Arkansas is expected to host numerous prospects for Saturday's Red-White spring game and highly recruited running back Chase Hayden is one expected to make his way to Fayetteville.
Hayden, 5-11, 185 pounds, 4.47 seconds in the 40-yard dash, of Collierville (Tenn.) St. George's Independent School has 16 scholarship offers, including ones from Arkansas, Tennessee, Michigan, South Carolina, Missouri, Louisville and Arizona. The Hogs extended an offer March 15.
He has been communicating with Arkansas running backs coach Reggie Mitchell and defensive line coach Rory Segrest, who recruits the Memphis area.
"I've been talking to the coaches ever since they offered me," Hayden said. "I talk to them a lot, pretty much every week. I've developed a relationship with them and that makes me want to come up there."
Hayden rushed for 2,625 yards and 37 touchdowns while also having 249 receiving yards last season. Coach Bret Bielema's history of 1,000-yard rushers is a plus for the Razorbacks, Hayden said.
"Everywhere Coach B has been, they've had a thousand-yard rusher," he said. "So that's really impressive."
Hayden also averaged 23.6 points, 2.6 rebounds and 5 assists per game last season and was named Mr. Basketball in Tennessee's Division 2-A.
Hayden said he has a positive vibe with Mitchell, his potential position coach.
"He seems like laid-back guy," Hayden said. "He told me he's been coaching for 20-something years. He's been around football for a long time."
Hayden's father, Aaron Hayden, was a running back at Tennessee in 1992-1994 and played four seasons in the NFL. He said he's not a lock for the Volunteers.
"I have to make the best decision for me," he said.
Hayden, who has a 3.3 grade-point average and has plans to major in sports medicine, described his ideal school.
"A place where I have the opportunity to come in and compete, and a place where I have a really good relationship with the coaches," he said.
Action Jackson
Pulaski Robinson athlete Koilan Jackson and several teammates arrived late for an Arkansas visit Saturday, thanks to a flat tire.
With assistant coach Brian Maupin at the wheel, the flat occurred shortly after the vehicle pulled onto Interstate 40 heading to Fayetteville. But no one had to get dirty.
"We called Triple A," Jackson said.
Jackson, 6-3, 210, 4.52, has scholarship offers from Arkansas, Illinois and Army. He has also drawn interest from Alabama, Kansas, Louisiana Tech, Arkansas State, Houston and others.
Jackson said one of the highlights of the trip was getting to hear Arkansas strength and conditioning coach Ben Herbert talk about nutrition and adding strength and weight. Jackson and his teammates were able to see the before and after photos of several Razorbacks after being in the program a few years.
"He was talking about Jeremy Sprinkle and how he was like 212 [pounds] and [Herbert] has him up to 250," Jackson said. "He looks like a freak now."
Jackson, who's being recruited to play receiver at Arkansas, played quarterback last season at Little Rock Parkview and had 3,000 yards of total offense and 38 touchdowns before transferring to Robinson at semester.
The Hogs has receiver commitments from Cabot's Jarrod Barnes, another high school quarterback, and Maleek Barkley of Las Vegas Bishop Gorman.
"They said they had four sports for receivers in this class," Jackson said.
Jackson's father, Keith Jackson, was an All American tight end at Oklahoma and was selected to six Pro Bowls while in the NFL. Koilan's older brother, Keith Jackson Jr., lettered at Arkansas on the defensive line in 2003-2006.
Bielema talked to Jackson about a commitment.
"I said y'all are in the lead," Jackson said. "But my dad said since the next four years in college shouldn't be taking lightly, he wants me to really evaluate my options and makes sure where I want to go."
Jackson, who said he plans to announce his college decision before the start of his senior year, explained why the Hogs lead for him.
"I grew up here," he said. "I know a lot about the school and I'm really comfortable with the coaches. It feels like home right now."
California kid
Junior college offensive lineman Alex Losoya, 6-4, 300, of Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa, Calif., said Arkansas is high on his list after making an official visit to Fayetteville over the weekend.
"What impressed me was how supportive the fans were," he said. "The facilities are incredible, also the opportunity to come contribute early."
Losoya has scholarship offers from Arkansas, Auburn, Colorado, Baylor, Texas Tech, Missouri, Colorado State and others. Because he was a full qualifier out of Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana, Calif., he's a 2016 prospect who has four years to play three.
He has also visited Texas Tech and Colorado State. He plans to take his two remaining visits before making a decision.
E-mail Richard Davenport at rdavenport@arkansasonline.com
Sports on 04/19/2016