The Recruiting Guy

DE continues his growth on the field

An Arkansas Razorback helmet at Chad Morris introductory press conference Thursday, Dec. 7, 2017.

The University of Arkansas will host one of the nation's top prospects, defensive end Vernon Broughton, this weekend for an official visit.

Broughton, 6-5, 286 pounds, 5.03 seconds in the 40-yard dash, of Houston Cypress Ridge, announced a top six of Arkansas, Alabama, LSU, Ohio State, Texas and Texas A&M on May 20.

Vernon Broughton highlights

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Prior to playing in four games as a sophomore at nearby Houston Spring Woods, Broughton had focused on basketball.

Former Cypress Ridge Coach Gary Thiebaud, who announced his retirement in January, recalls talking to Broughton in middle school.

"When he was in the seventh grade, I talked to him and he told me, 'Coach, I'm a basketball player,'" Thiebaud said. "I said you might want to rethink that."

Broughton, who made an unofficial visit to Arkansas in March, officially visited Texas on May 3. He continued to focus on basketball until his sophomore season. He and his mother met with Thiebaud last summer, and Broughton decided to transfer to Cypress Ridge.

"He's explosive, he has a really strong desire to get to the ball every play," Thiebaud said. "He doesn't take plays off. He's raw. He hasn't played a whole lot. He transitioned from basketball to football. Last year was really his first full football season."

He thought of giving up basketball until talking to Thiebaud.

"I said you're going to play for our basketball team here when football is over," Thiebaud said. "We're multiple sport guys around here."

CBS Sports Network national recruiting analyst Tom Lemming met with Broughton in December. He rates Broughton a 4-star plus prospect.

"He's a tremendous prospect," said Lemming who travels across the nation to see top prospects. "He's about 6-5, 290 and can play end and tackle. He came out to my Houston stop at Fort Bend Marshall. He's impressive looking, but even more impressive on film. He dominates the point of attack, great feet, very good use of hands and has enough quickness to consistently apply pressure on the quarterback."

Thiebaud said he believes there's a lot to like about Broughton.

"He's long; he's built from the ground up," Thiebaud said. "He's going to be a 300-plus pounder when he gets into a college strength program that can move."

Off the field, Broughton checks all of the boxes.

"He's a great kid, very personable," Thiebaud said. "No ego issues. Never any discipline issues with him. He's 'yes sir, no sir'. He's good with his teammates. Just a really good kid to be around."

Thiebaud, who coached 42 years, the last 17 at Cypress Ridge, said Broughton won his teammates while being hungry to learn the game of football.

"He jumped right into football and it wasn't long he won the team over and started and had a really nice year," Thiebaud said. "Like I said, he's raw, and he's a sponge and just wants to learn. He does a lot of training on the outside to try and catch up."

Email Richard Davenport at

rdavenport@arkansasonline.com

Sports on 05/31/2019