BEAVERTON, Ore. — Highly recruited junior cornerback Patrick Surtain Jr. is a big fan of Arkansas linebackers coach Vernon Hargreaves' son, Vernon III.
The younger Hargreaves was the No. 11 overall player taken in the NFL Draft by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in April after being an All American cornerback at Florida.
“That’s very tight,” Surtain said. “His son is very good.....he could teach me a lot of stuff.”
Surtain, 6-3, 190 pounds of Fort Lauderdale, (Fla.) American Heritage has offers from schools like Arkansas, Alabama, LSU, Florida State, Florida, Auburn, Georgia, Clemson and others. He said he spoke to Hargreaves last week.
“They want me to come up and visit there and see their facilities and meet their coaches and meet some of the players,” Surtain said.
A trip to Fayetteville looks like a possibility.
“The chances are very high,” Surtain said. “I might not visit them this summer, but like during the season.”
Surtain, whose father played 11 season in the NFL, said LSU and Florida State are standing out among all his offers. He’s serious about his academics and a chance for playing time.
“I’m trying to play my freshman year,” Surtain said. “A place that feel like home.”
Being one of the few juniors at The Opening, Surtain knows he has to bring his A game.
“Being an underclassman, you have to show off your skills and show off your talent,” he said.