FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas is using its two-day high school camp to try and impress one of its top 2018 top defensive targets.
St. Louis, Mo., Chaminade defensive tackle Trevor Trout (6-3, 308) not only showed up for an unofficial visit on Monday, but jumped into drills.
He did so with Arkansas head coach Bret Bielema, defensive line coach John Scott, Jr. and several Razorback defensive linemen - including St. Louis native Armon Watts - looking on or working with him.
“So far, so good,” Trout said. “Besides the coaches, the facilities are pretty SEC as you would expect. It’s a little country, but I kind of like it. I got to see some kids I used to work out with when I was younger. So I would say so far pretty solid.”
He will take more of a normal unofficial visit on Tuesday, but wanted to get some work in Monday along with several of his teammates who came along with him and his coaches.
“Really because my school is down here with like a team camp so it is just a good opportunity,” Trout said. “Just come down here, see everybody and my coach has a pretty good relationship with (running back) coach (Reggie) Mitchell.”
He got more of his work in with Scott, who is in his first year as Arkansas’ defensive line coach.
“I think he is a pretty good guy,” Trout said. “He has great character. I want to get to know him a little bit more.”
Trout has narrowed his list of around 40 offers to a top 20, but will soon cut that down more.
He has offers from Arkansas, Alabama, Clemson, Georgia, Illinois, Louisville, LSU, Miami, Fla., Michigan State, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Penn State, Tennessee, Texas, TCU, Texas A&M, UCLA, USC and many others.
“Personally I see after this week and next week, I am going to cut it a little bit more,” Trout said. “It is a possibility that this school can make the cut. I have a visit on Oklahoma on the 17th through the 19th so that will shake things up a bit.”
Trout is looking at his choice as both a football player and as a student.
“When I pick a school, I want it to be where I would feel comfortable if I didn’t play football,” Trout said. “I would like being here and just comfortability. Just knowing that the coaching staff is going to be there and certainly take care of me.
“They are all a lot of really good schools.”
His timetable right now is to take it near the late signing day of Feb. 7.
“As of now, February unless I have a change of heart,” Trout said.
Trout sized up his strengths and weaknesses.
“I think my strengths are being really solid when it comes to technique and stopping the run and that I can get to the passer,” Trout said.
“I think my weaknesses are being a better pass rusher and making sure I am going every down, but for the most part I think when it comes to knowing things I do pretty well.”