Receiver Frank Iheanacho has gone from unknown to one of the nation’s hottest prospects and has received numerous scholarship offers, including one from Arkansas since the start of the season.
Iheanacho, 6-7, 220 pounds, of Houston Westside, saw limited football action as a sophomore and concentrated on basketball during his junior season and received several scholarship offers.
He decided to give football a try again his senior season and received his first offer from Houston after the season’s second game. Now, he has 20 scholarship offers.
In six games, Iheanacho has 28 receptions 422 yards and 9 touchdowns.
“It’s all a blessing,” Iheanacho said. “I was coming straight from AAU. I just talked to my old teammates and we had a discussion and they welcomed me back. I’m glad I made the choice to come back.”
Iheanacho is no stranger to Arkansas. He helped lead T.J. Ford Elite to the Real Deal in the Rock 17-under Championship in the spring.
He’s been communicating on Facebook with Razorbacks running backs coach Joel Thomas, who visited Iheanacho’s school on Monday.
“I’m definitely interested,” Iheanacho said. “I’m interested in them and they’re interested in me. I’m a big fan of the SEC. I just know there’s great competition down there.”
Iheanacho said Thomas told him his skill set is needed in Fayetteville.
“He let me know they’re very interested in me and they like my style of play,” Iheanacho said.
BYE WEEK, HI WEEK
Arkansas coaches, including Coach Bret Bielema, hit the road recruiting during the bye week visiting schools across the nation.
Tight ends Coach Barry Lunney Jr. visited numerous Arkansas schools and one of the stops was to watch Highland junior receiver Deon Stewart and athlete Avery Johnson during Monday’s practice.
Stewart, 6-1, 163, 4.48 seconds in the 40-yard dash, is an electrifying prospect who has gotten the Hogs’ attention after seeing limited action as a sophomore. Stewart said he and Lunney have been communicating by direct messages on Twitter, plus a couple of phone calls.
“He complemented me on my previous games that he’s watched and telling me how the Razorbacks are watching me,” Stewart said.
Stewart and Johnson attended the Razorbacks’ Sept 28 matchup against Texas A&M in Fayetteville, and Stewart said a scholarship offer from the Hogs would be very well received.
“I’ve always wanted to play for the Hogs,” said Stewart, who has 1,148 all-purpose yards and 12 touchdowns. “My family has always loved the Hogs and I grew up around it.”GAINING NOTICE
Arkansas recently extended a scholarship offer to offensive lineman Chukwuma Okorafor, who started playing football in 2010 after moving to the United States from Nigeria.
Okorafor, 6-6, 285, 5.0 seconds in the 40-yard dash, ofSouthfield, Mich., is committed to Western Michigan but his stock is rising. Florida followed Arkansas’ move and extended an offer to Okorafor, as well.
Okorafor said he was notified of the offer by offensive line coach Sam Pittman.
“He said they really liked me and they want me to comein and play once I get there,” Okorafor said.
Okorafor, who skipped a grade in elementary school, turned 16 over the summer. He said he’s considering a visit to Fayetteville.
“I’m doing my research and talking to my mother and brother and see what’s best for me,” Okorafor said.
EYEING TRANSFERS
Arkansas has two junior-college commitments, and Coach Bret Bielema said during a news conference Thursday that number could keep growing beyond what he originally planned.
“I think we probably … unless we find the right high school kid, need a junior-college linebacker, maybe a junior-college DB that we weren’t planning on signing,” Bielema said. “And the possibility of maybe a transfer or a junior-college player or two on offense as well.” Email Richard Davenport at rdavenport@arkansasonline.com
Sports, Pages 22 on 10/25/2013