LITTLE ROCK — With running backs Knile Davis, Ronnie Wingo Jr. and Dennis Johnson expected to leave after the 2012 season, Arkansas is recruiting several top running back prospects in the 2013 class, including highly regarded Ezekiel Elliott of St. Louis John Burroughs High School.
Elliott, 6-0, 205 pounds, 4.50 seconds in the 40-yard dash, has scholarship offers from approximately 20 schools,including Arkansas, Missouri, Ohio State, Illinois, Notre Dame, Iowa and Nebraska. He visited Fayetteville on March 3 with his father, Stacy, mother, Dawn, and sisters, Lailah, 13, and Aaliyah, 6.
One of the highlights of the trip was being able to spend time with Coach Bobby Petrino.
“That was real nice,” said Elliott, one of about 20 prospects who visited that day. “I got to sit down with Coach Petrino, and he actually broke down the film and broke down the offense and broke down plays they use and plays they like to run.”
Reynolds Razorback Stadium also made a good first impression on the Elliotts.
“I’ve never really watched much Arkansas football, so I didn’t know what to expect,” said Elliott, who said he’ll likely make his decision after the season. “But when we pulled up in front of the stadium, it was beautiful.”
Elliott rushed 211 times for 1,802 yards and 34 touchdowns and had 23 receptions for 401 yards and 6 touchdowns as a junior. National recruiting analyst Tom Lemming of CBS Sports Network describes him as “a big-time guy.”
“He’s the No. 1 prospect in the St. Louis area and one of the better running backs in the country,” said Lemming, who rates Elliot a 4-plus-star prospect. “He has good size, real good speed, vision and balance. He’s got it all.”
Elliott was impressed with Arkansas’ existing facilities and was surprised to see the Hogs building a new football complex and practice fields.
“They’re putting in all new TVs and making the lockers bigger and in the center of the locker room. They’re putting in a movie theater for the players,” Elliott said. “It seems like they’re treating their players right. It seems like everything they’re doing is to make it easier for the players to perform at a high level.”
Stacy Elliott, who said the family has been to junior days at Nebraska, Missouri, Illinois and Ohio State, raved about the visit to Arkansas.
“I’ve actually told this to several other schools: Arkansas was the most detailed and best junior day we’ve been to,” Stacy said. “We had a chance to go on campus and go to one of the dorms and get an idea if our son was to go to Arkansas what type of environment he would be living in. We were able to hear from the players - some seniors, a younger player. We’ve never experienced that at other junior days. It was almost like an official visit.
Eric Wood was a hit, too. Wood is the associate athletic director for academics and student-athlete development program, which is designed to enhance the life skills of athletes.
“Oh my Lord, that was the best presentation we heard from any student-athlete development,” Stacy said.
Dawn said the coaching staff and the program’s ability to maximize the student-athlete’s potential made her feel comfortable about Arkansas.
“There’s no hesitation,” she said. “I wouldn’t have no worries dropping him off and coming home. I’m certain he would be in good hands. “
She called her son’s lead recruiter, offensive coordinator Paul Petrino, a “great guy.”
“I appreciate his honesty,” Dawn said. “He just tells it like it is. He doesn’t try to sugarcoat anything. He’s straightforward, and I appreciate that.”
Arkansas’ traditions, including the Hog call, impressed the family, particularity Aaliyah, who became very fond of the call.
“She’s still calling the Hogs,” Stacy said.
The Elliotts visited Missouri over the weekend and met with Tigers Coach Gary Pinkel, who asked Aaliyah if she would like her brother to be a Tiger.
“We were just praying she didn’t start calling the Hogs,” Stacy said, laughing.
IN THE HUNT
Two-sport athlete Torii Hunter Jr. of Prosper, Texas, visited Arkansas on Sunday and took in the Razorbacks’ 7-4 baseball victory over Alabama.
Hunter, 6-1, 175 pounds, 4.5 seconds in the 40-yard dash, is the son of Los Angeles Angels outfielder Torii Hunter, who is from Pine Bluff. The younger Hunter is also a standout receiver and has scholarship offers from Arkansas, Oklahoma State, Oklahoma, Notre Dame, Texas Tech and others.
“I like the Razorback program because I’m from Arkansas and growing up I was always around the Razorbacks,” said Hunter, who is batting .424 with six home runs this season. “I always had Razorback gear, and my mom attended Arkansas. There’s like, I guess, a legacy with the Razorbacks.”
Hunter, who had 49 receptions for 750 yards and 12 touchdowns as a junior, plans to visit Arkansas’ football program after baseball season.
E-mail Richard Davenport at rdavenport@arkansasonline.com
Sports, Pages 19 on 03/20/2012