THE RECRUITING GUY

Texas defensive lineman has ties to Arkansas

Chris Daniels Jr.
Chris Daniels Jr.

When recruiting out-of-state talent, it's always a plus to find prospects with ties to Arkansas. The Hogs have that with Euless (Texas) Trinity defensive lineman Chris Daniels Jr. and Bowling Green (Ky.) South Warren receiver C.J. Hayes.

Daniels, 6-foot-4, 290 pounds, has 13 scholarship offers from a number of schools such as Michigan, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, TCU and Baylor. The junior attended Arkansas' 52-14 victory over Northern Illinois on Sept 20 last season and said the Razorbacks are currently showing strong interest.

"They were very professional," Daniels, who was born in Little Rock, said. "I don't know if they were trying to make me like it a lot, but I really liked how everything was. How the fans were acting.

"It was really crazy. I liked it."

Daniels, who plans to visit Fayetteville on March 7, has several family members in the state. His grandfather has been a teacher at Little Rock's Fuller Middle School for 30 years while his aunt recently graduated from Arkansas and is working towards her masters degree. His father also played quarterback for Mills in high school.

"I've been a Hog fan because I'm an Arkansas native," he said. "My dad is an Arkansas fan all the way."

Daniels, who said he hopes to receive an offer from the Razorbacks, moved to Michigan where his mother is from when he was five before relocating to Texas at 10.

"It's always good to have an offer from the SEC," Daniels said. "That's all people keep talking about is getting an offer from the Razorbacks."

Arkansas fans have made a big impact on him as well.

"I love the fan base," he said. "Even on Twitter, there are no fans like the Hog fans out of all the fans."

Daniels has recorded a 350-pound bench press and a 500-pound squat to go along with an impressive 4.32 seconds in the pro shuttle. He was timed at 4.81 in the 40-yard dash at the TCU camp last summer.

While he has set a date to visit Arkansas, Daniels also plans to check out Oklahoma State, Mississippi, Kansas, Texas Tech and Texas-San Antonio, with a final decision coming in the near future.

"Probably in about a month and a half," Daniels, who plans to major in theater arts and minor in journalism, said.

Hayes plans visits

C.J. Hayes, 6-2, 190, 4.5 in the 40-yard dash, plans to visit Fayetteville in the spring and make a return trip for the Hogs' three-day camp June 14-16.

The sophomore, who caught 21 passes for 385 yards and 4 touchdowns this past season, is drawing interest from Kentucky, Louisville, Tennessee, Ohio State, Cincinnati among others. C.J. Hayes also threw a 40-yard pass for a score. As a cornerback, he recorded 15 tackles and blocked two punts on special teams, including one he returned for a touchdown.

His father, Carl, played receiver for Pine Bluff Dollarway and helped lead the Cardinals to state championships in 1989 and 1990. C.J. Hayes mentioned his family often returns to Arkansas to visit.

"We go there almost every Christmas and every big holiday," he said.

C.J. Hayes has a grandfather that lives in Pine Bluff as well as an aunt and uncle in Little Rock. Whenever he visits, discussions often center on him becoming a Razorback.

"There's no pressure, but they hint around at it a little bit," he said.

C.J. Hayes also batted .381 last spring for the Spartans and said that he is receiving interest from some major league teams.

"That's my dream," C.J. Hayes, who throws right and bats left, said. "It's kind of hard not to play baseball. I want to make it in both. I really can't decide which one I like better.

"I want to try and do both."

He was able to watch some Arkansas games this past season.

"The O-line is humongous," he said. "They like to run the ball and they also throw the ball as well."

C.J. Hayes, who was born in Winchester, Tennessee, will attend sumer camps at Tennessee on June 6 and at Louisville. His father and mother, Daphne, met in Fayetteville, Tennessee, while working in management for Wal-Mart.

Carl Hayes, a graduate of Arkansas-Pine Bluff, wants his son to make his own college decision but has taught him the Hogs' famous cheer.

"I remember a long time ago I showed him how to call the Hogs," he said.

C.J. Hayes has a 3.25 grade point average and is leaning towards working in the medical field after his playing days are over.

"I've always been really good at science and my teachers have always told me that," C.J. said.

E-mail Richard Davenport at

rdavenport@arkansasonline.com

Sports on 02/24/2015

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