Bentonville cornerback Tyrone Mahone is one of the state's top college prospects for the Class of 2016, but he didn't finish off his junior season the way he would've liked.
Mahone suffered a broken ankle on the first series in the Tigers' semifinal victory over North Little Rock and missed the Class 7A state title game against Fayetteville. His cast was removed about three weeks ago.
"I'm getting most of my movement back," said Mahone, who has been using a scooter and crutches to get around. "In a week or two I'll be able to start walking."
Mahone, 6-0, 175 pounds, 4.45 seconds in the 40-yard dash, is a strong candidate to receive a scholarship offer from Arkansas after putting on a good performance at the Hogs' elite camp last June.
His combination of size, quickness and top-end speed will likely earn him several offers. He said he's confident he'll be ready to take part in spring practice.
"I believe I can be back in mid-March," Mahone said. "I'll be back before spring, I can almost guarantee that."
Mahone was named to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette All-Arkansas Preps team this past season after having 22 unassisted tackles, 19 assisted tackles and 1 interception.
"I was really playing better as the season went on," Mahone said.
He made the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Super Sophomore team with 46 tackles, 4 tackles for loss and 2 interceptions.
Arkansas tight ends coach Barry Lunney Jr. visited the school during the contact period in December. Arkansas State, Navy and Memphis also visited. Missouri and Nebraska are showing interest as well.
"I feel like I can play anywhere," Mahone said. "I really hope someone takes a chance on me because I know I can get through this injury. I think I can make it to the next level."
Mahone had times of 11.19 seconds in the 100 meters, 22.40 in the 200 meters and 50.6 in the 400 meters last spring.
Mahone, a lifeong Razorbacks fan, said he would embrace an offer from the Hogs.
"It would really mean a lot considering I haven't received an offer yet, especially coming from them," Mahone said.
ADAMS FAMILY
Jonesboro sophomore receiver Jonathan Adams Jr. saw limited action this past season, but Adams showed enough flash that Coach Randy Coleman believes he can be a major-college prospect.
College coaches are looking for recruits who play well on the field and act responsibly off it. Coleman said Adams fits the bill.
"I think the first thing that really makes him good is he's an outstanding young man," Coleman said. "He's really coachable, really football savvy. He's so athletic in so many different sports it equates to being the total package on the football field."
His father, Jonathan Adams, was a Parade All-American running back from Osceola who played at Arkansas State. The younger Adams didn't decide to join the team until after the first game and didn't see action until week 4.
"He initially put his focus on basketball because he's an excellent basketball player, but he couldn't get the itch out of him and approached us during the second week of the season," Coleman said. "We were tickled to death to get him out."
Adams, 6-2, 175 pounds, hasn't been timed in the 40-yard dash, but Coleman said he's plenty fast.
"I'm guessing he would be under a 4.6, probably a 4.5," Coleman said. "He's one of those guys that's so long he would probably run a faster 100 than he would a 40."
Coleman said Adams caught on quickly during the season and his stats reflected that.
"He probably had a 11 catches for a 180 yards and two or three touchdowns and like 10 carries for 80 or 90 yards," Coleman said.
Arkansas tight ends coach Barry Lunney Jr. visited Jonesboro in January to check on Adams. Auburn, Arkansas State and SMU are also showing interest.
Coleman coached 2016 Ole Miss commitment running back Denzel Mitchell as a sophomore before he moved to Alabama for his junior season. Mitchell is rated the No. 3 running back and the No. 37 overall prospect in the nation by ESPN.
"He was obviously a little more physically mature at this stage with size and bulk, but I think Jonathan's upside will be greater," Coleman said. "He may end up at 6-4 and 205 and be able to dunk any way you want. Hell be one of those guys that will be a matchup nightmare."
Coleman said Adams' ratio of passes caught to passed thrown his direction is high.
"You have to be a bad quarterback to miss him," Coleman said. "He's versatile. We lined him up in the backfield some last year, and obviously you can spread him out and single him up on one side with the fade and slant. You can put him on a multiple receiver side and he's good with the bubble."
E-mail Richard Davenport at
rdavenport@arkansasonline.com
Sports on 02/13/2015