The Recruiting Guy

Oklahoma safety's visit even better than expected

Safety Calvin Bundage.

Safety Calvin Bundage of Edmond (Okla.) Santa Fe said prior to visiting Fayetteville last Saturday for Arkansas' spring game that the Razorbacks were one of the top schools he is considering.

His visit only enhanced the Razorbacks' chances.

"I think they're better," he said. "Just getting to meet the coaches and seeing the facilities, they really showed me a lot. I didn't really expect that ... how the facilities were new."

Bundage, 6-3, 200, 4.5 seconds in the 40-yard dash, has more than 20 scholarship offers from schools that include Arkansas, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Michigan, Tennessee and TCU.

It was his second visit to Arkansas since attending the Hogs' 30-0 victory over Ole Miss on Nov. 22. He was able to get a more in-depth look at what the Razorbacks had to offer this time and he and his mother also met with Coach Bret Bielema.

"He explained to me how much he wanted me," Bundage said.

Bundage recorded 81 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 1 quarterback hurry, 2 pass deflections, 1 forced fumble and 1 recovered fumble as a junior.

Bundage also met with Arkansas defensive backs coach Clay Jennings and said he was impressed with the coaches approach and how comfortable he felt talking with Jennings.

Bundage admitted that he is considering committing to the Razorbacks but isn't quite ready.

"I'm thinking about it after I take all my visits," he said. "I'm going to go back and think about all the visits."

He said that decision could come later this summer.

"I want to visit at least five schools, but I haven't chosen which ones," Bundage said.

IZUNDU IMPRESSED

Power forward Ebuka Izundu of Charlotte (N.C.) Victory Christian Center School will wrap up an official visit to Miami today and will head to Fayetteville for an official visit next weekend.

Izundu, 6-9, 210 pounds, signed with North Carolina-Charlotte in November but was given a release after Coach Alan Major was let go.

He has taken official visits to Cincinnati and Tennessee and plans to take his last trip to Texas Tech on May 15-17. He'll make a decision shortly after his visit to Lubbock.

Victory Christian Center Coach Aureice McCain said Izundu, who is from Lagos, Nigeria, has several reasons for being interested in the Hogs.

"The number two team in the SEC conference, a winning program, a winning coach," McCain said. "That means they have a legacy down there. It's a great group of guys."

McCain became familiar with Arkansas associate head coach Melvin Watkins while he was coaching North Carolina-Charlotte.

"I'm originally from Charlotte," McCain said. "The job he did at Charlotte and the job I know they've been doing there at Arkansas right now is really a no-brainer."

Razorback center Moses Kingsley is from Nigeria and power forward signee Ted Kapita is from Kinshasa, Congo, and McCain believes that's a plus for the Hogs.

"It's always good to have other international players out there, especially when you have guys from your hometown or from your country. It's even better," McCain said. "He would have people he could interact with, so that makes it fun."

McCain said Coach Mike Anderson and his staff have impressed Izundu.

"They're honest. That's the most important thing for him," McCain said. "They're direct and to the point, so he's excited about the opportunity and looking forward to the visit and he thinks it could possibly be a good fit for him."

Izundu averaged 21 points, 15 rebounds and 6 blocked shots this past season. He has outstanding length and has a 7-foot-4 wing span.

"He does the little things," McCain said. "He runs the floor like a deer, blocks shots and is extremely active around the basket, has quick hands, great footwork. He's just a solid defender. He's a good kid, a real good kid."

DIVVY IT UP

Arkansas' football coaches hit the road again Wednesday for the spring evaluation period, and their recruiting territories have been tweaked a bit this year. The evaluation period ends May 31.

Running backs coach Jemal Singleton will recruit outside the loop of Dallas to Fort Worth all the way around the city back to Interstate 35, while defensive backs coach Clay Jennings has Interstate 20 in Dallas down to Interstate 35 to Waco and all of Houston.

Linebackers coach Vernon Hargreaves has the inside the loop of Dallas along with south Florida. Offensive line coach Sam Pittman has picked up east Texas and is still assigned to Oklahoma and Kansas.

Defensive coordinator Robb Smith's area remained the same with north and central Florida in addition to the west coast of Florida. Offensive coordinator Dan Enos will recruit St. Louis, Chicago and Michigan.

Defensive line coach Rory Segrest has the Atlanta area and Georgia, along with the Memphis and Mobile, Ala., areas. Receivers coach Michael Smith has all of Louisiana, while tight ends coach Barry Lunney Jr. has all of Arkansas.

"If a prospect isn't in a coach's area, then a coach recruits their position nationally," said E.K Franks, Arkansas' director of recruiting.

Email Richard Davenport at

rdavenport@arkansasonline.com

Sports on 05/03/2015