The Recruiting Guy

Hog TE commitment knows Arkansas is right place

Highly recruited junior-college tight end Jeremy Patton

Junior college tight end Jeremy Patton, who committed to Arkansas last Friday, said there’s no doubt he picked the right school to finish out his college career.

“It’s the right move,” said Patton shortly after his June 16-18 official visit. “It’s the right place for me. I know it is. I’m not even going to take my last two official visits. I’m done with this process and I’m glad to be a Razorback.”

Patton, 6-6, 250, 4.59 of Arizona Western College, chose the Razorbacks over more than 25 other scholarship offers from schools like Alabama, Auburn, Southern Cal, Louisville, Nebraska, Oklahoma State, Arizona and Arizona State. He had officially visit Auburn and Louisville.

He said Southern Cal, Florida and Ohio State were some of the schools he was considering for his visits.

“I was for sure going to go to Alabama for a home game on September 24th,” Patton said. “But not anymore.”

Patton, who’s ranked as the No. 1 tight end and No. 10 overall junior college prospect by JUCO Football Frenzy, caught 17 passes for 316 yards and 4 touchdowns as a freshman.

He’s excited to see what strength and conditioning coach Ben Herbert can do for him once he’s on campus.

“He’s real passionate, always fired up, always sweating,” said Patton, who foresees himself weighing 260 pounds at Arkansas. “We were just sitting down in his meeting room and it’s a comfortable 69 degrees, 70 degrees probably and he’s looking down at his paper talking and all you see is a bead of sweat drop down to the ground. He’s real intense.”

With tight end Jeremy Sprinkle being a senior, the Hogs expect him to take over Sprinkle’s spot for the 2017 season.

“They want an older Juco guy to come in and be the guy and I think they want me to be that guy and I have the capability to be that guy,” Patton said. “I just have to put in the work to do it.”

He sat down with offensive coordinator Dan Enos and tight ends coach Barry Lunney Jr.

“They showed me on film what they’re going to try and do with me, a couple of new things they’re going to try and do,” Patton said. “I can play multiple positions I can split out wide I can play in line and can play in the back field . They really love my versatility.”