Dallas Bishop Lynch running back Rawleigh Williams III has been committed to Arkansas since June, but that hasn't stopped others from trying to change his mind.
"I talked to the Duke coach," said Williams, who will be among the official visitors Arkansas will host this weekend. "They message me all the time, and Oklahoma State, they've came around recently. Stanford has come recently, but I'm a 100 percent committed so it doesn't matter."
Williams, 5-10, 198 pounds, 4.51 seconds in the 40-yard dash, had an outstanding senior season. He had 341 carries for 2,814 yards and 37 touchdowns and 15 receptions for 198 yards and 5 touchdowns.
He committed to Ole Miss in April 2013, but Arkansas won him over after he and his father visited Fayetteville a few days before his pledge to the Razorbacks. He cited his relationship with running backs coach Joel Thomas and the Arkansas offense as the main factors that contributed to the switch.
"I've been to a lot of places, I've visited a lot of places, and I haven't seen anything like Arkansas," Williams said. "I think it's the prefect fit for me. I know there's no situation is perfect, but I think this is as close as you can get."
Williams was pleased to see Arkansas get an invitation to play Texas in the Texas Bowl on Dec. 29 in Houston.
"That's huge," he said. "I talked to Coach Thomas about it earlier in the week, and the coaching staff was hoping that would be the way it ended up. Me growing up in Texas and growing up a Texas fan, and being an Arkansas commitment and being able to play for Arkansas, it's big to play against your childhood team."
He said he gets worked up while watching the Razorbacks on television.
"I'm like an Arkansas fan," Williams said. "I'm serious about and have a lot of passion for football in general, so of course I'm watching it on the edge of my seat just ready for them to do something big. I'm sitting down, but I'm always screaming and yelling."
OTHER VISITORS
Others expected to make official visits to Arkansas this weekend include offensive lineman Josh Allen of Jacksonville (Fla.) University Christian School, offensive lineman Colton Jackson of Conway, safety-linebacker Dre Greenlaw and tight end C.J. O'Grady of Fayetteville, defensive lineman Daytrieon Dean of Fort Smith Northside and tight end Will Gragg of Dumas.
Jackson, Greenlaw, O'Grady, Dean and Gragg are all orally committed to Arkansas.
Gragg plans to sign an athletic financial aid agreement with Arkansas today and will enroll in January. The agreement will allow Gragg to practice with the Razorbacks next week. Charleston quarterback Ty Storey, who already he also signed an athletic financial aid agreement, also plans to practice.
Allen signed with North Carolina in February but didn't gain admittance and is set to enroll at Arkansas in January.
DREAMING OF HOGS
Highland receiver Deon Stewart met with Arkansas tight ends coach Barry Lunney Jr. last week to learn what to expect on his official visit this weekend.
"He told me I'll get to hang out with the players and he told me my curfew," said Stewart, who is orally committed to Arkansas. "He asked which player I would like to hang out with and I told him Jared Cornelius."
Stewart, 6-1, 163 pounds, 4.48 seconds in the 40-yard dash, had 49 receptions for 1,005 yards and 11 touchdowns this season and rushed for 301 yards and 2 touchdowns on 27 carries.
"He and I were talking about how Arkansas needs speedy, big-play receivers," Stewart said. "He was telling me that's exactly what I can do for them."
Stewart, who also had 42 tackles, 3 interceptions and 1 recovered fumble, said he was daydreaming at one point while talking to Lunney.
"Whenever he was talking to me I kind of zoned out," Stewart said. "He asked what are you thinking, and I was like I sometimes think of how ready I am to get to Fayetteville and start practicing."
ON THE ROAD AGAIN
Arkansas coaches were on the road during the second week of the contact period and saw several of their top prospects.
Defensive line coach Rory Segrest watched highly recruited defensive end-linebacker Porter Gustin of Salem (Utah) Salem Hills play basketball. Gustin had 20 points and 10 rebounds Wednesday night in a 60-40 victory over Tooele, Utah.
Gustin, 6-4, 238 pounds, 4.63 seconds in the 40-yard dash, has scholarship offers from more than 30 schools, including Arkansas, Oregon, Notre Dame, Southern Cal, Ohio State, Arizona State and Florida State.
Offensive line coach Sam Pittman visited offensive lineman Jalen Merrick of New Smyrna Beach, Fla., at his school Wednesday.
Merrick, 6-5, 310, 5.21, has more than 20 offers from schools that include Arkansas, Alabama, Florida, Wisconsin, Ohio State, Oklahoma and Michigan State.
Coach Bret Bielema and defensive backs coach Clay Jennings made an in-home visit Wednesday night with Waco (Texas) Midway safety Kahlil Haughton.
Haughton, 6-2, 180, 4.44, has scholarship offers from more than 20 schools, including Arkansas, Oklahoma, TCU, Baylor, Oklahoma State, Texas Tech and Duke.
E-mail Richard Davenport at
rdavenport@arkansasonline.com
Sports on 12/12/2014