The Recruiting Guy

FS Northside star gets taste of UA atmosphere

Fort Smith Northside quarterback Dreyden Norwood looks for a receiver during a 7-on-7 game against Stillwater, Okla., on Friday, July 12, 2019, during the Southwest Elite 7-on-7 Tournament at Jarrell Williams Bulldog Stadium in Springdale.

Fort Smith Northside athlete Dreyden Norwood was one of several junior prospects who visited the University of Arkansas for the Fall Kickoff Cookout on Friday.

Norwood, 6-1, 180 pounds, 4.5 seconds in the 40-yard dash, received his first scholarship offer from the Hogs on Feb. 11. Mississippi State followed with an offer in April, and Oklahoma offered him during his visit to Norman on Saturday.

"I had a great time," Norwood said of the Arkansas trip. "I got to talk to all the coaches and get to know them better. And my favorite part was the scavenger hunt we did."

He was able to check out the campus for the first time and was pleasantly surprised.

"How nice it looked and the senior walk with all the alumnus names," he said.

Norwood, a cousin of Oklahoma cornerback Tre Norwood, enjoyed his time with cornerbacks coach Mark Smith.

"I got to talk to him a lot," Norwood said. "I like him a lot. He is real easy to talk to, and he seems like it would be cool to play for him."

High schools often put their best athlete at quarterback, and that's what the Grizzlies do with Norwood. He had 10 carries for 109 yards and a touchdown while completing 3 of 5 passes for 30 yards last year as a backup to senior Deuce Wise, who signed with the University of Central Arkansas.

Norwood is looking to attend Arkansas' opening game against Portland State on Aug. 31

"I'm gonna try to go up there on their first home game," he said.

Email Richard Davenport at

rdavenport@arkansasonline.com

Sports on 07/30/2019