Arkansas' football program is certainly in the market for linebackers in the 2022 recruiting class and one of its top prospects will be in Fayetteville for an official visit early this summer.
Canton (Ohio) McKinley standout Mani Powell (6-3, 225) will take a trek to check out the Razorbacks on June 11-13.
Powell has stayed in contact with Arkansas coach Sam Pittman, defensive coordinator Barry Odom and linebackers coach Michael Scherer.
“The fast connection I got with the (Arkansas) coaches has stood out to me the most,” he said. “They are fired up coaches that get on the phone with me and show me all types of their personalities.”
Powell had 81 tackles, 14 stops for lost yardage, 4 sacks, 2 forced fumbles and 7 quarterback pressures as a junior.
“I work on everything,” Powell said. “I’m not perfect nor great at anything I do, so I work to improve everything. Although I feel some of my strengths are playing low, fast and physical.”
Arkansas, which will be losing a trio of seniors in All-American Grant Morgan, Hayden Henry and Deon Edwards, is hoping to add Powell alongside Shiloh Christian linebacker Kaden Henley (6-2, 220), who committed to the Razorbacks in March.
Powell also has official visits scheduled to Coastal Carolina (July 18-20) and Syracuse (June 25-27) as the NCAA finally allows on-campus visits beginning June 1 after more than a year of not allowing them because of covid-19.
He planned to commit on April 11, his mom’s birthday, but decided to wait and visit campuses once it appeared the NCAA would allow visits during the summer.
“I’m ready to get to these campuses to see where home will be, so I’m very excited,” Powell said. “I’ll look for a family and people that I will be comfortable surrounding myself with for the next four years. I'll look for a place that feels like home because it will be my home if I choose to go.”
Powell also has offers from Kentucky, Indiana, Boston College, Liberty, Akron, Marshall, Buffalo, Ball State, Western Michigan, Central Michigan, Toledo, Youngstown State and Kent State.