The Recruiting Guy

Juco tight end says Hogs can take him to next level

Arkansas tight ends coach Barry Lunney Jr. answers questions during the school's media day Sunday, Aug. 11, 2013 at the Fred W. Smith Football Center in Fayetteville.

Arkansas' pro-style offense, as well as the Razorbacks' ability to send players at his position to the NFL, has junior college tight end Jeremy Patton exited about his planned official visit to Fayetteville on June 16-18.

"Hunter Henry in the second round and you have Jeremy Sprinkle and just the tradition of developing players and NFL-ready guys," Patton said. "It's crazy over there at Arkansas. I just can't wait until I can learn more about the history of the program and get there and talk about the type of scheme I'm actually going to be in."

Henry, who was named last year's Mackey Award winner for the nation's top tight end after his junior season at Arkansas, was taken by the San Diego Chargers in the second round of the NFL Draft in April. Sprinkle, who returns for his senior season with the Razorbacks, is expected to be one of the SEC's top tight ends.

Patton, 6-6, 243 pounds, 4.59 seconds in the 40-yard dash, of Arizona Western College, has approximately 27 scholarship offer, including ones from Arkansas, Alabama, Auburn, Louisville, Arizona State, Arizona, Nebraska and South Carolina.

He attended Indianapolis Lawrence Central before making his way to Arizona Western. He said he likes Arkansas' location because his parents will have a better opportunity to see him play.

"It's just so much closer to home compared to where I'm at now being all the way out in Arizona," Patton said.

Patton said he has been communicating with tight ends coach Barry Lunney Jr. and Coach Bret Bielema.

"I've also talked to Coach B," he said. "We talk on Twitter back and forth."

Lunney recently visited Patton's school and that has helped with Patton's interest in the Hogs, he said.

"He's a great guy," Patton said. "He actually made it out to Arizona to watch me practice and move around. That was another big swaying point. I know Arkansas genuinely wants me, and that's what has attracted me to Arkansas as well."

Patton recorded 17 receptions for 316 yards and 4 touchdowns as a freshman. He plans to officially visit Auburn on June 10-12, and plans to use his allotted five visits.

"Maybe one during our bye-week during the season and the other two after the season is over," Patton said.

Patton mentioned South Carolina, Alabama and Florida as some of the possibilities for visits

"I'm really going to have to narrow it down, really, really narrow it down with those last three visits," he said. "I'm trying to narrow it down to a select group of maybe five or six schools I talk to on a regular basis."

Arkansas has had more tight ends drafted into the NFL since 2011 than any other college program: D.J. Williams (Green Bay, fifth round, 2011), Chris Gragg (Buffalo, seventh round, 2013), A.J. Derby (New England, sixth round, 2015) and Henry.

Patton said he sees the Hogs' pro-style offense being a positive towards his goal of playing at the next level.

"It's a big plus," Patton said. "I want to be able to be NFL-ready when I graduate, and that's something the pro-style offense does. Have your motion in the backfield, your hand in the ground and run power, then run counter and be able to zone block. Be able to do everything. That's what the NFL wants, is a full package in a guy like me and that's what I want to try and pursue. Arkansas having that pro-style offense will make it easier for me."

Patton has a 3.1 grade point average and said he has plans to study meteorology.

"I want to be an anchor man if football doesn't pan out," Patton said.

Loose and free

T.J. Cleveland, an assistant coach for Arkansas men's basketball team, has been talking to guard Josh Anderson and a visit to Fayetteville appears probable this summer.

"I want to get up there and check out the campus and stuff like that," Anderson said.

Anderson, 6-4, 175, of Baton Rouge Madison Prep, has about 15 scholarship offers, including ones from Arkansas, LSU, Florida, TCU, North Carolina State and others.

He's averaging 13.4 points, 3.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.5 steals per game for Louisiana Elite this spring in the Under Armour Association Grassroots Basketball Circuit. He said he likes the offensive freedom Arkansas Coach Mike Anderson gives his players.

"They play real loose with their guards and allow them a lot of freedom and play a pretty uptempo pace," Josh Anderson said. "I kind of like that."

Anderson, who plans to study sports medicine in college, said he'll probably sign during the early signing period in November.

E-mail Richard Davenport at rdavenport@arkansasonline.com

Sports on 05/24/2016