FAYETTEVILLE — It had been awhile since Little Rock Parkview was loaded with gridiron talent, but there is plenty now for Patriots coach Brad Bolding.
Quarterback Landon Rogers (6-5, 220 pounds) has committed to Arkansas, while junior tight end Erin Outley (6-4, 240) and sophomore tailback James Jointer (6-1, 180) have offers from the Razorbacks and several other schools.
Junior Jared Summons (6-4, 280), the younger brother of former Arkansas basketball star and NBA player Bobby Portis, has moved to center for next season and is also drawing interest from the Razorbacks and others.
“I’m really blessed to have the talent that we do,” Bolding said. “We have three players that have offers from all over the country and several more who are flying under the radar. It’s kind of sad that coaches were not able to get out (because of covid-19) this spring as when all these coaches came in to watch those three guys, they would get the chance top see these other guys as well.
“But they will still have the opportunity to watch them in games and highlights of this upcoming season.”
Rogers, who completed 99 of 182 passes for 1,161 yards and 19 touchdowns with just 2 interceptions, and rushed for 584 yards and 10 touchdowns last season, received an Arkansas offer on Thursday and committed immediately.
He also has offers from Kansas, Houston, Louisiana-Monroe and North Texas, among others.
Rogers has a 305-pound bench press, 450-pound squat and 305-pound power clean.
“Landon has really taken off,” Bolding said. “He is such a great athlete and his measurable are just off the chart, better than anybody I have ever had.
“I think he is just going to keep getting better with his technique and stuff like that, but he has some God-given talent and I am happy his hard work has paid off.”
Outley has hauled in several offers this spring with Arkansas, Florida State, LSU, Texas A&M, Tennessee, Oregon, Penn State, Michigan State, Missouri, Kansas, Memphis, Arkansas State and Florida International, among others.
“Erin has probably got more offers than anybody that I have ever had and James he will end up like Erin by the time his senior year rolls around,” Bolding said.
Bolding thinks that Outley has a chance to come close to former Parkview and NFL star Keith Jackson.
“When he was a ninth grader, I called Keith Jackson and said, ‘I think I have somebody that is going to rival you,’” Bolding said. "I said, ‘I know I am stepping out there’, but he said, ‘I’m glad and I hope that happens.’
“He still has a long way to go to fill those shoes, but I just felt like he has that type of ability. He can still improve, but he has a high ceiling. He is probably the best I have coached as a blocker and can also get your yards after the catch.”
Bolding compares his ability after the catch to that of former Ohio State receiver K.J. Hill, who he coached at North Little Rock.
“K.J. was excellent at running routes and getting open, but Erin is a big, big body that can either put his hand down and block a defensive end or get out and split out and catch it or block a defensive back,” Bolding said. “He has a lot of qualities that other guys his size don’t possess.
“I think they only thing he needs to work on is his speed and flexibility to go along with that God-given ability. It is going to be fun watching him the season.”
Jointer was the first of the Parkview players to get offered by the former Arkansas staff, and coach Sam Pittman reconfirmed that offer quickly after he was hired late last year.
Jointer also has offers from Kansas, Missouri, Memphis, Texas-San Antonio and Louisiana Tech. Alabama, Baylor, Ohio State and TCU are among schools showing interest.
Jointer was hurt in Parkview’s second game last season after rolling up 180 yards against Marion.
“He was just coming to that 100 percent right at time period that we had to shut everything down,” Bolding said. “He was almost about 205. We had not tested him in the 40, which I guess would have been two weeks after Spring Break.
“I think he was going to blow it up. He has really worked really, really hard between what we been able to do between our trainer and Children’s (Hospital) with what they have the means and capability to do with getting these guys back now. It’s phenomenal.”
Bolding has been impressed with Jointer’s work ethic and toughness.
“He also just has that hard work mentality,” Bolding said. “I think the last game he played before he got hurt he rushed for 180 yards against Marion. I was thinking he is out of the gate and here we go.
“Not to go back to the old Rocky movie, but he does kind of have the eye of the tiger mentality right now. He got hurt the second game of the year and had to sit around and watch the rest of the year so he is just chomping at the bit, especially with what has gone on now.”
Bolding, whose team started 3-1 last season before injuries caused it to finish 4-6, stressed that he wanted to get Jointer to the 2020 season in good shape with the season opener.
“We were just going to have him do some drills in spring practice with a different color jersey and have no contact,” Bolding said. “He has nothing to prove to us, we know what he can do. He is up there as one of the best that I have ever coached.
“Hopefully they are going to release us to do some things in June and if we can, we have three team camps planned with Bryant and North Little Rock and West Memphis and a couple of other teams. We are hosting it and we may let him do a little just to get his feet wet. But his big date will be week one this fall.”
That being said, Bolding knows it would be hard to keep Jointer totally off the field this summer.
“I will get him some reps on the field because he bug me like crazy if I don’t, but he is ready to roll,” Bolding said. “He has a great attitude and is a great kid and I am glad I have got him for two more years.”
Summons is making a position switch after lining up at tackle last season.
“We have moved him to center,” Bolding said. “I think that is a decision that we decided on after the season that and we probably should have done it sooner. He has more of an offensive mentality than defensive mentality and could be a Division I player. He is really the size of a FBS center.
“He went from 350 pounds down to 280 with some help from Bobby’s personal trainer. That really helped him with his flexibility. He can bend. He is able to use less thinking and more of his ability at that position.
“The good Lord blessed with ability to bend, some great leg strength and has an offensive mentality. On defense, it is just pin your ears back and get after it. He is a fun kid to coach.”