The Recruiting Guy

Forward considering a change of plans

Doobie Jenkins averaged 14.2 points and 6.5 rebounds per game as a senior at Naples (Fla.) First Baptist Academy.

There is a good chance small forward Doobie Jenkins will become a late addition to Arkansas Coach Mike Anderson's 2015 recruiting class this weekend.

Jenkins, who played at Naples (Fla.) First Baptist Academy, received a scholarship offer from Arkansas about two weeks ago. He and his father, Lorenzo Jenkins Sr., will arrive in Fayetteville today for an official visit.

"I'm really looking forward to seeing the campus and meeting the coaches and also seeing the players," Jenkins said. "It's really going to be a real great experience because this is a big school, and I understand Arkansas has been a big school, and I feel like this is the step in the right direction for me."

Jenkins, 6-7, 215 pounds, also has scholarship offers from Chattanooga, The Citadel, Kennesaw State, Richmond, Tennessee Tech and Virginia Military. He had planned to attend prep school and be a 2016 prospect, but that could change if he likes this weekend's visit.

"There's a big chance," Jenkins said of a possible commitment to Arkansas. "I've talked to the coaches a lot, and I really like the plan they have for me and what they've told me so far. Hopefully the visit goes just as well, which I have confidence that it will."

He averaged 14.2 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.3 steals a game this past season and said he has been talking to Coach Mike Anderson and assistant T.J. Cleveland.

"The biggest thing that stood out to him about me was my versatility," Jenkins said of Anderson. "He said I could create matchup problems on the floor, and that's probably the biggest thing for me. He said I can also score. He said he would use me a lot on the wing and that will really be important to the team and I'll have a really big impact on the team."

Jenkins, who also is drawing interest from Texas A&M, Fresno State, San Diego and several others, has a 3.2 grade-point average and is leaning toward studying something medical related. He and Anderson spoke by telephone Tuesday evening about his trip.

"He just reached out to me and just let me know he's really excited about the visit and he's looking forward to meeting me and showing us around the school," Jenkins said. "He's pretty excited for me and he has big plans for me, so I'm really excited to talk about that."

DIPPING INTO GEORGIA

Arkansas signed defensive lineman T.J. Smith of Moultrie (Ga.) Colquitt County in February and might add another prospect or two from the school as part of the 2016 class.

Receiver Kiel Pollard and cornerback Rakeem Hightower have scholarship offers from Arkansas, and they are planning to take official visits to Fayetteville for the Sept. 19 game against Texas Tech.

"I just want to see the school and the atmosphere at the game," Pollard said. "Meet with the coaches and see how they coach and stuff like that."

Pollard, 6-2, 212, 4.68 seconds in the 40-yard dash, has approximately 17 other scholarship offers from schools that include California, Central Florida, Wake Forest, Boston College and Cincinnati. He said Smith was back home last weekend and talked up the Razorbacks.

"He just said it's fun," Pollard said. "The players are cool and the coaches are cool and they work hard. Everybody buys into it."

Smith's comments about the program have influenced Pollard.

"I've been buying into it," Pollard said. "He's got me liking Arkansas a lot more now."

Defensive line coach Rory Segrest is Arkansas' lead recruiter for Pollard and Hightower. Should his visit go well, Pollard said there is a good chance he will commit.

"Oh yeah," he said.

Hightower, 6-0, 190, has 18 scholarship offers from other schools that include Kentucky, Indiana, Colorado State and Central Florida.

"I want to go visit Arkansas because it's my top school," Hightower said. "I might commit soon."

He recorded 56 tackles, 1 tackle for loss and 4 pass breakups as a junior. The chance to play in the SEC is a big draw as well.

"Arkansas is a big school, and I think I'm a good fit," Hightower said.

E-mail Richard Davenport at

rdavenport@arkansasonline.com

Sports on 08/07/2015