One of Arkansas' top football targets, junior linebacker Jordan Carmouche of Manvel, Texas, said he plans to visit Fayetteville on Saturday with his parents.
Arkansas was the second school, after Houston, to offer a scholarship to Carmouche, who now has 16 offers.
Carmouche received his offer from the Hogs a few days after an outstanding showing at Arkansas' Elite Camp on June 19 of last year.
Carmouche, 6-1, 218, 4.6 seconds in the 40-yard dash, has added 14 more offers, including Texas, Oklahoma, Baylor, Texas Tech, Missouri, Colorado and others since January.
But he said in early January that the Razorbacks are at the top of his list and he said they remain there despite the latest offers.
"They're a good team, SEC football, that's the best football in the nation," Carmouche said. "It's the best conference in college football. I love the staff, and I know a couple of players like Taiwan (Johnson)."
Carmouche, who attended Arkansas' 52-14 victory over Northern Illinois on Sept. 20, recorded 57 tackles, including 6 for lost yardage and 2 sacks, also forced a quarterback hurry, had an interception, 4 pass breakups and recovered a fumble as a junior.
He said he's looking forward to his third Fayetteville visit, which will include meeting and talking with the coaching staff and a seat at Walton Arena for the basketball team's SEC regular-season finale vs. LSU.
"It's going to be a great atmosphere at the basketball game."
Carmouche said he was caught off guard by the escalation in offers.
"I thought I would get more offers in the spring, but it was surprising when they started coming in so soon," Carmouche said.
Arkansas Coach Bret Bielema, defensive backs coach Clay Jennings and linebackers coach Vernon Hargreaves have been triple-teaming him.
"They want me to come down there and they said I'm one of their top targets," he said.
Carmouche said it is a plus that the Hogs were the second team to offer a scholarship.
"So I know they really like my talent," he said. "You have to know who liked you first."
Carmouche shined at last year's camp, and Bielema made a strong impression on him and his parents during a meeting in his office.
"They really like Coach Bielema because the last time we got to sit down and talk to him, so they really like it and like him and think it's a really good place," Carmouche said.
Carmouche, who said he plans to take all five of his allotted five official visits, has a timeline for narrowing his list.
"Probably during the summer or at the beginning of next season," he said.
VENTURING INTO JAYHAWKS LAND
Arkansas is in the running for highly regarded junior defensive end Amani Bledsoe, rated as the nation's No. 26 defensive end and No. 283 prospect prospect overall by ESPN.
Bledsoe, 6-5, 260, 4.81 seconds in the 40, of Lawrence, Kan., participated in one of Arkansas' three-day camps last June.
"I thought it was real nice environment and everything," Bledsoe said. "Nice facilities, all the best."
Arkansas offered Bledsoe in December, the 10th school to do so. The list of offers is up to 16, with Oklahoma, Ohio State, Nebraska, Missouri, Kansas State and Kansas included. Bledsoe said he hopes to narrow his list to five.
"I'm not sure, but if I do I'll probably narrow it down by the end of the summer," Bledsoe said.
Bledsoe, who recorded 40 tackles, including 13 sacks this past season, reports a 300-pound bench press and 470 squat. Offensive line coach Sam Pittman, who recruits Kansas and and its junior colleges, is Bledoe's lead recruiter.
"He's talked highly of the program and lets me know what Arkansas football is all about," Bledsoe said.
Bledsoe reports a 3.6 GPA and said he is leaning toward going into physical therapy or being a chiropractor.
"Just with some of the minor injuries I've had, I just have an interest in helping people," Bledsoe said. "Leaning more towards athletics."
E-mail Richard Davenport at rdavenport@arkansasonline.com
Sports on 03/03/2015