The Recruiting Guy

Offers starting to roll in for Fairview tackle

Stacey Wilkins of Camden Fairview

Arkansas Razorbacks football Coach Chad Morris and his staff will host numerous top prospects for unofficial visits Saturday, and Camden Fairview offensive tackle Stacey Wilkins will be one of them.

The Hogs were the first Power 5 school to extend an offer to Wilkins on Dec. 17, and since then he has added 14 other offers from schools including Oklahoma, Tennessee, Oklahoma State, with the last two from Texas and Southern Cal.

He received his offer from the Longhorns during a visit to Austin over the weekend, and the Trojans offered Wednesday. Prior to visiting Texas, Wilkins made trips to TCU and Oklahoma.

"Once you visit a school another school finds out and they'll be right after you," Wilkins said. "When Arkansas and Oklahoma offered me and other schools found out and they came along."

Wilkins, 6-7, 275 pounds, graded out at 84 percent while having 46 pancake blocks and 89 knockdowns last season. He started 10 games at right tackle as a sophomore and graded at 83 percent while having 37 pancake blocks and 53 knockdowns.

He made an unofficial visit to Fayetteville for the Missouri game on Nov. 24 and was able to get a good look at the academic side. He's looking forward to spending time with new coaching staff.

"I know they have a good academic program, but other than that feeling like family and being able to connect with them and have fun," Wilkins said.

Offensive coordinator Joe Craddock, offensive line coach Dustin Fry and tight ends coach Barry Lunney Jr. were regular visitors to Camden Fairview during the contact period in December and January. Morris and the entire offensive staff visited the school Feb. 2.

"I know Coach Lunney, Coach Craddock and Coach Fry came down about three times and then Coach Morris and all of them came down the last time," Wilkins said.

When he heard Morris and the offensive staff was planning to visit his school, Wilkins was surprised.

"I felt really good that they really cared about me because you never expect a college will come down to see me three or four times," Wilkins said. "That made me feel wanted and I'm a high priority."

Wilkins, who is a cousin of former Razorback and NFL offensive lineman Shawn Andrews, is communicating with Morris, Lunney, Craddock and Fry. The Hogs and Sooners are the only schools recruiting him with several coaches.

"Other schools I really just text the recruiting coordinator, but Arkansas and Oklahoma are the only schools I text more than two people," he said.

He and Fry talk about more than just football.

"Coach Fry I talked to him last week about something personal," Wilkins said. "Coach Fry and I have talk about what I have going on and other stuff. We're able to connect and he gives me advice. It helps a lot."

In addition to Andrews, Camden Fairview has produced former Hogs Jim Youngblood, De'Anthony Curtis and Dominique Reed. Cardinals Coach Jake Monden knew Wilkins had a chance to develop into what he is today when he saw him as a freshman.

"I knew the potential was there and it's coming to fruition with the way he's blowing up," Monden said. "He's getting attention from just about everybody. We get calls everyday. He's done a good job of working hard and putting himself in this situation. It's huge for our town to have another kid like this."

He has a top three in no order of Arkansas, Texas and Oklahoma. Wilkins has said he's wanted to be a Razorback since he was a kid.

"I have a good relationship with them so they're one of my top schools," he said of the Hogs. "I'm looking at where I fit in where I'm able to connect and leave a legacy behind me."

Wilkins had plans to announce his college decision May 9, but he may delay it so his teammates can get looks from college coaches during spring practice.

"That may change before then," he said. "Our spring ball doesn't start then so I might wait a little bit because all of the schools are going to come down and watch me during spring ball so other guys can get looks."

E-mail Richard Davenport at rdavenport@arkansasonline.com

Sports on 02/23/2018