LITTLE ROCK — North Little Rock running back Altee Tenpenny made his second trip to Fayetteville this year to participate in Arkansas’ junior-senior prospect camp Saturday.
Tenpenny, 5-11, 218 pounds, 4.32 seconds in the 40-yard dash, is orally committed to Alabama, but the Razorbacks are still recruiting him, led by recruiting coordinator and running backs coach Tim Horton.
“It’s great,” Tenpenny said. “I always come back up to the Hill to visit [Arkansas offensive coordinator] Coach [Paul] Petrino, Coach Horton, just see the whole coaching staff. They showed me lots of love.”
Tenpenny also was one of 64 skill players invited to the Champion Gridiron Kings, which runs today through Sunday at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.
Tenpenny is rated as the No. 46 prospect in the nation by Tom Lemming of CBS Sports Network, and he said the recruiting process has been “crazy.”
“You don’t know what’s going to happen,” he said. “So I’m still excited about Alabama, but Arkansas is up there.”
Tenpenny said he will take an official visit to Arkansas. Alabama and Oklahoma State will get visits as well.
“Those three for sure, and the other two are a tossup,” he said. “Most likely, the other schools will be either Georgia, Notre Dame or Tennessee. I don’t know yet.”
HANNON DOWN TO 2
It’s Arkansas or Nebraska for Zach Hannon, and the offensive lineman from Kansas City (Mo.) Rockhurst should have a decision made before the end of July.
Hannon, 6-5, 300, 5.1, visited Arkansas on Saturday during its junior-senior prospect camp along with good friend Jamone Boyd, a defensive end from Lee’s Summit (Mo.) West.
Hannon didn’t want to name a leader but let it be known that he really likes the Hogs.
“I’m just going to say it is always good to come down to Arkansas,” Hannon said smiling. “That’s all I am going to say.”
Hannon, who has more than 10 scholarship offers, was accompanied on the trip by his father and uncle.
Paul Petrino, Arkansas’ offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, discovered Hannon early, and the Razorbacks’ offensive line coach, Chris Klenakis, also has made a strong impression.
“Coach Petrino kind of found me out of the blue,” Hannon said. “Arkansas was the first one to offer me. I like Coach Petrino a lot. I can’t say enough about Coach K as well. Both are great coaches and great people.”
Boyd, 6-4, 265, 4.5, took part in the camp and may have been the most physically impressive defensive prospect.
“My experience here was great,” Boyd said. “I love it here. I love the coaches, especially my position coach [Steve Caldwell]. I had a great time competing here with all the guys, and everything was just great.”
Boyd has scholarship offers from more than 10 schools, including Arkansas, Missouri, Oklahoma State, Illinois, Kansas and Kansas State. He said the Hogs are one of his top schools.
“I am just waiting for my parents’ decision to let me commit to where I want to go, and hopefully that will be by the end of my first game or after my season,” he said.
CRAYTON HAPPY CAMPER
Alabama defensive lineman Rod Crayton made his way back to Fayetteville for Arkansas’ junior-senior prospect camp Saturday. It was his first time back since the spring game in April.
Crayton, 6-1, 310, 4.9, plays for Dadeville High School and has more than 25 scholarship offers, but he has narrowed that list to Arkansas, Mississippi State, LSU and Tennessee.
He said he enjoyed working with his lead recruiter at Arkansas, defensive tackles coach Kevin Peoples.
“It was great getting a chance to show Coach Peoples what I could do,” said Crayton, who lost more than half of his right foot in a lawnmower accident when he was younger and wears a brace on the foot that is secured by heavy tape. “I think I did pretty well. I think I could have done better. I was a little tired. We had a long drive.”
Crayton, who recorded 288 tackles and 24 sacks during his sophomore and junior seasons, said Peoples and the athletic facilities keep the Razorbacks high on his list.
“I just like it here,” Crayton said. “I could see myself playing here for four years. As far as the other schools, that’s what makes it a hard decision, because I have good relationships with the D-line coaches at all four schools.”
E-mail Richard Davenport at
rdavenport@arkansasonline.com
Sports, Pages 25 on 07/27/2012