Arkansas extended a scholarship offer to offensive lineman Jake Heinrich on Friday, and now he plans to visit Fayetteville this weekend.
Heinrich, 6-4, 290 pounds, of Urbandale, Iowa, has 10 other scholarship offers, including ones from Iowa State, Louisville, Kansas State, Illinois, California and Duke. Arkansas is the only SEC school to offer him a scholarship.
"I'm really excited to learn more about the program in general," Heinrich said of Arkansas. "I just want to explore the academic side, the athletics obviously. Check out the facilities, meet the entire staff, meet the academic staff, see the campus as a whole."
Heinrich, rated as a four-star prospect by national recruiting analyst Tom Lemming of CBS Sports Network, recorded a 380-pound bench press and 575-pound squat last summer. He recently power cleaned 335 pounds.
Hendrich said he likes that Arkansas Coach Bret Bielema has had 10 offensive lineman drafted into the NFL during his career, while offensive line coach Sam Pittman has 16 draftees.
"I'm just excited about the program because obviously Coach Pittman and Coach Bielema have a great history of developing offensive linemen," he said.
Arkansas mailed Heinrich a brochure illustrating Bielema and Pittman's success with offensive lineman.
"They sent me a graphic, a little recruiting mailer with a picture of jerseys of guys they've had drafted just this past year or signed plus people who are in the league now on an active roster," Heinrich said. "I want to say there were two dozen-plus guys. The page was full."
Heinrich said other schools have sent similar mailings, but aren't up to Arkansas' standards.
"That's something people try to point out, but obviously Arkansas seems to take the cake in that category," Heinrich said. "They have a very impressive number in terms of offensive linemen getting to the next level."
Heinrich also brings a strong work ethic to the classroom and a 3.8 grade point average. He has scored a 27 on the ACT.
"At this point, I've been looking into education, communication and maybe even being a strength coach," Heinrich said of his collegiate studies. "I've always had a passion for the weight room. I'm looking to explore that avenue as well."
Offensive line graduate assistant Eric Mateos was Heinrich's first contact with Arkansas.
"Just recently, I've had a lot more contact with Coach Pittman," Heinrich said. "So it's been good developing a relationship with him and look forward to improving upon that and get to know him a lot better in the coming weeks and months."
Pittman visited Heinrich's school about a week ago to evaluate him.
"He picked up transcripts. He spoke with the teachers and counselors," Heinrich said. "He just said I looked good and he was impressed with my grades and he mentioned that he had watched my film recently and really liked it and wanted to get it in front of Coach Bielema."
Heinrich learned of the Razorbacks' offer after talking to Pittman on Friday.
"I called him and he was sitting down with Frank Ragnow and Brian Wallace," Heinrich said. "They were all watching the tape. They all loved it and I got the offer."
Leon looking
Junior-college forward Justin Leon, a native of Conway, is exploring his options after receiving a release from his basketball national letter of intent with Louisiana Tech.
Leon, 6-8, 200, of Shawnee Community College in Ullin, Ill., played at Conway before attending junior college. He inked with the Bulldogs in April, but sought a release after Coach Michael White left to accept the head coaching job at Florida.
Shawnee Coach John Sparks and Leon met Monday afternoon. Leon said he has narrowed his list, in order, to Florida, Arkansas, Kansas State and Louisiana Tech. Leon is attending summer classes that started Monday.
"He's going to wait at least three weeks before he visits anyone," Sparks said.
Sparks explained why Florida and Arkansas were first and second on Leon's list.
"Those are the guys that recruited him at La. Tech," Sparks said. "He knows those guys. and with Arkansas, he has a little relationship with them from early in the year when they recruited him. So I would say that's probably why they're No. 2, and he's an Arkansas kid, too. You always want to play for your home state."
Leon averaged 21.5 points and 10 rebounds per game for Shawnee last season, while shooting 50.3 percent from the field and 30.6 percent on three-points. He was named honorable-mention National Junior College Athletic Association All-American.
"He's highly skilled," Sparks said. "He's really athletic. He has a big time motor and he shoots it well. He hasn't even scratched the surface yet on how good he could be."
E-mail Richard Davenport at rdavenport@arkansasonline.com
Sports on 06/02/2015