After playing his game tonight, offensive lineman Dylan Rathcke and his family will make a nine-hour drive to Fayetteville to visit the University of Arkansas for the Vanderbilt game Saturday.
Rathcke, 6-5, 290 pounds, 5.27 seconds in the 40-yard dash, of University Lab in Baton Rouge has 13 scholarship offers from Kentucky, Louisville, Colorado State, Tulane, Arkansas State University, Southern Mississippi and others.
Texas A&M and Clemson have recently started to show interest. He's hoping to add an offer from Arkansas during the visit.
"I really want to get there and meet everybody and try and get an offer," Rathcke said. "Really get down there and see what it's like. I've never been to Arkansas and I just want to get down there and see it."
Rathcke has been talking to offensive line coach Dustin Fry leading up to the visit.
"He said he likes my film," Rathcke said. "He just wants to see me in person."
Should he receive an offer, he'll likely take an official visit to Arkansas in the future.
"I'm definitely going to consider it and probably try and take an official and get to know everything about the school," he said.
He helped University Lab to a 14-0 record and the Division II state championship as a junior while being named to the All-USA Louisiana first team.
Rathcke, who has a 3.0 grade point average, is uncertain on a college major.
"I'm not really sure yet, but I really like mechanical engineering and electrical, but I also have been looking into other fields," Rathcke said.
Rathcke has a 305-pound bench press, 475 squat and 275 power clean. He has an impressive 33.5 inch vertical jump and has recorded 4.42 seconds in the shuttle.
He's made an unofficial visit to Southern Miss.
"I plan on taking an official visit to Kentucky and Colorado State," Rathcke said.
Rathcke said he's picked up good vibes while talking to Fry during the recruiting process.
"He's a great dude," Rathcke said. "I talked on the phone for awhile and I message him on Twitter and I'm really excited to get there and meet him."
Being born and raised in Louisiana, Rathcke has grown up watching SEC football and relishes the chance to play in the prestigious league
"Ever since I started playing when I was little, I've always been told I would go somewhere and always in my mind I've wanted to go and try and play in the SEC," Rathcke said. "That's the biggest league and the most prestigious."
Wherever he makes his college decision, he'll focus on the home aspect.
"Really feeling like home," he said. "If I have to spend four years in a place, I have to make sure it's a place I like . A place that will help me move on later in life with an education."
E-mail Richard Davenport at rdavenport@arkansasonline.com
Sports on 10/26/2018