FAYETTEVILLE — St. Louis Lutheran North offensive lineman Jack Buford (6-5, 290 pounds), a four-star recruit who has more than 30 offers, took an official visit to Fayetteville this weekend to check out the Razorbacks.
“The coaching staff and everyone showed love,” Buford said. "The campus is beautiful, it’s like right here in the mountains. I didn’t know the facilities were like that, like the training room and going in the weight room.
“Everyone was just showing me love. I really didn’t think it was going to be like this, so for a first impression it was amazing.”
Oklahoma and Missouri were thought to be Buford’s leaders, but Arkansas pushed its way into the conversation this weekend.
“It already helped itself by the way they’ve recruited me, but they’re not just recruiting me,” Buford said. "They’re not just bringing me in and it’s all business talk. It’s not all football talk and that meant a lot to me.
"They’re doing a good job, so they’re up there. They’re definitely up there.”
The energy level of Arkansas’ new staff - led by coach Chad Morris - stood out.
“They want to win, so you want to be around a team that wants to win, especially a team that plays in the SEC that wants to win,” Buford said.
Arkansas lineman Tyler Hall was his host.
“It was fun,” Buford said. “ He’s a real cool dude. He was just telling me how stuff works with the new system and how everything is fast paced. They do a lot of up-tempo stuff and run a lot.”
Buford, who plans to visit Missouri and Oklahoma in ht near future, is beginning to build a bond with Arkansas offensive line coach Dustin Fry.
“We have a good connection. I’d say we’re close,” Buford said. “ This weekend definitely brought me, him, Coach Morris, my mom and my dad all closer to the Arkansas family.”
Buford is happy about his run blocking, but wants to get better in the passing game.
“I’m still working on my pass-pro, but I’m pretty good at run-blocking and getting to the next level,” Buford said. "That’s really it, but we can improve in all areas. I could get better at my run-blocking, too.”