The Recruiting Guy

Louisiana receiver getting help from former Hog

Arkansas safety Jerico Nelson returns an interception for a touchdown during the fourth quarter of a game against Vanderbilt on Saturday, Oct. 30, 2010 at Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville.
Arkansas safety Jerico Nelson returns an interception for a touchdown during the fourth quarter of a game against Vanderbilt on Saturday, Oct. 30, 2010 at Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville.

Safety Brandon Scott, who will wrap up his official visit to Arkansas today, was given a heads-up on what to expect during his visit from his defensive backs coach and former Hogs safety Jerico Nelson.

"He's talked about it," Scott said. "He actually talked to my mom about it. He wanted me to call him as soon as I get back."

Scott, 6-0, 190 pounds, of Destrehan, La., received a scholarship offer from Arkansas last week and reportedly has 25 offers from schools that include Central Florida, Nebraska, Iowa, Arizona State, Kentucky and Minnesota.

He's officially visited Central Florida and will decide between the Knights and the Hogs.

"Actually, my mom was supposed to come but she had work, so as soon as I get back home I'm talking to her about it," Scott said. "I'll tell her about the differences between here and Central Florida and make a decision, call the coaches and let them know."

Scott recorded a time of 4.53 seconds in the 40-yard dash as a sophomore but hasn't been timed since.

Arkansas receivers coach Michael Smith, who signed four from Louisiana in the 2014 class, is Scott's lead recruiter. He and defensive coordinator Robb Smith have told Scott that he's wanted.

"They're actually talking to me about talking to Rohan [Gaines]. Henre [Toliver] actually wanted to talk to me," Scott said. "So I'm going to talk to Henre.He's from Louisiana."

Linebacker Kendrick Jackson of Haynesville, La., arrived Saturday for his official visit and will leave today.

Jackson, 6-0, 238, 4.8, is an Arizona commitment and has scholarship offers from Arkansas, Louisville, Arizona, Tulsa, Memphis, Louisiana Tech, Hawaii and others.

AGIM GETS ATTENTION

After Wednesday's national signing day, college coaches will turn their full attention to the 2016 recruiting class.

Hope junior defensive end McTelvin Agim will be one of the state's more sought-after prospects.

The process started earlier for Agim than most. He received his first scholarship offer from Arkansas on Jan. 29, a couple of months after completing his sophomore season. Baylor offered a few minutes after the Razorbacks.

Now, about a year from signing a national letter of intent, Agim is trying to grasp that he'll be a senior next fall.

"It just really, really hit me last week," he said. "I was like, I'm really going to go to college for this. There's a lot of people that can't say that. I'm truly blessed. It's crazy."

Agim, 6-3, 258, 4.62, also has scholarship offers from Alabama, Auburn, Baylor, Stanford, Clemson, Oklahoma, Mississippi State, Arkansas State and Washington State. He bench pressed 315 pounds in early January and had a 325-pound power clean, a 285-pound incline and a 405-pound squat.

The attention from several of the nation's elite programs still surprises him.

"I honestly didn't see it coming," Agim said. "People tell me they're about to get on me hard and things are going to change even more so now that they're getting done with the 2015 class."

The contact period that started in December and ended Saturday has brought several head coaches and assistants coaches to Hope. Arkansas Coach Bret Bielema, Alabama Coach Nick Saban, Baylor Coach Art Briles and TCU Coach Gary Patterson all have made trips.

The Hogs have been to the school every week of the contact period. Agim's lead recruiter at Arkansas is tight ends coach Barry Lunney Jr. Receivers coach Michael Smith, defensive coordinator Robb Smith and defensive line coach Rory Segrest also have visited Hope.

"A lot of coaches have come, and have come more than once," Agim said. "Really, Arkansas has come. ... I can't even count the times and catch me practicing and stuff like that.

"It shows me they have time invested in me and they have a lot of money invested in me. I know those trips on those planes cost thousands of dollars. It's crazy that someone would invest that much money in me."

Agim stays in touch with Lunney, Segrest and Bielema through Twitter and said Bielema is the most active head coach when it comes to direct messaging him on Twitter.

"Coach B stays in touch with me all of the time," Agim said. "I've grown fond of Coach B. He's a cool dude."

He thinks highly of Lunney's recruiting efforts, too.

"He's probably one of the coolest dudes you'll probably meet," Agim said. "A lot of coaches are cool dudes, but I feel like he keeps it real with me. He's not going to lie to you."

Agim was the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Sophomore Defensive Player of the Year after recording 77 tackles, 32 tackles for loss, and 16 sacks. He had 72 tackles 22 sacks, 13 pass knockdowns, 6 forced fumbles and 3 recovered fumbles.

TIDE OFFER SMACKOVER WR

Smackover junior receiver and Arkansas commitment Jordan Jones received a scholarship offer from Alabama on Friday, two days after Coach Nick Saban visited the school.

Jones, 6-2, 170 pounds, received his offer from the Hogs after running the 40-yard dash in 4.34 seconds at Arkansas' camp last summer and showing great hands and elusiveness against the defensive backs.

Arkansas Coach Bret Bielema, offensive coordinator Dan Enos and tight ends coach Barry Lunney Jr. visited the school Friday.

E-mail Richard Davenport at

rdavenport@arkansasonline.com

Sports on 02/01/2015

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