Arkansas is in the top five for defensive line target Cameron Ball.
Ball, 6-5, 295 pounds, of East Point (Ga.) Tri-Cities, had more than 30 scholarship offers before announcing Arkansas, Georgia Tech, Tennessee, Arizona State and Illinois as his finalists.
His recruitment by Arkansas coach Sam Pittman, defensive line coach Derrick LeBlanc and running backs coach Jimmy Smith landed the Razorbacks on Ball’s list.
“They basically made it because I have a great relationship with all the coaches since the day when they offered me,” Ball said. “I feel so much love from the school. It was hard not to include them in the top five.”
He was recruited by Pittman when he was at Georgia and by Smith while at Georgia State.
“They recruited me and offered me at other universities," Ball said. "That and the constant checking up on me. We don’t just talk about football. We talk about school and family and how things are going.”
Ball, who played on offense and defense last season, recorded 57 tackles, 6 sacks, 8 quarterback hurries, 3 forced fumbles and a fumble recovery as a junior. He also totaled 28 pancake blocks on the offensive line.
The Razorbacks received the commitment of linebacker Christopher Paul of Cordele (Ga.) Crisp County on July 2. Ball and Paul have become good friends since playing in the Rising Senior All-Star Game in Atlanta in December.
Ball said Paul helped Arkansas make the cut.
“That helped a little bit, too, because that’s my boy,” Ball said.
He plans to announce his college decision in about a month.
“I’m going to commit on my dad’s birthday, which is Sept. 22,” Ball said.