It's vital for Arkansas to sign a couple of running backs in the 2016 football recruiting class with the ability to play as freshmen. Jonathan Williams is completing his eligibility after next season and there's a possibility that junior Alex Collins might leave early for the NFL Draft.
The Hogs have made highly recruited running back Devwah Whaley a major priority in hopes he's touting the ball in Fayetteville next year.
Whaley, 5-11, 196 pounds, 4.45 seconds in the 40-yard dash, of Beaumont (Texas) Central, has 20 scholarship offers from schools like Arkansas, Alabama, Texas, Texas A&M, Oklahoma, Tennessee and TCU. He's working on setting up a visit to Fayetteville.
"It will probably be early next month," said Whaley, who also said he will likely be accompanied by his mother and stepfather. "Sometime in June, I'll be up there, hopefully."
He said he plans to narrow his list of potential schools down to 10 soon.
"Arkansas will definitely be in there," Whaley said.
Whaley recently placed fifth in the 100 meters at the regional track and field meet with an electronic time of 10.60 seconds and finished third in the triple jump with a jump of 46 feet, 6 inches. He has a best jump of 47-11 in the triple jump this spring. He'll learn soon if he's qualified for the state meet.
"We have one of the toughest regions in the nation," Whaley said. "We have the second hardest region in the state including every classification."
Arkansas Coach Bret Bielema, defensive backs coach Clay Jennings and running backs coach Jemal Singleton are involved in Whaley's recruitment. Jennings, who visited Whaley's school Thursday, has given him a rundown on the roster at running back.
"He's telling me the situation with the depth chart, and the possibility I could come in and start as a true freshman," Whaley said.
ESPN rates Whaley the No. 3 running back and the No. 47 overall prospect in the nation for the 2016 class. He rushed 172 times for 1,225 yards and 11 touchdowns as a junior for the Class 5A Jaguars.
Whaley said he and the Arkansas coaches talk often.
"It will be about football and school and how my family is doing," Whaley said. " I do talk to them pretty much every day or every other day."
When he does announce his top 10 schools, Whaley said he understands there will be some unhappy coaches after talking to a teammate that revealed his top schools.
"Toughest part is putting it out there on Twitter," Whaley said. "He put it out there and the schools that didn't make the top 10, they call you and [message] you. I know it's going to be hard dealing with that and coaches still trying to recruit you that's not in the top 10."
Whaley said he will determine his future school by focusing on academics, recent success on the field and other factors.
"The coaching staff and the tradition, and another thing important to me is getting on the field early," Whaley said. "I want to be able to come and in and have a chance of starting my freshman year."
Sure to visit
Arkansas running backs coach Jemal Singleton visited Allen (Texas) High School last Wednesday, the first day Razorbacks coaches were on the road after the Red-White spring game.
He was there to watch highly regarded defensive end Levi Onwuzurike practice.
"That means a lot probably being one of the first schools he got out to it, really shows that they respect me as a player," Onwuzurike said.
Onwuzurike, 6-3, 250, 4.8, has scholarship offers from Arkansas, Arizona State, Michigan, Miami, Stanford, Oklahoma State and others.
"I'm going to visit for sure," Onwuzurike said of Arkansas. "Whether it's this spring or this summer, but not sure when."
Allen is the same school that produced Arkansas senior running back Jonathan Williams
"Jonathan went there, so there's obviously a good reason he went there," Onwuzurike said. "So I have to go and find out."
Onwuzurike, who has a 350-pound bench press, a 440-pound squat and a 290-pound incline press, had 70 tackles and 6 sacks as a junior while helping Allen to a 16-0 record and their third consecutive Class 6A Division I state title.
In addition to Arkansas, Onwuzurike said he is planning to visit Texas, Oklahoma and probably Arizona State this spring or summer. He has a 3.7 grade point average and is considering engineering as a major.
"They have to have a nice defense, preferably a 4-3," he said of his future school. "Good weather and I want to play early."
E-mail Richard Davenport at rdavenport@arkansasonline.com
Sports on 05/05/2015