Duncan (S.C.) Byrnes offensive lineman Eli Henderson (6-5, 300) may be the the farthest 2022 Arkansas commit away from Fayetteville, but that hasn’t dampened his enthusiasm one bit about being a future Razorback.
He is hopeful of adding Lancaster, Texas, wide receiver Phaizon Wilson (6-4, 210) and Detroit (Mich.) Bellville defensive back Myles Rowser (6-1, 185) to the Arkansas list of pledges this week when the two four-star prospects announce their college decisions on Thursday and Sunday, respectively.
Henderson and the other six 2022 Razorbacks pledges have done their part to help Arkansas coach Sam Pittman and his staff recruit the pair.
“That’s your job once you become part of the crew, to go out there and plant seeds in guys' heads,” Henderson said. “I think this year has proven what kind of stamp Coach Pittman and the staff are putting on the program in what type of guys we are getting.
“Coming in, Coach Pittman had an advantage because he is such a great recruiter and I am a first-hand example of that.”
Arkansas’ seven commits are ranked 18th nationally by 247 Sports, fifth among SEC teams, and headed up by a pair of four-star prospects in Maumelle offensive lineman Andrew Chamblee (6-6, 292) and Ellenwood (Ga.) Cedar Grove athlete Rashod Dubinion (5-11, 185, 4.3 40-yard dash).
Wilson, a former Texas commit, is down to Arkansas, Alabama and Ole Miss, and is being recruited by Razorbacks wide receivers coach Kenny Guiton.
Fellow four-star prospect Rowser, a former Michigan commit, has a top four of Arkansas, Alabama, Michigan State and Kentucky.
Rowser is being recruited by Razorbacks defensive backs coach Sam Carter and Detroit native Butler Benton, Arkansas’ new Executive Director of Recruiting and Player Personnel.
“It is looking really good with the guys we have coming in, the guys we are going after,” Henderson said. “We are winning battles for some great players. I’m excited about what our program is doing to show off.”
Henderson is feeling the excitement of Arkansas’ spring practice from Pittman and Razorbacks offensive line coach Brad Davis.
“Coach Davis send me gifs all the time and pictures and they are all really excited,” Henderson said. “Even though I am not there, it has fired me up to see a coach that enthusiastic about what they are doing.
“I talked to Coach Pittman the other day and those guys are getting after it. He is wanting to bring something that has not been seen there in a while. It is really good to see those guys’ emotions and see what is in store for me.”
The NCAA is expected to lift the dead period in recruiting on June 1 after over a year of athletes not being able to take official trips or visit with coaching staffs on unofficial visits.
Henderson, who has not visited Arkansas, is not sure of when he will make his initial visit to campus.
“Part of me wants to come this summer and spend as much time as possible that I can," he said, "but another part of me wants to wait and come during the season so I can experience a game day when it is rocking and everybody is there.
“We haven’t decided yet, but I would like to get up there as soon as possible.”
Byrnes will begin spring workouts in two weeks after a 2020 season in which it got to play just five games due to the covid-19 pandemic.
“It has been a crazy whole year with the corona going on, but our offseason is looking good and we are all trying to be optimistic about everything,” Henderson said. “Hopefully we can get everything we missed in this spring. It is looking like we are going to get almost everything, if not everything, that we missed.”
Henderson, who has added 10 pounds of muscle this offseason, is happy to see his teammates getting personal records in the weight room.
“We are getting really good in the weight room with guys getting PRs,” Henderson said. “It is fun to get back into the whole team aspect of football rather than the whole grind, grind, grind part by yourself. We didn’t really get much of that last season other than home workouts and grinding.”