DE Collin Clay's got going to Arkansas in his mind

Collin Clay

— As someone who lived in North Carolina until 2013, it’s not surprising that Oklahoma City, Okla., Putnam City four-star defensive end Collin Clay (6-5, 250) grew up with the dream of being a Tar Heel.

But sometimes dreams change or you take a different path, and that’s why Clay finds himself going to Arkansas - instead of Carolina - in his mind.

“Just growing up (in Charlotte) as a Tar Heel fan, I loved their program and loved their coaches, but never thought I would get a chance to be offered by them, especially after I moved to Oklahoma,” Clay said. “I wasn’t expecting that.

“But even though they offered and I have some other good offers, it’s just at the end of the day it’s who stays in touch with me and shows me the most love and has a plan for me out of the gate instead of figuring it out as they go along. Right now, that’s Arkansas.”

Clay was on hand for Sunday’s Nike The Opening Dallas Regional, but was injured while running early and had to miss the rest of the event.

“I ran my 40 and stepped on my left leg and tweaked up my hamstring,” Clay said. “I just watched the 1-on-1s and used it as a learning experience as everybody else went against each other. I was able to learn how to use my hands better even though I wasn’t able to get in there and get at it.”

Clay, who also has offers from Florida, Georgia, Oklahoma State, Michigan, Iowa State, Minnesota, Colorado, Duke and others as well as interest from Oklahoma, took an official visit to Arkansas on April 7-9 and fortunately got to see one of his favorite rappers.

“It was a great visit to Arkansas with the host being able to take me out in the city and getting to go to a Gucci Mane concert,” Clay said. “It was a pretty cool environment.”

Clay, who had 56 tackles, 3 sacks and 2 pass break-ups, had a pre-existing relationship with new Arkansas coach Chad Morris when he was at SMU and has gotten close to Razorback assistants Barry Lunney, Jr. and John Scott.

“Arkansas is at the top for me now,” Clay said. “I was able to build a relationship with coach Morris while he was at SMU and that has continued now that he is at Arkansas. I talk to him every day, I talk to coach Lunney and I talk to coach John Scott.”

Clay has not set up any other official visits yet but has plans to do so soon.

“I haven’t set up any others yet, but I am pretty sure I will be taking one to TCU and one to North Carolina pretty soon,” Clay said.

The NCAA now allows prospects to take official visits in April through June of their junior year instead of waiting until the fall as it had been before 2018.

“I feel like that (early official visits) is a really good thing as it allows some of the juniors to get their decisions done early if they are looking to do that,” Clay said. “For me, I plan on making my decision sometime during my senior season.

“I want to get my officials over with and then make sure of my decision.”