The Recruiting Guy

Texas receiver: Arkansas 'definitely in the top 10'

Kofi Boateng
Kofi Boateng

Highly sought receiver Kofi Boateng is so appreciative of the interest Arkansas has shown in him that he plans to return the favor.

"They took the time out to watch my film and recruit me and offer me, so I feel like I owe them a visit," Boateng said.

Boateng, 6-1, 180, 4.6 seconds in the 40-yard dash, of Arlington, (Texas) Lamar has 26 scholarship offers, including Arkansas, Ole Miss, Wisconsin, North Carolina, Texas Tech and Arizona State.

"It will probably be in the month of June," Boateng said of his trip to Fayetteville.

He caught 66 passes for 1,023 yards and 15 touchdowns for the Class 5A Vikings. He also participates in track and runs a leg on the 400-meter relay and the 800-meter relay while also having a best of 14.68 seconds in the 110-meter hurdles.

Running backs coach Jemal Singleton is Boateng's lead recruiter, but he also talks to offensive coordinator Dan Enos and receivers coach Michael Smith.

"Coach Singleton and I have a close relationship," Boateng said. "I also have a good relationship with coach Smith and coach Enos. I like their personalities, it's easy to talk to them. That kind of struck a chord with me."

The Razorbacks are telling Boateng about the possibility of early playing time.

"They mentioned that I could probably come and play early and I would be good for the offense, and they're changing things and that kind of piqued my interest," Boateng said. "So I want to go there and see what they've got."

Boateng said he plans to narrow his list to 10 on May 27.

"They're definitely in the top 10," Boateng said of the Hogs.

Boateng, who reports a 3.2 grade point average and is leaning toward majoring in engineering, was a team captain this past season.

"A leader is also a good follower, by that I'm not saying following the crowd," he said. "But following what the coaches do and say and just being a good role model. Also my big thing is having your team's back."

DIAMOND DOG

Arkansas defensive line commitment Austin Capps helped Star City win the Class 4A state baseball title on Friday.

Star City defeated Arkadelphia 4-3 to finish 20-5 for the season and won its first state title in baseball. Capps batted .401 for the season and had 5 home runs, 3 doubles, 31 RBIs while scoring 23 runs.

One eye-opening stat is Capps' base-stealing efficiency while weighing more than 300 pounds. He was 4 for 4 as a freshman, 8 of 10 as a sophomore and 2 for 2 this season.

"I think he caught so many by surprise with a guy so big stealing bases," Star City assistant coach Sam McGhee said. "It's not expected, but he can run."

Capps wasn't asked to steal as much this season because of the team's improved offensive production.

"We kind of changed our offensive philosophy a little bit and didn't press so much for runs," McGhee said. "We had so many guys that hit so well, and we didn't feel like we needed to press for runs."

Capps, 6-3, 312, 5.1 seconds in the 40-yard dash, committed to Arkansas for football on March 9 over scholarship offers from Ole Miss, Louisville and Mississippi State while drawing interest from Alabama, Auburn, LSU and others. His speed has also allowed him to reach base on several infield hits during his career.

"He runs really hard and maybe some guys in the field defensively relaxed a little bit and think they have more time and they take a little too much time," McGhee said.

Capps, a first baseman, finished with a .951 fielding percentage.

"If it's a hot shot, he doesn't mind putting his body and knock it down," McGhee said.

Capps had 76 tackles, 7 sacks, 2 forced fumbles and 1 recovered fumble as a junior.

McGhee, Star City's defensive line coach and speical teams coordinator, said half of Capps' tackles were for negative yardage while playing an interior position on the line.

"He runs from sideline to sideline really well," McGhee said. "He can cover the whole field."

Capps' numbers in the weight room -- 390 bench press, 360 power clean, 585 squat -- are a reflection of the Bulldogs' advanced weight-lifting program.

"He's so naturally strong, there's no telling what will happen when he actually turns into a man as far as a mental standpoint," McGhee said. "His body, he's already a man."

E-mail Richard Davenport at rdavenport@arkansasonline.com

Sports on 05/26/2015

Upcoming Events