Tennessee RB names Hogs his leader

Chase Hayden

After visiting Arkansas on Thursday, running back target Chase Hayden named the Hogs as his leader.

“They’re probably at the top, my favorite,” Hayden said.

Hayden, 5-11, 185 pounds, 4.47 seconds in the 40-yard dash, of Collierville (Tenn.) St. George’s Independent School has more than 15 scholarship offers from schools such as Arkansas, Florida, Michigan, Oklahoma State, South Carolina and Tennessee.

He has made trips to South Carolina, Michigan, Tennessee and Louisville.

“It was probably the best visit I’ve been on so far,” said Hayden, who visited the Hogs for the spring game. “I got to talk to just about everybody that’s involved in the football program.”

The highlight of the trip was spending time with Coach Bret Bielema and strength and conditioning coach Ben Herbert.

“Really just talking to Coach B and talking to the strength coach for the first time,” Hayden said. “I was really amazed by him.”

Hayden, who rushed for 2,625 yards and 37 touchdowns as a junior, is being recruited by running backs coach Reggie Mitchell and defensive line coach Rory Segrest. He said he’ll visit Missouri today and try to make trips to Michigan and Florida.

He said he’s looking to make his college decision by the end of July.