THE RECRUITING GUY: Big three from Big Easy set to attend UA camp

— Arkansas is expected to host several of the top prospects in the nation for the junior/senior prospect camp July 17.

Defensive coordinator Willy Robinson, who recruits the southern part of Louisiana, has New Orleans St. Augustine safety Renaldo Thomas and offensive linemen Jonah Austin and Trai Turner, who’s orally committed to LSU, interested in the Razorbacks. All three are expected to attend the camp.

Thomas, 6-4 1 /2, 205 pounds, 4.5 seconds in the 40-yard dash, estimates having eight scholarship offers, including ones from Arkansas, LSU, Tennessee and Michigan. His size and speed are very similar to former Razorbacks and NFL safety Steve Atwater.

“I have range, and I like to come down and hit,” said Thomas, who reports a 39-inch vertical jump. “ It’s really hard to get beat playing my position. I haven’t really experienced getting beat yet, so I can’t speak too much on that.”

Thomas said one of his five official visits will be to Fayetteville.

“I’m just waiting to take an official [visit] to see how I like it,” Thomas said. “I’ve always liked Arkansas. They produce good players.”

While Thomas plans to take all of his visits, he doesn’t rule out the possibility of making a quick decision.

“I really want to get my officials done first so I can get a feel for the schools,” Thomas said. “So whenever I take my officials, that’s when I’ll make my decision. Or if I take one official and it just blows me away, that’s the one I’m going to stick with.”

Academics come first, according to Thomas, who also has his eye on the NFL.

“I want it to be the best school for me and help me reach my goal of getting to the next level,” Thomas said.

Thomas is a standout in baseball, too. His fastball has been clocked in the low 90s to go along with a slider and change-up.

“If Arkansas would let me play both sports, that would be a big plus for them,” Thomas said. “I think that would really lock me in.”

Thomas, who reports a 2.8 grade-point average, hopes to major in sports medicine.

“I want to own my ownpractice,” Thomas said.

Turner, 6-3, 332, 5.0, has 32 scholarship offers, including ones from Arkansas, LSU, Auburn, Michigan, Oklahoma, Nebraska and Tennessee. He plans to accompany Thomas and Austin to Fayetteville for the July 17 camp.

“Right now, I’m solid to LSU, but I’m still looking at other options and taking visits to places,” Turner said.

Turner said Arkansas affords him the opportunity to play with his two friends and possibly see the field early.

“First off, me, Renaldo and Jonah playing together is a big thing,” said Turner, who reports a 375-pound bench press and 530 squat. “I looked at the roster, and they have a lot of spots to fill. So playing time could come early, and they’re in the SEC, and that’s where I want to be.”

Once on the field, Turner doesn’t have much patience with his opponents.

“I try to get the job done real quick so I don’t have to be fighting with the person in front of me,” Turner said. “Whichever is the quickest way to get the pancake and move to the next level is what I try to do.”

Turner, who reports a 2.9 GPA, said he’s leaning toward majoring in sports medicine or possibly business management.

Austin, 6-7, 330, 5.1, has approximately 12 offers, including ones from Arkansas, Tennessee, Michigan, Kentucky and Utah.

“I’ve been looking at them on the Internet,” Austin, who claims a 315-pound bench press and 510 squat, said of the Razorbacks. “It seems like a good environment. I’ve loved Arkansas since I was little. Also, it’s the SEC; you can’t get better than the SEC.”

Austin said he’s had conversations with Robinson,Coach Bobby Petrino and offensive line coach Chris Klenakis and described his relationship with Robinson as “good.”

“I’m looking forward to having a closer relationship with him,” Austin said. “Arkansas is No. 1 on my list. I have a good relationship with the offensive line coach. We talk from time to time and see how things are going up there. Other schools are recruiting me, but the main focus in my recruiting is the communication I have with the coaches.”

Austin, who said he’s working to improve his 2.8 GPA, is planning to attend camps at LSU, Tennessee and Kentucky.

E-mail Richard Davenport at: rdavenport@arkansasonline.com

Sports, Pages 33 on 06/20/2010

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