The Recruiting Guy

Athlete Isaac Stoops expected to make unofficial visit to Arkansas

Athlete Isaac Stoops.

Receiver and cornerback Isaac Stoops, the son of former Oklahoma Coach Bob Stoops, will arrive in Fayetteville on Saturday for an unofficial visit in hopes of learning more about Arkansas.

He said he is looking forward to seeing the campus, facilities and spending time with a coaching staff with which he is familiar.

“I had a couple of visits to SMU when they were there and they’re really good guys and I enjoyed being around them,” Stoops said.

Stoops, 5-10, 170 pounds, of Norman North High School in Oklahoma has scholarship offers from Army, Drake, Youngstown State, Ouachita Baptist and others. He has preferred walk-on offers from Oklahoma, Arkansas, Nevada, Northwestern and Kentucky.

Cornerbacks coach Mark Smith, who was a defensive quality control coach under Bob Stoops at Oklahoma, recruited Isaac Stoops at SMU and is doing the same at Arkansas.

“Extremely welcoming and friendly and I’ve always had great talks with him,” Isaac Stoops said. “Really respect him as a man and coach.”

Stoops has a recorded a time of 4.75 seconds in the 40-yard dash and 4.05 seconds in the pro-agility shuttle. While his 40 time won’t wow, his video highlights shows one that runs past angles and is rarely is caught from behind.

“I’m just not very good at it,” Stoops said of the 40-yard dash. “I’ve never really had too fast of a 40, but in games I can breakaway so I guess it really doesn’t matter too much.”

He made the 6AI-2 all-district team as voted by the coaches after recording 45 receptions for 916 yards and 11 touchdowns. He also had 3 kickoff returns for 37 yards and 4 punt returns for 87 yards, including a 62-yard return for a touchdown. He had an interception, four pass breakups and a recovered fumble in limited play at cornerback.

He has never visited Arkansas, but has heard good things from others.

“I know quite a few people that go there or have gone there and have enjoyed it,” Stoops said. “I just know it’s an environment similar to Norman. It’s a school that loves football and takes it seriously and obviously has a big program.”

Stoops has a 3.95 grade point average and is considering journalism as a major. Being the son of a coach and having uncles and other family members as coaches is an advantage for Stoops.

“I’ve just grown up around football so being around the game you learn things whether you realize it or not,” Stoops said.

His twin brother, Drake, a receiver, has committed to Oklahoma, while Issac is down to two schools.

“I’m probably down to Arkansas and OU for my decision,” he said.