Arkansas is still in the running for highly recruited running back D'Vaughn Pennamon of Manvel, Texas, despite his commitment to Ole Miss on July 21.
Pennamon, 5-11, 211 pounds, 4.46 seconds in the 40-yard dash, has scholarship offers from Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Houston, Tennessee, Ole Miss, Nebraska and Kansas State.
UCLA and Florida are two other schools he's planning to officially visit. He explained his reasons for wanting to visit other schools even though he's orally committed, which is nonbinding.
"I want to see if Ole Miss is where I really want to be," Pennamon said. "Right now, I really like Ole Miss and that's where I want to be, but it's long time between now and February."
Pennamon rushed 62 times for 661 yards and 2 touchdowns as a junior for the 13-1 Mavericks. He ran a 9.93-second split in the 400-meter relay to help Manvel win the Class 6A state title with a time of 40.32 May 16.
He visited Fayetteville on June 12.
"I loved it, and the coaching staff was great," Pennamon said. "We had a really good time just hanging out and watched a couple clips of film and really very connected there."
If the past two seasons are any indication, Arkansas would appear to have an advantage over Ole Miss when it comes to how it uses its running backs.
Arkansas running backs Jonathan Williams and Alex Collins rushed for a combined 1,945 yards in 2013 and a combined 2,290 yards in 2014. Ole Miss' leading rushers combined for 1,086 yards in 2013 and 947 yards in 2014.
He said the visit gave him a chance to get more comfortable with the Arkansas coaching staff.
"They were new and they had a great idea of what I could do and help them as a football team," Pennamon said. "After coming off of having two 1,000-yard rushers I know they know what they're talking about."
Pennamon, who is being recruited by Arkansas defensive backs coach Clay Jennings and running backs coach Jemal Singleton, explained why he orally committed to the Rebels.
"The feeling I had from the coaching staff, and campus," Pennamon said. "Just a feel that I didn't get no place else."
Pennamon has added about 10 pounds since last season.
"I got stronger and my footwork got a little better," he said. "My knowledge for the game has gotten better as well."
LINEMAN INTERESTED
Highly regarded defensive end Levi Onwuzurike of Allen, Texas, plans to make a visit to Arkansas but isn't sure if it will be an official or unofficial visit.
An official visit is when the school picks up the cost of transportation, lodging and food. On unofficial visits, the prospect pays for all the costs.
Onwuzurike, 6-3, 250, 4.8, has approximately 25 scholarship offers from schools that include Arkansas, Arizona State, Michigan, Miami, Stanford and Oklahoma State.
He said he wants to visit Arkansas because it is a big school and has recruited several players from Allen.
"Don't know much about it, but hoping to [learn more]," he said.
Arkansas running backs coach Jemal Singleton is his lead recruiter. Onwuzurike said he plans to take one official visit during the season and the remaining four afterward, but he hasn't set any firm dates or schools yet.
"Still making arrangements," he said.
Onwuzurike recorded 70 tackles and six sacks as a junior while helping Allen to a 16-0 record and a third consecutive Class 6A Division I title. He said it is encouraging knowing that All-Pro defensive lineman J.J. Watt of the Houston Texans was a walk-on at Wisconsin under Bret Bielema.
"It tells you there's a lot of good coaching there," said Onwuzurike, who has a 350-pound bench press, a 440-pound squat and a 290-pound incline press.
E-mail Richard Davenport at
rdavenport@arkansasonline.com
Sports on 08/16/2015