The Recruiting Guy

Vandy commitment ready to visit Arkansas

T.J. Smith
T.J. Smith

Arkansas is looking to add another defensive lineman to its 2015 signing class and T.J. Smith, a Vanderbilt commitment, is getting lots of attention from the Hogs.

"Arkansas has been on me extremely heavy. Wake Forest has been on me extremely heavy, too," Smith said. "I'm talking about visits with both of them."

Smith, 6-3, 260 pounds, 4.89 seconds in the 40-yard dash, of Moultrie, (Ga.) Colquitt County, has approximately 10 scholarship offers from Arkansas, Vanderbilt, North Carolina, Wake Forest, Central Florida and others.

The Hogs are triple-teaming him with Coach Bret Bielema, defensive line coach Rory Segrest and running backs coach Joel Thomas.

"Coach Bielema calls me about every week," Smith said. "Me and Coach Segrest and Coach Thomas are always messaging each other on Twitter. So it's been pretty heavy with Arkansas, and I like what I'm hearing. They're talking about getting out to my school as much as possible."

Smith said he plans to visit Arkansas, Vanderbilt and Wake Forest in January. On Monday, Segrest visited Smith at his school and later made an in-home visit.

"I'm just ready to take a visit there and see what it's like in Fayetteville," Smith said.

He has recorded 42 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, 4 sacks, 16 quarterback hurries, a pass defection and a forced fumble for the 13-0 Packers going into Georgia's Class 6A semifinals Friday.

Smith, who has a 3.8 grade-point average, said he talks to Bielema on a regular basis.

"A lot of times it's just general conversation," Smith said. "When we talk recruiting, he tells me how I could really fit into their program and how he could really see me as a Razorback and playing the three-technique for them and I could be a great player at Arkansas."

He said Bielema has also mention how Smith fits the mold of uncommon men, the coach's slogan that emphasizes excellence on and off the field. Smith said his parents, Fred and Avis, have stressed discipline.

"In my house, it's always about accountability," Smith said. "I was always held accountable for any actions. When you're held accountable, you become careful about your action. Life is completely about control and discipline. If you have no discipline, you can't survive. People with no discipline are most likely on the street."

Ty's story

Quarterback Ty Storey of Charleston is just a few weeks away from reporting to Arkansas and starting his career as a Razorback. Before he does, he hopes to lead the Tigers to their second consecutive Class 3A title.

Storey and Charleston will host Booneville in the 3A semifinals Friday. For the season, he has completed 253 of 373 passes (67.8 percent) for 3,573 yards with 49 touchdowns and only 4 interceptions.

Tigers Coach Greg Kendrick said Storey has improved his decision-making and leadership ability as a senior.

"I'm not saying his leadership ability was bad in the first place, but he's really understanding not only leading by words, but by actions," Kendrick said.

Storey, 6-3, 210, 4.84, is among the state's career leaders in five passing categories. He's third in pass completions with 856, fourth in attempts with 1,296, third in completion rate at 66.1 percent, second in touchdown passes with 150 and third in career yardage with 12,274.

"The crazy thing about it is he amazes me on a daily basis," Kendrick said. "The throws he makes, a high school kid should not be able to throw. He's throwing a 20-yard out cut. I've never seen a high school kid throw it and never thought I would coach one."

Storey, who has led the Tigers to 27 consecutive victories, is rated a 4-star-plus prospect by national recruiting analyst Tom Lemming of CBS Sports Network.

"I've watched Ty develop over the past two years into a prolific passer," Lemming said. "He fits perfectly into a pro-style offense."

"His work ethic is unbelievable," Kendrick said. "It's better than any kid I've ever been around in terms first in, last out. "

Storey is a film room junkie and stays late at school to watch video with Kendrick.

"His mom or my wife will bring dinner on Tuesday and Wednesday night because we're up there until 8 or 9 at night," Kendrick said. "He's in the film room three to four hours some days."

E-mail Richard Davenport at rdavenport@arkansasonline.com

Sports on 12/02/2014

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