Signed And Sealed, Sykes Gets First Look at Fayetteville

Sykes
Sykes

Willie Sykes has never set foot in Fayetteville, but his heart was already in Arkansas before national signing day on Feb. 4.

That and the opportunity to be coached by Clay Jennings are the reasons the Spring, Texas, standout officially flipped from Nebraska just a few days before signing day and ended up signing with the Razorbacks.

Sykes (6-foot, 190 pounds, 4.4 seconds 40-yard dash) will finally get the chance to make his official visit to Arkansas this weekend and look over coach Bret Bielema's program.

"I am looking forward to getting up there and checking out the facilities and all those things, but I know that I made the right decision in my heart because of the coaches," Sykes said Tuesday. "It's about the coaches, especially Coach Jennings and the opportunity to play in the SEC, which means playing against the best of the best.

"It's also about Coach Bielema and the direction he has the program headed. I want to be a part of a program that is on the rise and is headed to the top."

Sykes, a three-star prospect by Scout.com, had 86 tackles this past season, 12 pass break ups, four interceptions and caused two fumbles.

He originally committed to Washington State on Jan. 16, but was one of six de-commits from Mike Leach's program when Cougars' assistant Dennis Simmons left for Oklahoma.

"I thought Washington State was where I was going to end up, but some things went down there and Coach Simmons left and then Nebraska entered the picture," Sykes said. "I then took a visit to Nebraska and ended up committing on a home visit after the visit."

Jennings was also still trying to talk to Sykes about taking a visit to see the Razorbacks on one of the last two weekends before signing day.

Sykes' mother Daneaa Thompson wasn't sure about her son doing a double flip.

"I was really wanting to do that (visit Arkansas), but my mom was sold on Nebraska, thought I needed to just go there and just move on," Sykes said. "So I listened to her. But I just kept thinking about Coach Jennings and how I thought he was the guy that I needed to have coaching me in college

"My heart was already there in Arkansas."

Sykes was also hearing from Razorback commit and eventual defensive back signee Nate Dalton of Houston, Texas, Cypress Falls.

Sykes believes he has both the physical and mental ability to shine in college.

"My strengths? Well, I could talk about how I feel like I am a guy that can cover anybody on the field or that I can come down the alley and makes tackles without any fear," Sykes said. "But I think the thing that sets me apart is the mental part of the game. I think I have a pretty advanced knowledge of the game for a kid still in high school."

Sykes could come in and play either cornerback or safety next season at Arkansas. He is expected to be joined in Fayetteville this weekend by eight 2016 prospects on unofficial visits.

Those include the four in-state prospects that have Arkansas offers in Hope defensive end McTelvin Agim (6-3, 260), Star City defensive lineman Austin Capps (6-5, 304), Pulaski Robinson athlete T.J. Hammonds (5-10, 190) and Smackover wide receiver and Razorback pledge Jordan Jones (6-1, 170, 4.38).

Also expected in this weekend are Manvel, Texas, linebacker Jordan Carmouche (6-2, 220), Bastrop, La., wide receiver Isaiah Graham (6-3, 180), Trophy Club (Texas) Byron Nelson offensive lineman Kellen Diesch (6-7, 265) and Euless (Texas) Trinity defensive tackle Chris Daniels (6-4, 290), who was born in Arkansas.

Sports on 03/05/2015

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