The Recruiting Guy

Arkansas' Sprinkle not projected to be top college tight end

Arkansas tight end Jeremy Sprinkle (83) runs with the ball following a reception during the second quarter on Saturday, Jan. 2, 2016, at the Liberty Bowl in Memphis, Tenn.

When Arkansas tight end Jeremy Sprinkle was being recruited out of White Hall, most college coaches projected him playing a different position.

“Most all of them at that particular time thought he was going to be a slot receiver,” said White Hall Coach Mike Vaughn.

Sprinkle, who was 6-foot-6 and weighed 215 pounds, starred for the Bulldogs at wide receiver, tight end and defensive end and was named to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette All-Arkansas team as a senior at defensive end. He recorded an impressive 92 tackles, 35 tackles for loss, 14 sacks, 4 forced fumbles, 3 recovered fumbles, 6 pass breakups and 2 blocked kicks.

After attending his fourth consecutive Arkansas summer camp, Sprinkle was awarded a scholarship offer from then Razorbacks Coach Bobby Petrino and committed shortly afterward on June 16, 2011. He signed for the Hogs in February 2012.

“He went to camp as a defensive player,” Vaughn said. “In fact, in that camp he was the most outstanding camper on the defensive side of the ball.”

Former Arkansas running backs coach and recruiting coordinator Tim Horton called Vaughn and said Petrino wanted to offer Sprinkle as a receiver.

“The last two hours of the camp, they threw six passes to him, and Coach Petrino said sign him,” Vaughn said.

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Democrat-Gazette file photo

Former White Hall football player Jeremy Sprinkle (seated, center) committed to Arkansas last year, flanked by his parents, Shelia and Billy Sprinkle (right), and his coach, Mike Vaughn (standing). Sprinkle will begin his college career at tight end, but could possibly see action at several other positions.

Before his performance at the Arkansas camp, Sprinkle just finished playing basketball in the spring of his junior year. Vaughn and Sprinkle debated whether or not he should participate in the FCA Combine.

The debate was settled when Sprinkle ran an impressive 40-yard dash time at White Hall.

“With high-top tennis shoes, he ran a 4.6 flat,” Vaughn said. “I told him then, 'You go ahead and go.'”

Petrino was fired April of 2012 for misleading athletic director Jeff Long about a motorcycle accident with mistress Jessica Dorrell. Sprinkle redshirted at tight end under interim Coach John L. Smith.

Sprinkle, who now weighs 255 pounds and is an Athlon Sports preseason third-team All-SEC selection, started to flourish under Coach Bret Bielema and is now considered one of the top tight ends in the nation.

Playing alongside Mackey Award winner Hunter Henry, Sprinkle had a breakout season as a junior and caught 27 passes for 389 yards and 6 touchdowns.

“It fit him to a tee; I think it’s really, really been a blessing for him,” Vaughn said.

Sprinkle’s older brother Aaron was a standout offensive lineman at OBU in Arkadelphia and had a tryout with the Houston Texans. His younger brother Daniel is a sophomore pitcher for Auburn.

Vaughn said the Sprinkle brothers were raised the right way by their parents, Billy and Shelia Sprinkle.

“They’re great people,” Vaughn said. “We never had a minutes problem with those kids. They all played hard and showed up when we asked them to.”