FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas will host several football recruits on unofficial visits Saturday as it continues to employ that tactic throughout spring practice.
It’s one that has been successful so far. Razorback assistant Barry Lunney, Jr. credits Arkansas coach Bret Bielema for thinking ahead.
“Coach was real strategic about how he set up our schedule,” Lunney said. “A lot of colleges do their spring ball Monday through Friday. They don’t do Saturday and Sunday.
“That’s one of the parts that is strategic about why we go on Saturday because it allows us to circle four or five Saturdays to try and push guys to get to campus.
“We can say, 'Here are four Saturdays in a row and we would love to have you come up on any of them and learn about us and have us learn more about you.’”
Lunney said that all unofficial visits are not created equal.
“Every visit is unique in its own way,” Lunney said.“Some are here to get an offer, some are here for us to learn more about them and take the next step, some of them are here for them to understand we are interested in them.
“It has been good to have them on campus.”
Arkansas has four commits already in the 2018 class as well as three blue shirts who will count against that class as well.
That means the 2018 class will be smaller than usual.
That 2018 quartet of pledges - all four-star prospects - includes Greenwood quarterback Connor Noland (6-2, 180 pounds); Lucas, Texas, Lovejoy linebacker Bumper Pool (6-3, 220); Carterville, Ill., tight end Luke Ford (6-7, 250); and Desoto, Texas cornerback Byron Hanspard, Jr. (6-0, 170).
“I think we’re off to a really good start,” said Lunney, who can’t talk about specific recruits. “I mean, I know we are. We’re off to a fantastic start.
“We feel really good about where we’re at right now.”
The early success and limited number of scholarships this recruiting cycle has allowed the coaches to dive into future classes.
“It might allow you to work ahead a little bit more by knowing we’re going to have a small class,” Lunney said.
“Like at certain positions, if you get a commitment early, you can kind of start looking towards the next season or whatnot. So sure, that’s helpful in that regard.”
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Unofficial visitors April 15:
2018:
• DeMareus Hosey, TB, 6-0, 190, Ft. Worth, Texas, Northwest
2019:
• Chance Cover, LB, 6-1, 215, Ft. Worth, Texas, Nolan Catholic (District 5-6A Defensive Newcomer of the Year)
• Kyron Cumby, TB, 5-7, 160, Plano, Texas
• Austin Rodriguez, OL, 6-2, 285, Plano, Texas, Prestonwood Christian
• Jeffery Carter, WR, 6-1, 180, Aledo, Texas
• Donovan Ollie, WR, 6-3, 180, Wylie, Texas
2020:
• Jase McClellan, TB, 5-9, 195, Aledo, Texas (Offers from Oklahoma, Georgia, Miami, Oregon, TCU and others).