Frisco's versatile Lowery envisioning Arkansas future

Chase Lowery

— Even as his delayed high school season is finally arriving, Frisco, Texas, senior cornerback and Arkansas commit Chase Lowery (6-0, 180) can’t help but dream about his college future.

Lowery, whose team will scrimmage McKinney North on Friday then open its season with Reedy next Thursday, is excited about a future at Arkansas and in the Southeastern Conference.

“I was thinking the SEC is the best conference in college football and if you ball out there, then you can see yourself playing on Sundays because you will be going up against NFL-caliber guys week in and week out and you have to bring your A-game,” Lowery said. “I'm excited about that challenge and the opportunity to do it for Arkansas.”

Lowery chose Arkansas over Michigan State, Texas Tech, Arizona, Duke, Oregon State, Purdue, Pittsburgh, Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, Arkansas State, Memphis, Houston, Hawaii and Texas-San Antonio among others.

Arkansas defensive backs coach Sam Carter and Razorbacks head coach Sam Pittman were able to land the pledge from Lowery on July 9 despite not yet visiting campus.

“Coach Carter is from the Dallas area and played at TCU, so I can relate to him in many ways,” Lowery said. “I have probably heard from him more than anybody else even though they were one of the last to offer. He makes sure to talk to me in some way every day.

“Coach Pittman, I have not got to meet him yet because of (covid-19), but he is just so fired up through the phone. He sounds like he is ready to run through a wall and make you want to run through one for him.”

Lowery recently got a chance to look over Fayetteville for the first time as he made the trip with a couple of friends entering their freshman year at Arkansas.

“I got to at least see the campus, the stadium,” Lowery said. “It is a beautiful campus. There is a lot of walking up hills, but that will keep you in shape.”

Lowery had 34 catches for 758 yards last season and also recorded 53 tackles and four interceptions, one of those returned for a touchdown, on the opposite side of the football.

That score was one of 11 he had on the season with seven via receptions, two on punt returns, one on kickoff return and the pick-six. He was named the District 7-5A Division II MVP.

“Coach Pittman told me that I know you do a lot for your high school right now - offense, defense, returns,” Lowery said. “I want you to know that everyone loved your film. He said, ‘Once you come down here, don’t expect to just play corner. Expect to handle returns and even play in the slot at times.’”

Lowery is ranked as a three-star cornerback prospect by ESPN, 247 Sports and Rivals.

“I would say at cornerback my biggest strengths are reading the quarterback's eyes and knowing where the receivers are going to be,” Lowery said. “My eyes are good and my hips are good.

“One of the things that I have been working on through this whole offseason and summer - and something that I hope will translate into my game this year - is my off-ball man technique and just getting better at that.”

Lowery is excited about finally getting to see another team aside from his own.

“I can’t wait,” Lowery said. “It’s been hard waiting this long and we just started with pads last Saturday. It seems like it had been forever since we had gotten to have any contact, so it’s been exciting.

“Now it’s time to take the next step with this scrimmage, which the whole team is excited about. Then we’ll head into the season and really feel like we have a chance to go all the way.”

Frisco has games scheduled again at the Dallas Cowboys’ Ford Center at The Star complex and Toyota Stadium, the home of Major League Soccer franchise FC Dallas.

The Ford Center seats around 12,000 fans while Toyota Stadium can hold up to 21,193.

“I would say between The Star and Toyota, my favorite is The Star because of the atmosphere,” Lowery said. “Both sections are loud and especially if it is a close game, it gets real loud.

“Toyota is fine because you are playing in a bigger stadium. It gets you used to playing before thousands of people. They are both great places to play.”

Frisco is coming off an 11-2 season in 2019 which it won the conference championship and advanced to the regional semifinals.

“We are just a lot more versatile and athletic this year,” Lowery said. “I do really feel like we have a chance to win it all this year. We are all ready to get it going.”