The Recruiting Guy

Trash-talking motivates Hogs' DL commitment

An Arkansas helmet is shown before an NCAA college football game against Auburn, Saturday, Oct. 24, 2015, in Fayetteville, Ark. (AP Photo/Samantha Baker)

Being an Arkansas Razorbacks commitment, defensive lineman John Mincey is use to opponents trash-talking him.

A recent game was a perfect example.

"I got like a stinger in my shoulder, and I was kneeling down and they were like: 'Yeah Mr. Arkansas, get up' and stuff like that," Mincey said.

Being a well-known prospect and productive on the field also cause teams to scheme away from him.

"Like the last game, they moved me down to D-tackle so they really can't run away or scheme away from me," Mincey said. "Then I moved back to end, and that's when I got all my sacks and plays. Yeah, most teams run away from me."

Mincey, 6-4, 265 pounds, 4.7 seconds in the 40-yard dash, of Homerville (Ga.) Clinch County picked the Hogs over about 20 scholarship offers from schools such as Florida, Georgia, Auburn, Mississippi State, Kentucky, Washington State and Oregon State in July.

He admits the chatter fires him up.

"It's funny and it motivates me," Mincey said. "They just make it worse on themselves really. I take it to ... another level."

Despite being a marked man, Mincey has 28 tackles, 3 sacks and a recovered fumble prior to Friday's game against Lanier County.

With only two more regular-season games left in addition to the playoffs, Mincey knows his high school playing days are almost over.

"It kind of scares me a little bit. I love playing with my teammates because I've known most of the them all my life," he said. "College will be like a whole another beginning and having to build new chemistry with my teammates."

Razorbacks defensive line coach John Scott was a major reason for Mincey deciding on the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville.

"He makes you feel like he really wants you, and he's going to try his hardest to recruit you," Mincey said. "That's what I really liked about him. Even before I committed, he stayed in touch a lot."

Mincey is confident the Hogs will finish strong in the last five games of the season.

"We still have time to get better," Mincey said.

Headline

Junior defensive end Marcus Hicks and his family have made it a priority to visit as many schools as possible so he can make an informed college decision.

Hicks, 6-6, 230, 4.61 in the 40, of Wichita Northwest High School in Kansas has nine scholarship offers from schools such as Oklahoma, Nebraska, Oklahoma State, Texas, Iowa, Kansas State and others.

He and his family started visiting schools last fall and have now visited about 12 schools after making their way to Fayetteville for the Hogs' game against Auburn.

Hicks didn't know what to expect before making trips to schools, but he has been pleasantly surprised.

"I would say I didn't think it would be this fun meeting all the coaches and learning about the campuses and the facilities at all these different places," Hicks said. "I've had a great time at all of them."

ESPN rates Marcus Hicks the No. 27 defensive end and No. 212 overall prospect for the 2019 class.

His stepbrother Quinton Hicks, a junior middle linebacker and tight end for Northwest, also made the trip for the Auburn game.

Marcus Hicks has been a terror for opponents this season by recording 51 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, 9 sacks, a forced fumble and 2 pass deflections in 7 games.

Hicks' first college visit to Oklahoma State last year was a surreal moment for him.

"I just couldn't believe I was in the position to be recruited by a Division I school for football," said Hicks, who has a 3.3 grade-point average and is considering graphic design as his major. "I always wanted to play football when I grew up and make it to the NFL. It's just a great feeling."

Email Richard Davenport at rdavenport@arkansasonline.com

Sports on 10/22/2017