FAYETTEVILLE — As the season has gone on, more colleges have taken notice of Fayetteville junior receiver Connor Flannigan.
Flannigan, 5-10, 170 pounds, has recorded 52 catches for 854 yards and 12 touchdowns while rushing 9 times for 87 yards and a touchdown in six games this season. Coach Billy Dawson keeps a lid on most information.
“I’ve had some colleges are interested, but none reach out to me personally because I know they’re talking to coach,” Flannigan said. “I know he doesn't want to tell me anything big right now because he doesn't want me to get big-headed or anything. So he’s trying to keep it on the low and I’m not trying to get distracted by it right now.”
Interest increased pretty quickly after the season opener when he had 13 receptions for 311 yards and 4 touchdowns in a 51-28 victory over St. John Vianney High School in St. Louis.
Flannigan fared well against Vianney safety Kyren Williams, a Notre Dame commitment.
“I obviously had a pretty good game,” Flannigan said. “Pretty happy with the how I played and got a lot more looks after that game and a lot more people contacted me. And Coach Dawson got more letters and stuff, so that was cool.”
Schools like Kansas, Kansas State, Iowa State, Texas State, Tulsa, Kent State, Tulane, Tennessee-Martin and Louisiana-Monroe have taken notice while Arkansas had him on its radar before the season.
He admires what coach Chad Morris is doing.
“I really like Chad Morris and what he’s trying to do up there,” said Flannigan, who attended Arkansas' game against Alabama on Saturday. “I’ve talked to his son Chandler a couple of times. He’s really cool. I really like the atmosphere and the culture they’re building. I’ve seen the recruits they got recently, so he’s doing a good job.”
Opponents are often surprised by Flannigan’s speed and ability to make people miss in the open field.
“I usually get the, ‘Oh wow, didn’t expect that,' because I’m a smaller guy that don’t look the part,” Flannigan said. “But when I turn it on and get past people usually they’re surprised and I turn on that second gear and guys aren’t ready for that and they have to turn it up later in the game.”
Flannigan, who has a 4.05 grade point average, is also excellent in lacrosse and has interest from Centenary, Salisbury University in Maryland and others. Former Razorback running back Alex Collins played lacrosse in high school.
“Lacrosse can get very physical,” Flannigan said. “You can lay some big hits just like in football. It’s a little more finesse than football; there are similarities between route running and stuff, like trying to weave in and out of defenses in lacrosse. There’s definitely some (overlap).”