FAYETTEVILLE — Team Broughton rolled into Fayetteville this weekend and rolled out very impressed.
Houston-area four-star defensive end prospect Vernon Broughton (6-5, 286 pounds) brought his mother, grandmother, brother, sister and a cousin on his official visit to Arkansas.
Broughton, ranked as the 79th-best player in the 2020 class per ESPN, took an unofficial visit to Arkansas on March 9, but got to show off Razorbacks coach Chad Morris' program to his family this time.
“Visit-wise, to be honest, it was just amazing,” Broughton said. “Coach Morris was great and seeing how much my family loved it was great.”
Broughton, who is considering Alabama, Arkansas, LSU, Ohio State, Texas and Texas A&M, made it clear that schools are recruiting the whole family and not just him.
“That is a fact and it is very important to me,” Broughton said. “Overall, they thought it was amazing as well.”
Arkansas senior defensive end Gabe Richardson was the host for Broughton, viewed as ESPN’s 11th-best defensive end in the class.
“My host was Gabe and there were a lot of highlights,” Broughton said. “The best was probably last night at Coach Morris’ house. That was a lot of fun and a great time. It was really nice.”
Broughton’s chief recruiters are Arkansas assistants Kenny Ingram and Ron Cooper, but it is a group effort in a hope to land the standout from Cypress Ridge High School.
“Coach Morris is a great guy and it was fun just getting to know him,” Broughton said. “They are all great coaches and just getting to know them was a highlight and hearing what they think I can do for them.”
A trip to Ohio State is next up for Broughton, who had once thought his path to college was through basketball. Broughton has also visited Texas.
“This (trip) really helped Arkansas," he said. "Like I said, it was amazing.”
He doesn't have a timetable on when to make a decision.
“Not really,” Broughton said. “We’ll just see how it goes.”
Broughton thinks he made strides on the field last season, but is still working on his craft daily.
“I think I have got a lot better with my hands,” Broughton said. “I have just got to keep getting in the weight room and keep getting better to be the player I want to be.”