The Recruiting Guy

Texas RB does talking on field

Kyle Porter

Arkansas is one of several schools highly-regarded running back Kyle Porter is considering for an official visit.

Porter, 5-11, 194 pounds, 4.4 seconds in the 40-yard dash, of Katy, Texas, has scholarship offers from Arkansas, Texas, Baylor, Tennessee, Oregon, TCU and others.

Some prospects take on-campus visits during the season, but not Porter.

"He's one of those kids that hasn't made any official visits yet," Katy Coach Gary Joseph said. "I think he's going to wait until his senior season is over."

As a sophomore, Porter took up the slack after running back Rodney Anderson, now a freshman at Oklahoma, was injured. He had 1,877 rushing yards and 23 touchdowns on 255 carries and was named the District 19-5A co-newcomer of the year.

"Anderson got well and both of them split time in the playoffs until the state championship game and Anderson probably got more carries," Joseph said.

As a junior, Porter rushed 147 times for 1,006 yards and 17 touchdowns and had 34 receptions for 276 yards and 5 touchdowns while splitting time with a Anderson.

"This year he was elected team captain by his peers," Joseph said. "I've seen a great growth in him from a leadership standpoint."

Porter has been timed at 10.6 seconds in the 100 meters, and he also plays shooting guard for the school's basketball team. National recruiting analyst Tom Lemming of CBS Sports Network rates Porter as a 4-star prospect.

"It's a good year for running back prospects in Houston, and one of the very best is Mr. Porter," Lemming said. "He plays bigger than his size, runs hard and shows the ability to finish off runs. He catches the ball out of the backfield and once he get a half of a step on the defender, it's all over. He's a potential impact player with a great attitude."

Joseph said Porter won't be easily swayed by schools.

"He's not easily influenced. He's very much interested in academics," Joseph said.

When Anderson was as a senior, the Tigers found other ways to use Porter's skill set.

"We used Kyle a lot as a our slot back and inside receiver, and then he was our second running back," Joseph said.

He has 78 carries for 754 yards and 15 touchdowns in five games this season. Five runs have been 60 yards or more.

"This year he understands this is his year, his time. ... and he's averaging 9 yards a carry," Joseph said.

While it's the norm for prospects to be on Twitter, Porter doesn't have a Twitter account and runs away from seeking attention as well as he does from opposing defenses.

"He doesn't want to be in the limelight," Joseph said. "He's not one to go and seek accolades. He's almost embarrassed by it. He's just a very humble kid up to the point where you think, 'This can't be.' "

Joseph said Porter runs on all of the sprint relays for Katy's track and field team, including the 400-meter relay team that had a best time of 41.8 seconds.

"He's one of those kids that make you miss," Joseph said. "He's one of those kids that can make a cut running full speed. That's kind of a fun thing to watch. He has the ability with his strength to run though some arm tackles and he's not afraid to run between the tackles."

Big returner

Hope's McTelvin Agim, an Arkansas commitment, continues to show athleticism usually not seen for defensive ends.

Agim, 6-3, 268, returned kickoffs 82 and 86 yards in the Bobcats' 25-14 victory over the Hot Springs on Friday. He also had 4 unassisted tackles, 2 assisted tackles, 3 sacks and a reception for 10 yards.

Operating out of the Wildcat formation, Agim has rushed 13 times for 137 yards and 7 touchdowns, including a long of 60 yards this season.

Reconsidering

Offensive lineman Kellen Diesch of Trophy Club (Texas) Byron Nelson has reopened his recruiting and is no longer committed to Arkansas. He confirmed his decision via text message Monday.

Diesch, 6-7, 275, 4.87, had more than 20 scholarship offers, including ones from Texas, Texas A&M, Oklahoma, Michigan, Oregon, Tennessee, Baylor, Oklahoma Sate and others before picking the Hogs in the summer. He said he's still considering Arkansas.

The Hogs now have 14 oral commitments.

E-mail Richard Davenport at rdavenport@arkansasonline.com

Sports on 10/06/2015