Recruiting Guy

Expo advantage for high school, college coaches

A runner does laps around the field Wednesday afternoon at war Memorial Stadium in Little Rock. Gov. Asa Hutchinson is proposing cutting state general funding almost in half for War Memorial Stadium operations in the fiscal year starting July 1, 2018.

The Arkansas Football Coaches Association, which represents approximately 750 high school coaches throughout Arkansas held its first recruiting expo Monday at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock.

More than 20 college coaches mixed and mingled with more than 100 high school coaches in hopes of finding athletes they could recruit.

The college coaches were able to gather athletic, academic, contact information along with highlight videos on prospective athletes. Football Bowl Subdivision schools like Arkansas and Arkansas State aren't allowed to attend such events, other divisions have no restrictions.

Atkins Coach Charlie Sorrells said the event was a success.

"It was all real positive," Sorrells said. "The college coaches thanked us for giving them an opportunity for them to come to one place and see that many coaches in one room."

Out-of-state colleges included Northeastern (Okla). State University, Hutchinson (Kan.) Community College and Missouri State.

In-state schools included Central Arkansas, Henderson State, Arkansas Tech, Southern Arkansas, Arkansas-Monticello, Ouachita, Hendrix and Lyon College.

"Each coach had a portfolio of their seniors and the college coaches came by each table and visited with each coach," Bryant Coach Buck James said.

Schools from all classifications were on hand to greet the college coaches, a plus for smaller schools that are often overlooked and off the beaten path.

"They were able to talk to college coaches they otherwise wouldn't get a chance to talk to and brag about their kids and show them what they have," Sorrells said. "I had one coach from a Class 2A school that came up and thanked us because none of these colleges would have come by his school."

"He said 'We won't always have a kid for them, but I made contacts and they know where we are and if I ever have a kid I have a lot better chance.'"

West Memphis Coach Billy Elmore, who has previously served as president of the association, has attended a similar event in Memphis.

"We got invited to the one in Memphis and kind of got the idea," Elmore said. "I've been there the last couple of years and I said we need something like this in Arkansas."

The expo is a win-win for both parties. The event is easy on college budgets.

"They would have to get hotel rooms and pay for gas if they had to go by all of the schools," Elmore said.

Coaches visited Bryant the next day to look at several players.

"We saw immediate results from it at Bryant and I'm sure a lot of other schools did as well," James said.

It also gave high school coaches a chance to meet with the college coaches.

"How many times does a college coach come by the school and the coach is in class or he's in a meeting and can't visit with the college coach?" James said. "It happens countless [number] of times.

"They're definitely going to recruit kids from people they trust, so developing the relationship with the college coach is important," James said.

El Dorado Coach Scott Reed, a past association president, said the day benefited all of his kids trying to play college football.

"I talked about kids that were being recruited and even a walk-on spot or kids in the future," Reed said,

The event could help college coaches to visit El Dorado during the spring evaluation period.

"We'll have some kids being recruited next year, so that early recognition for them could help some schools that might not always come by our place," Reed said.

Reed sees the expo getting bigger and better each year. A Dec. 4 date has been tentatively set for next year.

"We were surprised by the turnout for the first year and not having a lot of publicity about it," Reed said. "That's what our organization is all about, trying to help football in our state and especially our kids."

No official visits

Arkansas Coach Bret Bielema and his staff aren't expected to host prospects for official visits this weekend. The NCAA dead period begins at midnight Sunday and lasts until Jan. 11.

Email Richard Davenport at

rdavenport@arkansasonline.com

Sports on 12/09/2016