The Recruiting Guy

Louisiana linebacker, safety check out Arkansas

Arkansas coach Bret Bielema watches his players during practice Saturday, Dec. 13, 2014, at the university's practice facility in Fayetteville.

Arkansas is expected to host two Louisiana prospects on official visits this weekend.

Haynesville linebacker Kendrick Jackson, an Arizona commitment, will arrive Saturday and Destrehan safety Brandon Scott is expected to start his visit today.

Jackson, 6-0, 238 pounds, 4.8 seconds in the 40-yard dash, has scholarship offers from Arkansas, Louisville, Tulsa, Memphis, Louisiana Tech, Hawaii and others.

"Everything Kendrick has done, he's been a leader," Haynesville Coach David Franklin said. "That goes back to pee-wee football, to summer baseball.He's just a leader. He's always been a leader, and when you need something done on the football field he's the guy you can always count on to get it done."

Jackson recorded 121 tackles, including 27 for losses, as a junior and had 118 tackles and 34 tackles for losses as a senior. He got to know Arkansas defensive end/tight end commitment JaMario Bell of Junction City and Hogs tight end Will Gragg of Dumas when they were teammates on baseball and basketball youth teams.

"He's a very good person and comes from a good, strong family," Franklin said. "He's the type of high school football player you always want. He doesn't do anything real flashy, he just gets the job done."

Jackson is a physical and punishing tackler who also started at quarterback for the run-oriented Golden Tornado.

"You can't teach it. You just have it," Franklin said of Jackson's physical nature. "He's always been a physical football player. Not many players are your starting linebacker and your quarterback.

"He's tremendous athlete. He plays shortstop and pitches on the baseball team, he plays basketball, and he was third in the state in the discus last year."

Arkansas Coach Bret Bielema and defensive coordinator Robb Smith visited Jackson at school Wednesday.

Jackson also took official visits to Arizona and Louisiana Tech.

Jackson helped Haynesville win its second consecutive Class 1A state title this past season, and Franklin said college coaches like Jackson's competitive attitude.

"We played in a state championship on Friday, and on a Tuesday he played in a basketball game," Franklin said. "He'll do the same thing in basketball. He'll go off and get his arm in shape and start playing baseball and then track.

"If I'm a college coach, that's the kind of kid I'm looking for. He likes to win."

Scott, 6-0, 190, comes from the same school that former Razorbacks safety Jerico Nelson attended.

Destrehan Coach Stephen Robicheaux said Scott combines physical play with great instincts.

"He's all over the field," Robicheaux said. "He's the second-leading tackler on our team at free safety. He's a kid with incredible instincts and a guy that really plays physical, so he would be a big catch for anybody."

Scott reported on Twitter that he received a scholarship offer -- his 25th -- last week from Arkansas. Nebraska, Iowa, Arizona State, Kentucky and Minnesota are among the other schools that have reportedly offered scholarships.

Robicheaux said Scott's athletic ability is eye-opening.

"He actually jumped in the state meet as a freshman and finished seventh as a freshman in the long jump," Robicheaux said. "He gave it up after that, but he's a kid that's very athletic and a kid that plays the game like it's supposed to be played."

WATCHING HILL

Arkansas offensive coordinator Dan Enos and tight ends coach Barry Lunney Jr. watched North Little Rock receiver K.J. Hill practice basketball Thursday.

It's uncertain if Hill will make an official visit to Fayetteville this weekend. The former Arkansas commitment has taken official visits to Alabama, Ohio State and Florida. The Buckeyes and Crimson Tide appear to be the leaders for his signature.

Enos and Lunney also attended Pulaski Robinson junior athlete T.J. Hammonds' basketball game Thursday night.

Hammonds, 5-11, 196, 4.42, is one of the top in-state prospects for the 2016 class and already has an offer from Tulsa.

E-mail Richard Davenport at

rdavenport@arkansasonline.com

Sports on 01/30/2015