Hog futures: Willie Sykes

Sykes didn’t need visit to sign with Arkansas

Spring's Willie Sykes (7) runs past Dekaney's Richardson Dutervil (82) during the first half of a high school football game at George Stadium on Friday, Sept. 26, 2014, in Houston . (J. Patric Schneider / For the Chronicle)

The sixth in a series profiling newcomers on the 2015 Arkansas Razorbacks football team.

Willie Sykes still needs help getting out of bed on his own, and he isn't sure how much weight he wants to gain or what position he wants to play in college.

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Willie Sykes

Yet there is one thing the defensive back from Spring, Texas, knows for sure.

Willie Sykes glance

CLASS Freshman

HEIGHT 5-11

WEIGHT 187

SCHOOL Spring, Texas

NOTEWORTHY Chose Arkansas the day before signing day after giving oral commitments to Washington State and Nebraska. … Had 86 tackles, including 3 for losses, 4 interceptions and broke up 13 passes as a senior. … Had 83 tackles, 3 interceptions, 5 forced fumbles and broke up 9 passes as a junior.

His decision to sign with Arkansas was the right one, even if it seemed like he made it on a whim.

"There are always those thoughts in the back of your head: 'Man, did I make the right decision?' " said Sykes, who decided to sign with the Razorbacks a day before national signing day in February. "But once I got here and got around the coaches and the players, there was no doubt in my mind."

To recap: Sykes committed to Washington State in January before flipping to Nebraska about a week later. Then, the Saturday before signing day, he was offered a scholarship by Arkansas.

He eventually accepted the Hogs' offer, thanks in large part to defensive backs coach Clay Jennings, with whom several of Sykes' high school coaches had worked.

"I've never had a kid commit to a place he had never been," Spring Coach Sam Parker said. "But, in the end, we've got to let the kids make the best decision they can. We try to mold those decisions the best we can, but he's got to feel like he's going to a place he wants to be."

Now that he is on campus, Sykes has turned his focus toward the weight room and is trying to get used to a full-time weight-lifting regime for the first time, as well as his new coaches and teammates.

He also is getting used to the one thing that gives many college freshmen trouble.

"You know in high school, usually your mom wakes you up," said Sykes, who was rated a two-star prospect by Rivals.com. "I just put an alarm on my phone."

Once Sykes gets out of bed, his attention turns to preparing his body for college football. He isn't sure how much weight he wants to put on his 5-11, 183-pound frame, but that decision will likely come after he figures out if he wants to play safety or cornerback.

Parker said Sykes could play both positions, calling him "one of the best defensive backs I've ever coached." Parker said he even believes Sykes could play linebacker, thanks to his aggressive style and nose for contact, if he puts on enough weight.

Sykes' home is likely in the defensive backfield with Jennings.

Sykes and Jennings formed a connection when Jennings was at TCU and he would come through Spring, which is just north of Houston, on recruiting trips. Sykes also went to camps on TCU's campus in Fort Worth.

Jennings played at North Texas from 1992-1995 when Parker's father, Dennis Parker, was its head coach. Sam Parker got to know Jennings better when Jennings began recruiting the Houston area for TCU in 2008.

Sykes also said an assistant coach who played at Sam Houston when Jennings was there and another assistant coach knew Jennings from the recruiting trail.

All had rave reviews.

"Maybe if one guy says it, it might not be true," Sykes said. "If every guy consistently says the same thing without knowing what other people said, then you know there has to be some truth to it."

Sykes was mostly a safety at Spring, but Parker said at times he would move him to cornerback because of his 4.4 speed in the 40-yard dash.

Too much weight gained would likely restrict Sykes to playing safety.

But when pressed, Sykes wouldn't reveal a preference among positions. He's fine with playing safety, but he isn't expecting to play right away.

Sykes said he understands the Razorbacks have a wealth of experience in the secondary. Safeties De'Andre Coley, Joshua Liddell, Davyon McKinney and Rohan Gaines all return with starting experience, and cornerbacks Jared Collins (12 games) and D.J. Dean (six games) saw extensive playing time as well last year.

So, Sykes is fine with being patient and learning from those in front of him.

"You don't want to get out there too early," he said. "You want to take it one day at a time. If they want you to start, or somebody goes down, or if they want you to play a certain spot, you just want to do what they need you to do.

"It'big-time football. You've got to be ready at any time."

Sports on 07/04/2015