A recent conversation with University of Arkansas Coach Chad Morris and tight ends coach Barry Lunney Jr. has an east Texas prospect convinced the Hogs are headed in the right direction.
Athlete Allen Horace Jr., 6-5, 225 pounds, of Crockett High School has scholarship offers from Arkansas, Nebraska, Baylor, Oklahoma State and Baylor. He's also drawing interest from Texas and others.
The junior called the Razorback coaches Monday.
"Talked to both coaches, both very personal and genuine," Horace said. "Arkansas is really about to pick up."
Horace and the coaches talked about his last two games of the season and a trip to Fayetteville.
"I'm gonna try to get out to Fayetteville for the Arkansas versus LSU game," Horace said. "My dad spoke with coach Lunney and really got a good feel from him. I'm really excited to get up there soon and get a real feel for the school and facilities."
Crockett Coach Jimmy Thompson was born in Warren and lived in Hamburg until he was a sophomore in high school. He sees Horace filling out and carrying 270 to 280 pounds in college.
"He's a kid with worlds of potential, and he's a kid that makes plays right now," Thompson said.
Thompson, who still has family members in Hamburg and Little Rock, said Horace is a joy to be around.
"He's one of those kids that has a great heart," Thompson said. "He would do anything he could for other kids and coaches."
Horace showed his kind heart when the 66-year-old Thompson couldn't get out of the way of a play in spring practice and ended up on the ground.
"I'm laying down on the ground and someone is trying to pick me up, and it's Allen. 'Coach, you OK?' " Thompson said.
"He's trying to pick me up, and I said 'Hey, let me lay here a minute and I'll see if I'm OK.' "
Horace's optimism about Arkansas' direction is fueled by what he's seeing the Hogs do on the recruiting trail.
"They're doing a lot of recruiting from my home state and my area," he said. "East Texas, the 936 [ZIP code] and 903 all the way to the 409 is a lot of freak athletes across the board, and just to be mentioned in any of that is a blessing."
He has recorded 16 catches for 269 yards and 5 touchdowns at tight end. He has 61 unassisted tackles, 22 assisted tackles, 16 tackles for loss and 8 sacks at defensive end. The Hogs are recruiting Horace as a tight end.
Associate head coach and running backs coach Jeff Traylor plans to visit Crockett tonight to check on Horace. He stays in touch with Lunney on a regular basis.
"He texts me almost every Friday and gives me a quick pep talk that really motivates me," Horace said. "I want to be somewhere I know is going to get me to where I want to be and is gonna do things the right way with no shortcuts. Because at the end of the day, I want it all and then some."
Email Richard Davenport at rdavenport@arkansasonline.com
Sports on 11/02/2018