The Recruiting Guy

Razorbacks coaches hit recruiting trail in full force

Arkansas assistant coach Michael Smith argues with a game official against LSU during the third quarter Saturday, Nov. 15, 2014, at Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville.

Arkansas Coach Bret Bielema and his staff will start visiting schools and the homes of prospects beginning today, the first day of the contact period.

All 10 coaches are allowed on the road at the same time, three more than NCAA rules allowed two years ago.

Coaches can talk to senior prospects while visiting schools and homes during the contact period, something that is not allowed in the spring and fall evaluation periods.

"The head coach can see a prospect one time and the assistant coaches can see a prospect once a week a total of six times during the contact period," said E.K. Franks, Arkansas' director of recruiting. "So we're trying to make sure we see all of our offers."

The dead period, which forbids face-to-face contact with prospects, starts Dec. 15 and runs until Jan. 15, when the contact period resume.

Coaches can talk to senior athletes at school during the contact period, but they aren't allowed to speak to juniors, sophomores and freshmen.

Prospects in Arkansas, Texas, Louisiana, Florida, Indiana, Georgia, Utah, Indiana, Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri and California will receive visits from Arkansas coaches.

"We don't know which bowl we're going to for another week," Franks said. "So were going to maximize every coach that first week because you don't have any game prep to do."

Most recruits have finished their seasons, but several are still playing in the playoffs. Coaches will attend practices and some games.

"We'll have people at certain prospects' games and try and watch certain guys practice," Franks said. "Anybody that's on the bubble [for a scholarship offer] we're looking at. We're looking to see how they move. We'll get the coordinator and the position coach there."

The Hogs will be able to host prospects for official visits the first two weekends in December and the last three weekends of January. National signing day is Feb. 4.

Bielema and his staff will be recruiting with some momentum after shutouts of LSU and Ole Miss. Franks said Wednesday that Arkansas' 17-0 shutout of LSU had kept the coaches and recruiting staff busy.

"It was amazing, all the phone calls and the direct messages the coaching staff and recruiting staff received," Franks said. "Just kids congratulating you, kids interested in you, high school coaches, parents. It was amazing how many people were out there rooting for us."

Franks said the 30-0 victory over Ole Miss took things to another level.

"It was amazing to see how many of the actual recruits were tweeting about us," Franks said. "Once they start talking about you and tweeting about you, they're obviously interested in coming . Also to pick up interest from certain people that might have been off the market but now are like, 'Hey, Coach, I like what you guys are doing. I want to come check it out.' "

WAITING ON OFFER

Arkansas is showing interest in defensive back Nathaniel Dalton of Houston Cypress Falls, and he's hoping that interest turns into a scholarship offer.

Dalton said he recently talked to defensive backs coach Clay Jennings.

"He called me to tell me I was on their radar," Dalton said.

Dalton, 6-3, 195 pounds, 4.50 seconds in the 40-yard dash, has scholarship offers from approximately 10 schools, including Oklahoma, Utah, Kentucky, SMU, Washington State and New Mexico.

Dalton lived in Baton Rouge and rooted for LSU before moving to Texas.

"I'm really interested," Dalton said of the Razorbacks. "I see them a lot [on television] because they recently beat a team I like, which is LSU. That's my hometown team. I see they have an amazing program. They help build players to get to the next level, which is really important, and they have a great academics."

Dalton is also an outfielder for the school's baseball team and batted .486 last spring. He said Jennings, who is expected to visit his school this week, told him why the Hogs like him.

"I'm aggressive," Dalton said. "I have good footwork, and he likes the way I use my hands. He said they're really interested in me, and I could make a big impact on the defensive side."

E-mail Richard Davenport at

rdavenport@arkansasonline.com

Sports on 11/30/2014