Arkansas offensive lineman target Shane Clenin visited Fayetteville over the weekend and was so impressed that he and his parents plan to return for a April 15-16 visit.
Clenin, 6-6, 287, of Festus (Mo.), received a scholarship offer from the Hogs the day before his visit to go along with eight others he has received, including Iowa State, New Mexico, Colorado State and Illinois State.
"Obviously, there's not much not to love," Clenin said. "Great football, great academics, great coaching staff and obviously a great atmosphere. It was awesome."
Clenin said he had spoken to Coach Bret Bielema and offensive line coach Kurt Anderson on the phone, but meeting the coaches in person was even better.
"They're the kind of coaches that are going to tell you how it is and they're not going to BS you so to say," Clenin said. "You can tell by talking to them they care about you and they just care about your best interest, which I really thought that was awesome."
Clenin said he received his Hogs offer -- in a direct message from Anderson on Twitter -- while visiting Northwestern.
"I saw that Coach Bielema followed me on Twitter," Clenin said. "So I was like this is probably pretty good if the head honcho is following me on Twitter."
Clenin called Anderson and was told about the offer.
"He was saying he wants to make an elite line," Clenin said of Anderson. "He wants an ESPN 30 for 30 on how great the Arkansas line is and wants me to be a part of it and thinks he can make me the best player I can be."
Clenin, who has a 3.93 grade point average, said his parents, Chris and Darla, were concerned before the visit about how Arkansas' academics would stack up when compared to Northwestern.
"They didn't know how good Arkansas' academics were going to be and all this and all that, but they were very happy with it," said Clenin, who's considering civil engineering or construction management as majors.
Clenin said the trip helped the Hogs chances of landing him.
"Well, I still need to evaluate my options, but I think it's pretty good," Clenin said. "I really liked Arkansas before, and I like them a lot more now. I would definitely say it helped the chances."
WALLOW AROUND
Arkansas defensive target Garret Wallow visited Arkansas on Saturday and the trip elevated the Razorbacks on his list.
Wallow, who could play safety or outside linebacker, is being recruited by receivers coach Michael Smith.
"I met a lot of the defensive coaches," Wallow said of the visit. "Me and coach Smith are starting to build a good relationship and I could tell Arkansas is all about family, and that's what I'm looking for."
Wallow, 6-3, 205, of River Ridge (La.) John Curtis, has more than 20 scholarship offers from schools like Arkansas, Michigan, Kansas State, TCU, Iowa State, Northwestern and Arizona.
The family atmosphere, Wallow said, starts with the way people treat each other.
"You can tell they have each other's back and if you need something you can just go to them," Wallow said.
Wallow recorded 72 tackles, including 6 tackles for loss, a sack, a quarterback hurry and 5 pass breakups as a junior.
Wallow, who has a 4.0 grade point average and is considering sports medicine as a major, said he was impressed that Arkansas had 40 players with a 3.0 grade point average or better for the fall semester to lead the SEC.
"That was actually pretty interesting to me," Wallow said.
Bielema's fondness for flip flops and reggae music was evident to Wallow while in the head coach's office.
"He definitely likes flip flops," Wallow said. "I thought it was funny, but it seemed relaxing."
Wallow said the Hogs are "up there in my thoughts," and that he would consider as return visit.
His mother, Lisa, accompanied him and Wallow said she would support him should he decide be a Razorback.
"Whatever my decision is she'll feel good about it and have my back on it," Wallow said.
TCU, another sch0ol Wallow has visited, ranks right up with Arkansas on his list of choices.
"They're both standing out to me a lot," he said. "There's a bunch of other schools I definitely want a chance to go visit."
E-mail Richard Davenport at rdavenport@arkansasonline.com
Sports on 04/05/2016