FAYETTEVILLE — It may not be March Madness, but Richmond (Texas) Fort Bend Travis linebacker Zach Zimos is down to his final four.
Zimos (6-4, 215), who visited Arkansas officially Sunday through Tuesday, has narrowed his list to the Razorbacks, Missouri, Texas Tech and Purdue.
He was left marveling at what he found in Fayetteville with new head coach Chad Morris’ program.
“I could definitely see myself at home here, this is the place to be,” Zimos said. “Coach Morris and his staff are awesome. I can tell that the players fall in love with him and what they’re trying to do here. Playing in the SEC West, it’s the top of the top, it doesn’t get any better than that so it’s exciting.”
Arkansas made its pitch this weekend with Morris and defensive coordinator John Chavis leading the charge for Zimos, who committed to California on April 28 and then de-committed from the Bears on May 20.
“It went really good,” Zimos said. “It was good to spend time with Coach Morris, Coach Chavis and the rest of them. It’s been really awesome here, I liked it a lot.
“They’re definitely right at the top with Missouri, Texas Tech and Purdue. They definitely surprised me a lot with all the things they had to offer this weekend.”
The Arkansas staff made it clear to Zimos, who also has offers from Boise State, SMU, Houston, Louisiana-Monroe, Tulsa UTEP and Texas State, that he is a priority recruit.
“I feel like I’m really big for them,” Zimos said. “Just the way the talk to me, the way it feels here, it’s really intriguing.
“They like my versatility and my size and length. They like my physicality overall. They see me as a Will or Sam, outside linebacker.”
Zimos had 58 tackles, four stops for lost yardage, two interceptions, three pass breakups, a forced fumble and two fumble recoveries as a junior after having 34 tackles and five interceptions as a sophomore.
He hopes to have all of his visits down soon and a decision as early as July.
“I’ll be at Mizzou this weekend and then Texas Tech the following weekend. Possibly Purdue the weekend after or maybe a midweek visit, I don’t know yet.
“I’ll probably decide before the season, if not then a couple weeks into the season, that’d be the latest.
Zimos, who was hosted by freshman linebacker and fellow Texas native Bumper Pool, thinks the Arkansas program is on the verge of a turnaround.
“I know they haven’t had the greatest couple of years but I’m just super excited about what this program has to offer and where it’s going,” Zimos said.
Zimos asked Pool and other Razorbacks their thoughts on the program.
“I just asked them to be honest with me like if there’s anything they don’t like here and they said there’s nothing they don’t like here and the coaches don’t change how they treat you from your official visit when you actually get here,” Zimos said.
He has a couple of things that will impact his decision
“Just what feels best for me and where I feel I’m put in the best position to succeed,” Zimos said. “I feel like I can make an impact no matter where I go so it just comes down to who I’m with and the coaching staff, the players and the environment.”