FAYETTEVILLE — Star City offensive linemen Jax Gassaway is hoping to live out a dream Sunday at Arkansas' inaugural Trench Hogs Camp.
Gassaway (6-7, 275) has wanted to be a Razorback for as long as he can remember and hopes his performance this weekend earns him an offer from Arkansas.
“That would be unbelievable,” Gassaway said. “That was my childhood favorite team and is still my favorite team. So it has always been my dream to be get an offer from the big SEC school in my state.”
Gassaway has already taken an unofficial visit to Fayetteville this spring and came away feeling special.
“I really liked the hospitality,” Gassaway said. “When my mom and I came up, they just treated us like royalty. They hadn’t even offered me, but made me feel like I was one of their top recruits.
“I grew up in Arkansas so I am a big-time Hog fan and I love the coaches so it would just be a great situation for me.”
Gassaway would love to be the second Star City prospect to become a Razorback in three years with defensive lineman Austin Capps a 2016 Arkansas signee.
“We call each other cousins,” Gassaway said. “My great aunt is his great aunt. Every time is back down here we hang out and have a lot of fun. His whole body has changed.”
Arkansas offensive line coach Kurt Anderson has impressed Gassaway.
“What I like about him is that he is just really down to earth and he will tell you the truth about things and not sugar coat it,” Gassaway said. “That’s mainly what I like about him.”
Gassaway has offers from Louisiana Tech, Arkansas State, Marshall, Texas State, Air Force and Central Arkansas.
After attending the Memphis Mega Camp on Sunday that featured coaches from many other schools, he has seen attention ramp up this week.
“I had a pretty good camp and I was talking to several coaches after it that said they had never heard of me before, but were now interested,” Gassaway said. “They were Mississippi State, Wake Forest, Tennessee, Auburn and Memphis, who had been talking to before but got to see me on Sunday.”
Gassaway feels good about his technique.
“My strengths right now and what is probably getting me the offers are my athleticism and my length, my ability to stay in front of people in pass protection,” Gassaway said. “I think what I need to work on is getting bigger. I weight about 270 to 275 now.”