The updated ESPN 300 list of the top prospects in the nation came out Monday and numerous Arkansas prospects were included.
Two Arkansans, defensive end McTelvin Agim of Hope and Pulaski Robinson athlete T.J. Hammonds are rated the No. 9 and No. 223 recruits in the nation.
Agim, 6-3, 268, 4.62 seconds in the 40 yard dash, was also rated the No. 2 defensive end. His overall ranking is the second highest for an Arkansas athlete since ESPN started ranking prospects.
Only Little Rock Christian running back Michael Dyer was ranked higher when he was the No. 5 recruit in the 2010 class.
In the April ESPN 300, Agim was the No. 4 defensive end and No. 16 overall prospect. His performance at The Opening, the prestigious July event held at Nike Headquarters in Oregon helped him make the move up.
“He didn’t disappoint us at all,” National recruiting analyst Craig Haubert said. “We’ve always looked at impact D-linemen as a premium type position. There’s a guy that’s explosive off the football. He really does a good job of being able to attack offensive linemen, not only with that explosiveness, but he does a nice job with his hands as well.”
Agim, who has narrowed his list of more than 20 offers down to Arkansas, Texas A&M, Baylor and Ole Miss, is a unique talent.
“You add into that his athleticism and his range for his size,” Haubert said. “He’s a player that can make plays between the tackles, but could also be one of those defensive linemen you have to account for at all times.”
Haubert said Agim didn’t disappoint at The Opening.
“He’s one we felt strong about and after seeing him at The Opening, not only did he confirm what we thought of him from film evaluation, but felt he was a guy that deserved a bump as well..” Haubert said.
Hammonds, 5-11, 196 pounds, 4.42 seconds in the 40-yard dash, rushed 58 times for 852 yards and 7 touchdowns and had 41 receptions for 1,172 yards and 11 touchdowns as a junior.
Haubert is surprised Hammonds isn’t talked about more on the national level.
“I don’t know how necessarily his top-end speed is, but he’s a versatile, explosive, quick player,” Haubert said. “He’s in the mold of Joe Adams. Joe brought extreme versatility, playing making element. I think to a degree, I wouldn’t quite put him at that same level, but he’s the kind of player that can bring a lot of versatility to their offense.”
Hammonds who also had 19 unassisted tackles, 1 forced fumble and a recovered fumble as a defensive back, committed to Arkansas in April over scholarship offers from Georgia, Arizona, Oklahoma State, Arizona State, TCU, Vanderbilt and others
“He’s pretty natural around the ball and once he gets the ball in his hands, he has the ability to make things happen,” Haubert said.