When it comes to recruiting college football players, a school doesn't just recruit the prospect.
It has to recruit his mother, too.
Arkansas defensive line commitment Briston Guidry of Metairie (La.) Rummel has been to Fayetteville several times, but his mother, Sandra Williams, made her first visit on her son's latest trip July 21- 23.
"She loved it," Guidry said. "She said the facilities were the best she has ever seen on a visit. She thinks the coaches are genuine in what they're saying."
Guidry, 6-3, 295 pounds, 4.9 seconds in the 40-yard dash, orally committed to Arkansas on April 11. He chose Arkansas over offers from approximately 11 other schools, including LSU, Alabama, Ole Miss and Texas A&M.
He said his mother was impressed with Coach Bret Bielema.
"She was like, 'He was down-to-earth,' " Guidry said. "He's a great coach, and he cares for his players."
Guidry's mother also liked learning about the Sam M. Walton College of Business, the high number of Fortune 500 company offices located in Northwest Arkansas and the job opportunities available in the area after football.
Arkansas cornerback Henre Toliver and linebacker Dwayne Eugene attended Rummel and were teammates of Guidry, which helped him feel at home.
"Being around Henre and Dwayne makes me way more comfortable than me going to a school where I don't know anybody," said Guidry, whose aunt, Jennifer Baxter, also made the trip. "It just feels so comfortable, and it's a nice atmosphere. It's beautiful scenery. They just treat you like family out there."
Guidry recorded 77 tackles, 10 tackles for loss and 10 sacks as a junior. He is rated by ESPN as the nation's No. 17 defensive tackle and No. 145 overall prospect.
"When you think about what Arkansas is building on the D-line, he seems like a perfect kind of fit for them, a guy in the trenches that's going to bring it every time," said Craig Haubert, ESPN's national recruiting analyst. "I've been a Briston Guidry fan since the first time I turned on the tape, and that's why he's in the ESPN 300."
Guidry said he is able to remain relaxed around Bielema, and that is a big plus.
"Usually when I meet a coach I'll be like nervous the whole meeting," Guidry said. "But talking to him, he's down-to-earth, so I stop being nervous. He just makes you feel comfortable when he's talking to you."
Arkansas is also pursuing Guidry's teammate, highly recruited cornerback Kristian Fulton, who joined Guidry on a visit for the Hogs' spring game. Fulton is unsure when he'll make his official visit to Fayetteville.
"I'm seeing what Kristin and me are doing," Guidry said. "We're probably going to take our officials at the same time."
LINEMEN NEED LOVE TOO
LSU offensive line commitment Donavaughn Campbell of Ponchatoula, La., likes how Arkansas treats offensive linemen, and that is part of the reason he plans to take an official visit to Fayetteville.
"Arkansas' O-line is pretty big, and they're like a big major part of the team," Campbell said. "I want to maybe be a part of that. They're highly talked about, and they're the biggest offensive line in football. They're pretty good."
Campbell, 6-5, 340 pounds, has 11 scholarship offers from schools that include LSU, Arkansas, Alabama, Texas, Florida State, Auburn and UCLA. He orally committed to LSU on Jan. 8.
Linemen like hearing about Arkansas' offensive line flying first class for road games. Coach Bret Bielema's decision to place the starting offensive line on the cover of the media guide also has received the attention.
"I see how much they get showcased and they're respected on the team," Campbell said.
Campbell said he is talking to receivers coach Michael Smith, who recruits Louisiana.
"We talk every other day," Campbell said. "He hits me up on Twitter. Oh man, Coach Smith is a cool guy. He's from Louisiana, so he's good friends with my coach."
Campbell has a 2.8 grade-point average and plans to major in business. He said hopes to own his own business one day.
" I don't know what kind yet," he said. "It's something I've always wanted to do."
Even though he's from Louisiana, Campbell dismisses the notion that he can't be swayed away from the Tigers.
"Those people, I really try not to listen to those guys," Campbell said. "I committed to LSU because that's where I wanted to be, but I'm still going through the process and other places are showing me the same stuff that LSU provides, and they think they can provide more than LSU.
"I'm looking into that."
E-mail Richard Davenport at
rdavenport@arkansasonline.com
Sports on 08/09/2015