The Recruiting Guy

Texas running back has Razorbacks on radar

Arkansas running back coach Jemal Singleton works with the running backs during practice Tuesday, April 7, 2015, at Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville.

Arkansas will host a major offensive target for an unofficial visit today.

Running back D'Vaughn Pennamon of Manvel, Texas, will be joined by three of his teammates and running backs coach Kendrick Crumedy when he checks out Fayetteville today following visits to Kansas State, Kansas and Missouri earlier this week.

Pennamon, 5-11, 200, 4.46 seconds in the 40-yard dash, said Arkansas was one of his earlier scholarship offers. He has more than 25 scholarship offers from schools that include Oklahoma State, Florida, Georgia, Houston, Tennessee, Ole Miss, Nebraska and Kansas.

He rushed 62 times for 661 yards and 2 touchdowns and had 17 receptions for 265 yards and 7 touchdowns as a junior while leading the Mavericks to a 13-1 record last season.

"He's an unbelievable talent," Manvel Coach Kirk Martin said. "He's got unbelievable speed. He catches the ball out of the backfield better than most receivers. Unbelievable hands. He went to state in track in three events and helped us to the Texas 6A state championship as a team in track. Has great vision, balance and cutting ability."

Martin said Pennamon is also a delight to be around.

"He is one of the funnest kids I've ever coached because he's never had a bad day," Martin said. "He is always happy, walking on his toe cleats everywhere he goes."

Pennamon is being recruited by Arkansas defensive backs coach Clay Jennings and running backs coach Jemal Singleton.

CORNERBACK TO VISIT

Cornerback Madre Harper, an Oklahoma State commitment from Arlington (Texas) Lamar, plans to visit Fayetteville on Saturday.

The Hogs extended a scholarship offer to Harper, 6-3, 175, 4.5, June 3. He also has offers from Oklahoma State, Oklahoma, Kansas State, Stanford, Iowa, Duke and others.

"I think it's a really good program," Harper said. "They always produced some really good athletes, and I know they have some really good facilities. I like Fayetteville. I think it's really nice down there."

Harper, who has a best time of 38.0 seconds in the 300-meter hurdles, has been to Fayetteville before for an indoor high school track meet at the Randal Tyson Track Center.

"I [am] still committed to Oklahoma State, but I'm definitely not closing my recruitment yet," he said.

He has a 3.8 grade-point average and is considering health science or sports medicine as a major. Arkansas running backs coach Jemal Singleton is his lead recruiter.

"He's a real cool guy, and he's really excited for his program," Harper said. "They're trying to get the best athletes, and they're telling me I could be a good asset for their program."

AGIM TO REVEAL TOP 4

Hope defensive end McTelvin Agim, ESPN's No. 16 overall prospect, will announce his top four schools at 5 p.m. today on Twitter.

Agim, 6-3, 268, 4.62, is a major target for Arkansas, which was the first school to offer him a scholarship. ESPN also rates him a five-star recruit and the No. 4 defensive end in the country.

FORWARD STOPPING BY

Arkansas Coach Mike Anderson will welcome highly recruited junior power forward Tyler Cook to Fayetteville for an unofficial visit this weekend.

Cook, 6-9, 235, of St. Louis Chaminade College Prep had approximately 28 scholarship offers before narrowing his list to Arkansas, Florida, Missouri, Iowa State, Iowa and Virginia in early May.

Cook and his parents will arrive tonight and leave Sunday morning. Cook is rated a four-star prospect, the No. 13 power forward and No. 58 overall prospect in the nation according to ESPN.

2018 CLASS RATINGS

Three basketball players with Arkansas ties were listed in ESPN's top 25 prospects in the 2018 class that was released Thursday.

Power forward Reginald Perry, 6-9, 205, of Tallahassee (Fla.) Maclay Prep is rated the No. 11 prospect in the nation. He lived in Little Rock until about two years ago.

Little Rock Parkview forward Ethan Henderson 6-7, 175, is the No. 13 prospect ESPN. He and Perry play for the 15-under Arkansas Hawks.

Arkansas Baptist freshman Connor Vanover rounded out ESPN's list at No. 25.

Vanover, 7-3, 210, was named to the USA Basketball under-16 national team last week and is participating in the FIBA Americas U16 Championship this week in Bahia Blanca, Argentina. He plays for the Arkansas Wings during the spring and summer.

E-mail Richard Davenport at

rdavenport@arkansasonline.com

Sports on 06/12/2015