FAYETTEVILLE — Tulsa, Okla., Holland Hall kicker Alex Felkins (6-4, 170) - rated as the nation’s second-best 2019 prospect by Chris Sailer Kicking and sixth best by Kohl’s Kicking — had one simple goal at Saturday’s Arkansas Specialists Camp.
That was to get in front of Razorback special teams quality control coach Tanner Burns and Arkansas head coach Bret Bielema and leave a lasting impression.
He joined Coppell, Texas kicker Caden Davis (6-1, 170) – ranked second by Kohl and seventh by Sailer - as the two top 2019 prospects in camp.
“Really my main goal for coming was to just to showcase my ability to Coach Burns,” Felkins said. “Because we had communicated a little bit prior to this camp, but I had never kicked for him in person so I was really hoping to show my stuff.
“Plus I am really good friends with Caden…and so I was looking forward to having fun with him.”
Felkins was 9-of-13 on his field goals with a long of 42 in a game as a sophomore and believes he has gotten a lot better since last season.
“I would say that the last seven to eight months as I have developed my technique and leg speed and the usage of my hips and stuff has started to come in so that my distance and hang time has really started to increase as well,” Felkins said. “But nowhere near a D-I consistent ball that I want it to be.”
He has seen that work pay off and now feels he has solid strengths.
“I would say definitely say my range on my field goals and kickoffs,” Felkins said. “I hit a 65-yard field goal and an 86-yard kickoff (in practice) and I think in the last few months I have become more consistent with my field goals and that is now a strength with me.”
Arkansas is among the teams that have shown interest in Felkins lately.
“Probably the last three months I have started to get some legitimate looks,” Felkins said. “No offers yet. Hoping to get one by the end of the summer, but who knows?
“…I have visited Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Arkansas and I am planning to visit Stanford.”
Not a large percentage of high school kickers end up with college scholarships so Felkins is honest about who would be his favorite.
“Wherever gives me money basically,” Felkins said.
Felkins, who noted he just began to learn about Arkansas lately, said he would relish playing in the SEC.
“To be honest I have never really paid a lot of attention, but every game I have watched and then look at the standings, Arkansas is always near the top of the SEC, which is obviously the best conference,” Felkins said. “So the SEC is kind of a dream.”
He has even envisioned a scenario on the road he would love to be in.
“You have got to handle - especially playing in the SEC at like Tennessee where there is 100,000 people screaming down your throat trying to get you to not do your job, you really just have to be able to block it all out the best that you can,” Felkins said.