Junior linebacker Alex Sanford may be from Oxford, Miss., but that doesn’t mean he is automatically going to be an Ole Miss Rebel.
Sanford (6-3, 240) has offers from Tennessee, Memphis, South Alabama, Jackson State, Troy, South Alabama and Arkansas State in addition to Ole Miss, and interest from Arkansas, Mississippi State, Auburn and South Carolina.
Ranked the No. 8 player in Mississippi and the No. 42 linebacker recruit in the nation in the 2023 class by 247Sports Composite, Sanford visited the Razorbacks last Saturday.
“The visit was great,” Sanford said. “Actually, I really like the coaching staff and I like the family and brother-like vibes some of the players and coaching staff were giving.”
Sanford, who could receive an offer from the Razorbacks in the near future, had 120 tackles, 17 stops for lost yardage, 3 sacks and 2 blocked punts as a junior.
He was enamored with Arkansas strength and conditioning coach Jamil Walker, the latest football staff member to receive a pay raise.
“The highlight of the visit was when I met the strength and conditioning coach,” Sanford said. “He kept it real and spoke with so much passion and made it feel like I was a part of the family they have.”
Sanford, who led Oxford to the Class 6A North state title in 2020 and to the semifinals in 2021, has said he plans to make a college decision in December and sign early.
“Arkansas is a great school that I will most definitely be coming back to for another visit,” he added.