," Jackson said.
Coach Bret Bielema hasn't named a linebackers coach, but defensive coordinator Robb Smith might take over those duties.
"As of right now, the linebacker coach is the DC -- Robb Smith," Jackson said. "He said that if I get to know the plays, learn the plays, then there could be a true freshman at middle linebacker."
Happy visit
Arkansas' tight-knit family atmosphere was a hit with highly regarded offensive tackle Toby Weathersby of Houston Westfield during his weekend visit.
" Not everyone this family-orientated out there," Weathersby said.
Weathersby, 6-5, 290, 5.0, was hosted at Arkansas by Denzell Evans, a sophomore-to-be running back from Bellaire, a Houston suburb, and was told good things about offensive line coach Sam Pittman, the school and other coaches.
"He [Evans] said, 'You've got the best coach,' " Weathersby said. "All the coaches, the way they are now that's they way they really are. No faking or none of that. This place out here is legit, no show or any of that. The coaches all have a sense of humor."
Weathersby said he plans to officially visit LSU this weekend and then Houston, where his high school coach Corby Meekins was recently hired to coach tight ends. Weathersby said Evans' words could help the Razorbacks.
"You go some places and they put on a show for you," said Weathersby, who plans to announce his college decision on signing day. "When you get out there, they put you to the wolves."
Pittman and Arkansas defensive backs coach Clay Jennings have double-teamed Weathersby during the recruiting process. He said it's a plus that Pittman would be his position coach if he decides to be a Hog.
"That's one of the great things," Weathersby said.
Jennings' sense of humor was a hit with Weathersby.
"Coach Jennings ... that dude is cool," he said. "He used to recruit the Houston area a long time ago and still does. That dude is real funny."
Hey, K.J.
Football coaches from Arkansas, Ohio State and Alabama will attend North Little Rock receiver K.J. Hill's basketball game at Searcy tonight. Ole Miss coaches visited with him Monday evening. Coaches from Florida are also expected to visit this week.
Hill, 6-0, 185, reopened his recruiting Sunday after being committed to Arkansas since August.
E-mail Richard Davenport at rdavenport@arkansasonline.com
Sports on 01/20/2015