The Recruiting Guy

Alabama defensive back nearing decision time

Arkansas secondary coach Paul Rhoads, left, talks with head coach Bret Bielema prior to a game against Ole Miss on Saturday, Oct. 15, 2016, in Fayetteville.

Arkansas safety target J'Marick Woods appears to have wrapped up his last official visit before he announces his college decision.

Woods, 6-4, 205 pounds, 4.6 seconds in the 40-yard dash, of Florence, Ala., has approximately 16 scholarship offers, including ones from Arkansas, Michigan, Florida, Tennessee, LSU, Vanderbilt, Duke and Penn State. He committed to Michigan in March.

He officially visited the Razorbacks for the Alabama game on Oct. 8, Michigan on Nov. 5 and Mississippi State last weekend when the Hogs defeated the Bulldogs 58-42.

"It was really cool seeing Arkansas vs. Mississippi State because I know players from both sides and I know the coaches," Woods said. "It was just nice seeing everybody."

Woods, who plans to graduate in December and enroll at his new school in January, said the trip to Starkville, Miss., is likely his last visit.

"I'm pretty much done with my officials right now," Woods said. "I plan on making my decision Dec. 2. That's when I'm going to have my signing day at my school, That's going to be pretty big for me."

He said his top three schools, in no particular order, are Michigan, Arkansas and Mississippi State.

"I plan on making my decision sometime before my signing day, so I can go ahead and let all of the coaches know and be respectful of the process," Woods said.

Woods called his visit to Mississippi State "great." He said he was able to hang out with two familiar faces, Bulldogs linebacker Erroll Thompson and defensive lineman Kobe Jones.

"It's just real nice going down there and spending time with them," Woods said.

He also said Arkansas Coach Bret Bielema and several factors have the Hogs in contention for his signature.

"Just the way they recruited me and everything," Woods said. "Just the way they were respectful to me and I feel like I can trust them. I feel home at Arkansas. Arkansas is a great place, great campus and the football is in the SEC West. You're going to play a good brand of football and Coach Bielema is a great coach. I can see myself fitting in at Arkansas."

National recruiting analyst Tom Lemming of CBS Sports Network rates Woods as a 4-star prospect. Bielema has made Woods a major recruiting priority.

"[Bielema] has been real aggressive, probably one of the most aggressive head coaches that's been recruiting me so far," Woods said. "He talks to me on the phone every chance he gets and tells me to call him. He hits me up on Twitter and checks up on me. They always send me mail."

The NCAA contact period begins Sunday and ends Jan. 28. The contact period allows six in-person, off-campus contacts per prospective student-athlete.

"We've already talked about scheduling the in-home visit," Woods said. "It's going to be a few days before my signing day. He's talking about trying to bring his whole staff.."

Woods is also talking to Arkansas defensive backs coach Paul Rhoads and defensive line Coach Rory Segrest, who's been recruiting Woods for a while.

"When I was a sophomore, he couldn't real talk to me then, but he had his eyes on me," Woods said.

He said he will rely on his faith and internal instincts in making his decision.

"I'm just going to pray about it and hope the man upstairs leads me the right way," he said. "Hopefully, I'll know and get that gut feeling. Just wake up one day and actually just know that this is the place for me. This is the place I'll be for the next four or five years."

Chase is on

Arkansas receivers coach Michael Smith has signed three prospects from Metairie (La.) Rummel: cornerback Henre Toliver, linebacker Dwayne Eugene and defensive lineman Briston Guidry. Rummel safety Derrick Munson committed for the Razorbacks' 2017 class.

Smith is also working on junior receiver Ja'Marr Chase, 6-1, 192, 4.53, from the same school.

"He's cool. He tells me stuff I need to work on," Chase said of Smith. "He coaches me on and off the field. He keeps it real."

ESPN rates Chase as a 4-star prospect, the No. 34 receiver and No. 213 overall prospect in the nation for the 2018 class. He has 13 scholarship offers, including ones from Arkansas, Ole Miss, Texas Tech, Kansas and Cincinnati.

Chase said Toliver, Eugene and Briston have spoken well of Arkansas.

"They tell me it's fun and I'm going to love it," Chase said. "They say it's like home, just like Rummel."

E-mail Richard Davenport at rdavenport@arkansasonline.com

Sports on 11/22/2016