Arkansas safety commitment Deon Edwards said he liked seeing the Hogs defeat Tennessee last weekend.
"That's why I committed," Edwards said earlier in the week. "They're one of the best teams, and I wasn't surprised that they would beat Tennessee. I'm proud of what they did and I'm still a Razorback."
Edwards, 6-1, 199 pounds, of Minneola (Fla.) Lake Minneola, picked the Hogs over about 13 other scholarship offers from schools like South Carolina, Missouri, Louisville, North Carolina State and South Florida in late July.
Arkansas defensive coordinator Robb Smith is expected to be at Edwards' game next Friday.
"We talk on a regular basis," said Edwards, who's a vegetarian. "We're like family."
CBS Sports National recruiting analyst Tom Lemming rates Edwards as a three-star plus prospect.
"His film shows he can cover off the hash and in the slot with good range," Lemming said. "He's a developing player that has big-time skills."
Edwards made an unofficial visit to Fayetteville in June and cited the coaches and players for his decision to be a Razorback. He will likely make his official visit after the season.
He combined for 112 tackles, 8 interceptions, 2 sacks and a forced fumble during his sophomore and junior seasons. He had 43 tackles, 7 tackles for loss, an interception and 3 pass breakups in six games this season.
Lake Minneola Coach Walter Banks, who has coached 15 years in Florida, has said Edwards is probably the toughest defensive player he's coached. He described what Arkansas fans will see out of Edwards.
"A kid that for one is very passionate for the game of football and a big-time hitter," Banks said.
Rising prospect
Jonesboro junior receiver Jonathan Adams Jr. saw limited action as a sophomore, but it was enough for Hurricane Coach Randy Coleman to declare him a major-college prospect.
"He's physically maturing a lot more," Coleman said. "He's got great ball skills. He's a great leaper."
Adams, 6-3, 190, is drawing interest from Arkansas, SMU, Memphis, Notre Dame, and Purdue. Arkansas State offered him a scholarship in late April.
His father played at Arkansas State and was a Parade All American running back while at Osceola. Coleman said Adams is deceptively fast and likened him to a former Arkansas quarterback.
"I would compare him a little bit to a Matt Jones that never looked like he was running very hard or very fast, but you look up and he's leaving people," Coleman said. "He can cover so much ground with a long stride."
Adams didn't join the team as a sophomore until after the first game of the season and didn't play in his first game until Week 4. He joined the basketball team after last season and also made as many offseason workouts as he could. That allowed him to learn more of the offense.
"We had him during the offseason and over the summer when he wasn't off to basketball tournaments," Coleman said. "There's a comfort level on his part with the offense."
Coleman said that with Adams' limited availability in the offseason they were able to time him only once in the 40-yard dash.
"He ran a 4.61, and that's without any sort of a lot of speed training that we do during the spring," Coleman said. "He's just a great athlete. He's probably going to roll out of bed and run a 4.6 every time. With specific training, he could be a 4.5 flat or if not a little bit faster, but he has great game speed."
Adams has 40 receptions for 813 yards and 11 touchdowns, as well as a punt return for a touchdown this season. In a 70-64 loss at North Little Rock on Friday night, he had 10 receptions for 176 yards and 3 touchdowns.
Coleman said he sees Adams' recruiting picking up.
"I think as the year goes on and we start getting highlight film out, he's going to pick up a lot of traction in recruiting," Coleman said.
Coleman said Adams is carrying a 3.2 grade-point average and said he expects Adams to play at around 200 pounds as a senior and then add more weight in college.
"He's 6-3, and he could be 210 to 215 pretty easily," Coleman said.
Adams is physical and ultra-competitive, the coach said.
"He's one of those guys we don't mind just throwing it up to because he's going to win a 50-50 ball," Coleman said. "He's going to fight for the ball when it's in the air.
"The sky is the limit for him. He's a great kid and a great student and a good athlete."
E-mail Richard Davenport at rdavenport@arkansasonline.com
Sports on 10/11/2015