One of Arkansas’ greatest needs for the 2014 recruiting class is play-making receivers and one, Dayall Harris of Jackson (Miss.) Callaway, plans to make an official visit to Fayetteville.
Harris, 6-3½ , 185 pounds, 4.4 seconds in the 40-yard dash, is rated a three-star prospect by national recruiting analyst Tom Lemming of CBS Sports Network. Harris is orally committed to Ole Miss, but he has been communicating with Arkansas defensive quality control coach Brian Early and receivers coach Michael Smith.
“He was telling me he needs some big-time receivers to come in now,” Harris said of Early. “I talked to Coach Smith and he’s pretty much saying the same thing.”
Harris had 29 receptions for 375 yards and 6 touchdowns for the 9-0 Chargers going into Friday night’s game, and he said the chance of receiving early playing time at Arkansas interests him.
“Coming in and playing as a true freshman is like a dream, and I’m all about making my dreams come true,” Harris said.
Harris participated in an Arkansas camp in June and was taken aback by the landscape.
“It’s beautiful down there with all the hills,” Harris said. “It’s just beautiful.”
The trip convinced him to return for an official visit.
“I talked to Coach Early last week and I’m suppose to be setting up an official visit for January,” Harris said. “I just want to see the campus while the student body is there.”
Another benefit of attending Arkansas’ camp was the opportunity to work with Smith.
“I like the way he coaches,” Harris said. “He kind of reminds me of my high school coach, like the way he pushes me. When I came down for the camp he made me want to work out like my coach. He makes you want to do stuff.Plus, he’s not all about football either. He’s about your education.”LINEBACKER OFFERED
Arkansas cornerbacks coach Taver Johnson recently extended a scholarship offer to junior linebacker Roquan Smith of Montezuma (Ga.) Macon County, and a visit is in the works.
Smith, 6-2, 204 pounds, 4.54 seconds in the 40-yard dash, said he had been talking with Johnson for a couple of weeks while Johnson tried to guard the linebacker’s interest in Arkansas.
Smith said he is appreciative of the Razorbacks’ offer. He also has offers from nine other schools, including Clemson, South Carolina, Tennessee, UCLA and Ole Miss.
“I’m blessed and thankful for the opportunity to receive them,” he said. “Most kids don’t get that opportunity.”
Smith is a four-sport athlete. He plays small forward in basketball, runs the 100 and 200 meters and a leg on the 400-meter relay team, and pitches for the baseball team. Even though he competes year round, Smith still manages to put up impressive numbers in the weight room with a 305-pound bench press and a 515-pound squat.
“My coach is very serious about workouts,” said Smith, who has been electronically timed at 10.9 seconds in the 100 meters. “I’m working out all during the football season. Most of the the football players play basketball, and during basketball season before we practice we go and work out. In track, we work out and then run track.”
Johnson’s recruiting style also was a hit with Smith.
“He’s very upfront, and he asks me straight-up questions and he doesn’t sugarcoat and beat around the bush or anything in that fashion,” Smith said. “He talks to me straight up and wants me to be straight up with him, like I always will be.”
Smith has 79 tackles, 5 sacks, 2 interceptions, 1 pass deflection, 2 recovered fumbles and 3 forced fumbles through 6 games.
Email Richard Davenport at rdavenport@arkansasonline.com
Sports, Pages 29 on 10/27/2013