Arkansas Razorbacks Coach Bret Bielema and his staff devote a good amount of time each day to recruiting.
Bielema and his assistants gather in the staff conference room to video chat with prospects on both sides of the ball on Wednesdays during spring practice. The chats happen throughout the year on various other days.
The video chats have been well received by recruits this spring. Junior college defensive lineman Emmit Gooden of Independence Community College in Kansas was officially extended a scholarship offer during an April 18 chat.
"I thought it was nice to let them see me face to face and them extend the offer," Gooden said. "Plus the whole defensive staff was there so it was an honor. It's very effective because not every prospect gets that treatment."
The defensive staff joins Bielema at 4:30 p.m. to chat with several top prospects, followed by the offensive staff, during the spring. Each session lasts about 45 minutes and usually has six prospects calling in.
The video of the prospect appears on a canvas at the end of the table while Bielema and staff members are seated around the table and facing the recruit.
Discussions include academics, a prospect's offseason workouts, plans for the recruit should he become a Razorback and getting the prospect to visit.
In between video chats, coaches often direct message other prospects via Twitter.
Hogs defensive end target Nick Fulwider, 6-7, 245 pounds, 4.79 seconds in the 40-yard dash, of Tyrone (Ga.) Sandy Creek said his session with the coaches took place about a month ago. He said the experience was new to him.
"It was pretty new to me because I don't have an iPhone, but it was really nice," Fulwider said.
He likes how the chat shows a more personable side of the coaches.
"A big plus of video chatting with a coach is the visual presentation you have while talking to a coach," Fulwider said. "It's way better than just talking over the phone, in my opinion."
DL ready for visits
Defensive lineman Antar Thompson is looking to visit Fayetteville this summer after receiving a scholarship offer from University of Arkansas, Fayetteville defensive coordinator Paul Rhoads on Thursday.
Thompson, 6-5, 305, of Highland Community College in Kansas has 11 other offers from schools such as Alabama, Missouri, Florida State, Louisville, Colorado, Ole Miss and TCU.
He signed with Missouri out of Maplewood Richmond Heights High School in St. Louis in 2013, but he fell short academically. He delayed enrollment in junior college for personal reasons while also focusing on accumulating college hours.
"I always knew that I always had talent, but I just needed to take care of the part in the classroom," Thompson said. "I was taking like six [hours]. I think at one time I took nine. I was always running and working out and running hills doing push-ups."
Rhoads compared Thompson to St. Louis native and Razorbacks defensive end Armon Watts.
"He said he really liked what he saw on film, and he's looking for guys similar to me, and he had a kid from St. Louis that actually reminded him of me," Thompson said. "He said he would love to play the two of us together, and he would want to play me at defensive end."
Thompson recorded 32 tackles, 3 sacks and 2 tackles for a loss this past season for the Scotties.
"I've always liked the program," Thompson said of the Hogs. "I've seen where they're always a contender in the SEC, and they always have tough players and put people in the draft."
He believes in Rhoads and his plans for him.
"I believe what he said and what he sees in me and the position he wants me to play," Thompson said. "I really like that about him. He said they changed their defense to a three-man front, and I would fit on the outside."
Thompson plans to take his allotted five official visits before making a decision.
"I really haven't been out of St. Louis and the Kansas area, so I would like to go to a few places," Thompson said.
He plans to graduate in December and enroll at his new school in January. He's planning to take his official visits during the summer, and he has talked to Rhoads about one to Fayetteville.
"We only get five of them, so I want to use them all just in case something comes a long, but right now I'm just trying to get out and see all the schools I can," Thompson said.
Email Richard Davenport at rdavenport@arkansasonline.com
Sports on 05/07/2017