Dominant Wilkins no longer a hidden talent

Stacey Wilkins

— Once upon a time, Camden Fairview junior offensive lineman Stacey Wilkins (6-7, 275) had just a couple of lower-level offers. Then Arkansas knocked on the door.

Wilkins answered, got his first Power 5 offer from the Razorbacks on Dec. 17 then watched the floodgates open to a point where he is now sitting on nearly 30 total offers.

After going through Sunday’s Nike The Opening Dallas Regional at Euless Trinity High School, he looked back on the moment his recruitment took off.

“It’s really been blowing up,” Wilkins said. “(Arkansas) got the ball rolling for me and I really appreciate that. I am planning on taking an official (to Arkansas) in June to see what all else they have that I have not seen yet.”

The Arkansas staff has made sure he knows he is a priority recruit for them and they have continued to build the relationship.

“It is going good,” Wilkins said. “They came down to visit me the first day they were able to get out and will be able to get back out again soon and have plans to come and visit me again,” Wilkins said.

Wilkins, who said he could make his decision soon or wait until after the season, was dominant during the Nike event on Sunday.

“It went good,” Wilkins said. “I probably only lost about two reps throughout the whole thing. It was good for me to be able to come out and compete, learn some new things and put them in my arsenal for football season.”

Wilkins’ cousins Shawn Andrews (Arkansas) and Stacey Andrews (Ole Miss) were both college and NFL players and he has talked recently about a top three of Oklahoma, Arkansas and Texas.

He also has offers from Alabama, Georgia, USC, Ole Miss and numerous other schools.

“I put out a top three and talked about three schools, but I am also going to look at Ole Miss and some other schools,” Wilkins said.

Wilkins, who admits he came close to committing to Oklahoma during an unofficial visit during its spring game, says he has three official visits planned so far.

“Arkansas (June), Texas (May 4-6) and USC (TBA),” Wilkins said. “… I am planning on taking all my officials this spring and summer so I can get that out of the way and have my decision made so I won’t have to worry about it.”

Oklahoma, where Wilkins is thinking of taking an official visit to see the Sooners play UCLA on Sept. 8, has been the perceived leader for Wilkins, who has plans to make a third unofficial visit this summer.

“I am going to try and get back up there this summer with my family because they didn’t get to visit because I was with my coaches,” Wilkins said. “They really like what they are hearing and they have good relationships with the coaches.”

Texas recruiting assistant Jake Langi has bonded with Wilkins over their Polynesian heritage.

“We speak every now and then and stuff because we have Polynesian heritage stuff,” Wilkins said. “He checks in on me, asks how I am doing and makes sure I am handling my school work and all that stuff.”

Wilkins notes Texas’ big pitch is the possibility to come in, put on some weight and play early.

“Right now it is if I come in and work hard that I will able to have a chance to start when I get there,” Wilkins said. “The weight is going to get on me when I get there. Just working hard, staying focused in the weight room and the classroom when I get there.”

Wilkins stressed it’s not just the on-field opportunities that will help him make his decision.

“It will be being able to have fun and stuff and knowing when I wake up that will I like it,” Wilkins said. “I don’t want to go to a place to where I will wake up and not like it for the next four years. I am really looking at that aspect.”