Recruiting Guy

New Orleans receiver attracts UA's attention

Arkansas assistant coach Michael Smith argues with a game official against LSU during the third quarter Saturday, Nov. 15, 2014, at Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville.

Arkansas receivers coach Michael Smith has been direct during the recruitment of junior receiver Lawrence Keys III of New Orleans McDonogh 35.

"He said I need to come up there and he can take me to the next level and work with me," Keys said. "He told me how he's losing five guys, and I would be a major game changer."

Keys, 6-0, 165, 4.4 seconds in the 40-yard dash, has scholarship offers from Arkansas, Arizona State, Miami, Nebraska, Texas A&M, Mississippi State and others.

He liked how the Hogs fought back to defeat TCU 41-38 in two overtimes.

"I was flipping back and forth," Keys said. "That was a great game. When it came down to the last minute they fought through it and worked as a team to get the win. That was really impressive."

He had 29 catches for 561 yards and 6 touchdowns as a sophomore.

The humble Keys is surprised about the amount of offers at such an early stage of his recruiting.

"I try my hardest not to focus on it right now," Keys said. "I'm mainly focusing on school, and when it comes to the summer after the school year, I'll focus on it then."

Keys said he hopes to visit Fayetteville this season, but if not, he'll make a trip next summer. He has a 3.9 grade-point average and is looking to major is sports medicine.

Email Richard Davenport at

rdavenport@arkansasonline.com

Sports on 09/30/2016