The Recruiting Guy

Oklahoma defensive end familiar with UA staff

Arkansas assistant coach John Scott Jr. speaks to his players Tuesday, March 28, 2017, during spring practice at the UA practice facility in Fayetteville.

Highly regarded defensive end Courtre Alexander will be one of many prospects officially visiting the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville football program this weekend.

Alexander, 6-4, 250 pounds, 4.9 seconds in the 40-yard dash, is from Owasso, Okla. He received scholarship offers from Arkansas and Texas in December to go along with 10 others, including Memphis, Wyoming and Tulane.

He made an official visit to Austin to see the Longhorns on Dec. 8. Alexander had a previous relationship with the Razorbacks staff.

"I met them at SMU, and I liked how they worked and when they moved to Arkansas they hit me up, so I already knew them," Alexander said.

This weekend's visit will be his second trip to Fayetteville, He attended the Hogs' home game against LSU in 2016.

"It was awesome," Alexander said. "I've never seen anything like it. It was my best visit at the time. I liked how the crowd was loud."

Cornerbacks coach Mark Smith, along with defensive ends coach Steve Caldwell and defensive tackles coach John Scott Jr., visited Alexander at his school Jan. 12, and Smith later made an in-home visit.

"It went well," said Alexander of the visit with Smith. "My parents really liked him. He got to meet us and know us and we got to know him on a personal level."

Alexander liked that he and Smith are strong in their faith.

"I can't speak for my parents or anything, but I like that he's a Christian," Alexander said.

He recorded 53 tackles, 4.5 sacks, 2 interceptions and 2 recovered fumbles to help lead the Rams to the Class 6A-1 state championship after a 21-14 victory over Tulsa Union, the first state title for Owasso since 1974.

An official visit gives a prospect and his family 48 hours to learn about the school. Alexander said if the visit goes well he could see himself pledging to the Hogs.

"I'm looking froward to getting in campus and meeting the full staff and seeing the program they have and academic help and everything else," said Alexander, who wants to major in engineering.

E-mail Richard Davenport at rdavenport@arkansasonline.com

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Sports on 01/19/2018