LITTLE ROCK — Arkansas’ search to land some of the best defensive line talent in the nation has the Hogs pursuing highly-regarded Ohio prospect Trae Clark.
Clark, 6-4, 337 pounds, 5.0 seconds in the 40-yard dash, of Cincinnati Colerain High School, has more than 10 scholarship offers, including ones from Arkansas, Indiana, Kentucky, South Florida and West Virginia. He said his interest in Arkansas is high.
“It’s Arkansas and the SEC,” Clark said. “That’s grown man football right there. Hard hitting.”
Assistant coach John L.Smith is Arkansas’ lead recruiter of Clark, who said he’s looking to visit during Arkansas’ three day camp June 12-14.
“I usually try to contact him about once a week,” Clark said. “I call him to see how he’s doing. The last time we talked, we talked about me coming down for a camp. I believe I’m going to make it down there. It’s looking promising that I’ll make it.”
Smith is known for his charismatic personality, which is often a hit with recruits and current Razorbacks alike. Clark learned of Smith’s ways once after being asked why he hadn’t called the veteran coach.
“The first time I talked to him, he was like, ‘What? You don’t like us down here or something?’ ” Clark said. “I was like, ‘No, I’ve just been busy.’ He said, ‘Well, hell. Give us a call sometime.’
“At first I was like, ‘I think he’s mad at me.’ Then I found out that he has a great sense of humor so I knew he was joking around with me.”
Clark, who has a 3.0 grade point average, said he is focused on earning a quality education and playing for a quality football program, but added he desires a home-like atmosphere.
“I want to see if I’m comfortable there. It’s most likely I’m going there [Arkansas],” Clark said. “If I go down there and I feel like they treat me like family, I’m like, ‘Yeah, I’m coming here.’ ”
Clark, who reports a 440-pound bench press and 12 squat reps of more than 600 pounds, said he looks forward to meeting Smith .
“I would like to meet him in person and see how he coaches on the field,” Clark said. “The first time I talked to him, I thought if I am doing something wrong or having trouble with something, I know I can talk to him and figure things out.”
SAFETY EYES HOGS
The attraction of playing in the SEC is one of several reasons why Arizona safety Reggie Daniels is considering Arkansas as his possible school of choice.
Daniels, 6-0, 180, 4.57, of Chandler Hamilton High School, reports 11 scholarship offers, including ones from Arkansas, Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado, Notre Dame, Oregon and Washington.
“One of the big reasons is the fact they’re in the SEC,” Daniels said about liking the Razorbacks. “The SEC is a really good place to play football. It’s one of the best conferences, and [Arkansas] had a real good team last year.”
Daniels recorded 24 tackles and 22 assisted tackles, 2 sacks, 3 interceptions and 4 pass breakups as a junior to help Hamilton to its third consecutive state title.
Arkansas offensive line coach Chris Klenakis, who visited Daniels’ school during the spring evaluation period, is Daniels’ lead recruiter.
“He seems like a real cool guy,” said Daniels, who said he’s trying to make arrangements to visit Fayetteville this summer and has been talking to Klenakis about an official visit in the fall. “He tells me about the school and he sounds real interested in me. He showed me a lot when he came out here and watched me practice.”
LIKES THE SCHEME
Consistent communication with Arkansas defensive tackle coach Bobby Allen and the Hogs’ defensive scheme has the Razorbacks as one of the favorites of highly-recruited defensive end/linebacker Denzel Devall.
Devall, 6-3, 242, 4.68, of Bastrop, La., reports 15 scholarship offers, including ones from Arkansas, LSU, Texas A&M, TCU, Alabama. Ole Miss and Oklahoma.
“Arkansas is in my top four,” said Devall, who also lists Texas A&M, LSU and Alabama among his favorites. “Coach Allen and I are getting to know each other. We havea pretty good relationship. He’s pretty cool.”
Devall, who reports a 315-pound bench press and a 485-pound squat, recorded108 tackles, 5 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, 2 recovered fumbles and 1 interception as a junior.
“I like the defense and I like the position that I would be playing, which is outside linebacker,” Devall said of Arkansas. “It’s a great place, and I like the weather up there.”
Devall, who plans to attend an Arkansas camp this summer, is unsure when he’ll make his college decision.
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Sports, Pages 24 on 06/03/2011