LITTLE ROCK — Long before highly recruited Arizona receiver Devon Allen became a hot commodity among college coaches, Louis Allen saw something special in his son.
“I have to be honest, as a parent I saw at a very young age that Devon was going to be a very successful athlete,” Louis said. “Going back to his first tackle football game, at the age of around 6 or 7 I believe it was. The very first time when he touched the ball, one of his teammates fumbled the ball and he scooped it up and scored on a 60-yard touchdown.”
Devon Allen, 6-1, 190 pounds, 4.48 seconds in the 40-yard dash, of Phoenix Brophy Prep has approximately 25 football scholarship offers, including one from Arkansas. He’s rated as the nation’s No. 99 prospect by national recruiting analyst Tom Lemming of CBS Sports Network.
Father and son plan to make an official visit to Arkansas for the Alabama game Sept. 15. Devon is also one of the nation’s top track athletes with best times of 10.49 in the 100 meters, 20.75 in the 200 and 48.45 in the 400, 13.52 in the 110 high hurdles and 36.39 in the 300 hurdles.
Louis, who was advised to give up football after suffering a neck injury in high school, played baseball at Ohio State.
“The No. 1 thing is the educational opportunities,” Louis said. “One of the things I try to instill into my children is the fact there’s no guarantees as far as success athletically. It’s real important for them to take advantage of the educational opportunities.”
His focus is what schools can offer his son in preparing for life after college.
“What their graduation rate is,” Louis said. “The opportunities for maybe internships for working in different industries. That kind of thing.”
Both are hoping to make an unofficial visit to Arkansas in August. Louis said he’s told his son not to be concerned about distance when picking a college.
“I’ll be to as many of his games and activities as humanly possible so don’t let that be a factor on his decision on whether he goes to school away from home,” Louis said.
COMING BACK FOR MORE
Georgia athlete Donovahn Jones said he was impressed enough with Arkansas after making an unofficial visit to Fayetteville on Wednesday that he plans to make a return trip for an official visit.
Jones, 6-3, 195, 4.45, of Hampton Dutchtown High School, reports 20 scholarship offers from schools like Arkansas, Missouri, Minnesota, Kentucky and North Carolina State. He previously visited Minnesota before his trip to Fayetteville.
“I really haven’t been to many other schools, but they have top of-the-line facilities and they’re still building,” said Jones, who has relatives in Prescott. “So I can’t wait to go back and see what it looks like when they’re finished.”
Jones, who primarily plays quarterback at his school, said he is being looked at as a receiver and safety by the Hogs.
“I sat down with Coach [offensive coordinator Paul] Petrino for about 15 minutes and we watched a bunch of film on the offense, highlights and stuff,” said Jones, who’s being recruited by linebackers coach Taver Johnson. “I then sat down with Coach [defensive coordinator Paul] Haynes and he talked to me about what their defense is about and showed me some of their formations and how they called their plays and what it means.”
After Arkansas, Jones visited Missouri and Arkansas State. He said he’ll also officially visit Minnesota and Missouri.
IN HUNT FOR HUNTER
One of the nation’s hottest prospects, Texas receiver Torii Hunter Jr., said he is hoping to visit Arkansas in August. Also a baseball prospect, Hunter visited the Hogs for a baseball game in March.
Hunter, 6-1, 175, 4.5, of Prosper High School, reports 18 scholarship offers from schools like Arkansas, Oklahoma State, Oklahoma, Notre Dame, Texas Tech and others.
“I haven’t set a date but I think before my football season starts,” said Hunter of Arkansas. “I think I’ll go back up there.”
Hunter, the son of Los Angeles Angels outfielder Torii Hunter from Pine Bluff, said he is also looking to make trips to Nebraska, Utah, Arizona and Arizona State in August.
“I grew up as a Razorback fan so they’re always going to be on my list,” said Hunter, who had 49 receptions for 750 yards and 12 touchdowns as a junior. ‘I could see myself going there as a kid.”
He’s looking to narrow his list of schools after his August visits.
“There’s a good chance they’ll make it,” Hunter said of the Hogs.
LINEBACKER TO VISIT
Linebacker Marcus Robinson, 6-3, 215, 4.5, of Memphis East High School, is expected to visit Arkansas on Wednesday. He has other scholarship offers from Clemson, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Illinois, Vanderbilt and North Carolina.
E-mail Richard Davenport at
Sports, Pages 19 on 07/31/2012