Arkansas defensive backs coach Paul Rhoads' resume of being a head coach or defensive coordinator the past 16 years has impressed cornerback Timarcus Davis of College Station, Texas.
Davis, 5-11, 165 pounds, received a scholarship offer from Arkansas about two weeks ago. He has 20 offers,, including Arizona, Missouri, Oklahoma State, Utah, Purdue and others.
Rhoads served as Pittsburgh's defensive coordinator for eight seasons before taking over as head coach at Iowa State. During Rhoads' time at Pitt, the Panthers produced New York Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis.
"He was telling me how he got to coach some amazing athletes like that," Davis said. "That's reassuring that he's been around and he knows how to get people to the next level. That was eye-opening obviously."
Davis said he was happy to hear of the offer from Rhoads.
"It was a big-time offer, obviously SEC," Davis said.
An Arkansas visit is a possibility, he said.
"I'm probably going to two camps in Texas and then I want to visit out of the state and go to a couple of schools," he said. "If I'm going to visit out of state, I might as well go to Arkansas -- one of my biggest offers."
In March, U.S. News & World Report named Fayetteville as the nation's third-best place to live.
"It makes me more interested in Arkansas," Davis said.
Being the curious type, Davis said he recently became interested in sacred geometry.
"It's a theory of the whole universe and everything was created from the flower of life. What they think there is a pattern that everything in the world is made from," Davis said. "A lot of scientists have tried to prove this right. Somethings they have and somethings they haven't."
Davis is realist and said he knows the chances of a school having sacred geometry as a major could be hard to find.
"I don't think I can study that in college, because I don't think a lot of colleges have sacred geometry," Davis said. "Other than that, I would like to major in philosophy. I would like to get my doctorate in philosophy or maybe be a neuroscientist."
Davis also said he's a believer in life other than on earth.
"You think of the billions of stars and you don't think there's another planet close enough to sustain life?" Davis said. "If you really think about it, of course there has to be."
Davis said that numerous Fortune 500 companies having offices in Northwest Arkansas is a plus for the Razorbacks.
"In College Station there's obviously local businesses, but I don't think we have anything like that," he said.
Ready to visit
Arkansas running back target Maleek Williams is planning to visit Fayetteville soon.
"I'll probably be at Arkansas in the next week or so," Williams said.
Williams, 5-11, 215, 4.42 seconds in the 40-yard dash, of Punta Gorda (Fla.) Charlotte, has approximately 17 scholarship offers, including ones from Arkansas, Illinois, North Carolina, Boston College, Kentucky, Tennessee and others.
He said he has researched Arkansas, but is looking forward to seeing the campus in person.
"It's good to actually go there and experience it instead of looking at it on paper and being told about it," Williams said.
Williams, who also plans to visit Illinois on the same trip, had 59 carries for 664 yards and had 12 touchdowns as a junior while sharing the work load with Elijah Mack, who signed with South Florida in February.
Defensive coordinator Robb Smith initially recruited Williams for Arkansas, but running backs coach Reggie Mitchell has taken over.
"He said once I get up there I'm going to love it," Williams said. "He's just pushing me to get up there."
"He said I'm an Arkansas back. He said I'm tough and I get stronger as the game goes along."
Williams also said he may also visit Tennessee or North Carolina.
E-mail Richard Davenport at rdavenport@arkansasonline.com
Sports on 05/31/2016