Hope defensive end McTelvin Agim committed to Arkansas Sept. 5 because of his faith in Coach Bret Bielema and the direction of the program.
Shortly after the Hogs lost to Toledo 16-12, he was unshaken and reached out to the other 13 Razorback commitments.
“He told me he had talked to all of them and making sure everyone is still on board because he sure was,” Hope Coach Jay Turley said. “He was telling me he was all in.”
Turley sees Agim being a leader of the recruiting class.
“I think so, he’s a natural leader,” Turley said. “He really doesn’t like to call himself one, but he is.”
Agim, 6-3, 268, 4.62 seconds in the 40 yard dash, has a tremendous drive to be the best and the work ethic to go along with it. While he isn’t a big rah-rah type, he’s a leader by example.
“He’s not a big-time spotlight guy,” Turley said. “You can lead by example and do things right and people will follow. I think that’s the kind of leader he is. He’s not real vocal with his leadership skills, but he wants things done right. I think his work ethic makes him a leader. People see how hard he works and the things he’s accomplished. I think it makes other kids want to work hard too.”
Agim has been selected to play in the Under Armour All American game in St. Petersburg, Fla. in early January. He received an honorary game jersey during a ceremony at the school on Tuesday.
Rated the No. 2 defensive and and No. 9 overall prospect in the nation by ESPN, Agim plans to graduate in December and enroll at Arkansas in January.
“Our AD told the student body, it's not necessarily what he’s accomplished athletically, but academically,” Turley said. “Like the AD said we wish everybody would graduate early because it means they’re getting after it in the classroom.”