THE RECRUITING GUY

Spring game visits move Hogs up on recruits' lists

Todd Harris
Todd Harris

One of the nation's top safety prospects visited Arkansas for Saturday's spring game, and the trip enhanced the Razorbacks' stock.

Todd Harris, who's ESPN's No. 8 safety and No. 86 overall prospect, said his first trip to Fayetteville was a hit.

"It boosted them a lot," Harris said. "I'm thinking about dropping top five soon. I'm pretty sure they're going to make the cut. I'm not sure about a top five, but I'm thinking about it, but if I do they're going to be in it.

"Everybody seems so friendly."

Harris, 6-0, 183, 4.46 seconds in the 40-yard dash, plays for Plaquemine High School in Louisiana and has numerous scholarship offers, including Arkansas, LSU, Louisville, Michigan, Miami, Georgia and Tennessee. He recorded 84 tackles, 22 pass breakups, 4 forced fumbles and returned 2 interceptions for touchdowns as a junior.

Arkansas' facilities surpassed Harris' expectations.

"They were amazing," Harris said. "Everything is up-to-date technology wise. The locker room is big."

His meeting with Coach Bret Bielema went well.

"He's real down to earth," Harris said. "He's real chill."

Harris, who's being recruited by receivers coach Michael Smith, said he hung out with several Razorback players, including receiver Jared Cornelius and safety Santos Ramirez, who both are from Shreveport Evangel High School.

"They said they liked it," Harris said. "They said they're trying to get more boot [Louisiana] guys on the team."

Kin to a Hog

Cornerback Brad Stewart was another Louisianian who visited and said the Razorbacks are one of his top schools.

Stewart, 6-1, 190 pounds, of McDonough High School in New Orleans has scholarship offers from Arkansas, Mississippi State, Florida, Florida State, Ole Miss, Florida State and others. ESPN rates him as the No. 12 safety and No. 182 overall prospect in the nation.

The Arkansas coaches informed him that he's a priority.

"They recruit hard," Stewart said. "You can see when they want somebody. They go all in for him."

He's made visits to LSU, Mississippi State, Georgia, Florida State and Louisiana-Lafayette.

"I know the facility was one of the best I've seen," Stewart said of Arkansas. "They have a 100-yard weight room."

Stewart's cousin, linebacker signee Giovanni LaFrance, has talked up the Razorbacks.

"If you what a chance to play, you'll always have a chance to play if you come up there," he said, explaining what LaFrance has told him.

He plans to make a couple of more trips to Fayetteville to watch LaFrance play.

"I'm going to come to a couple of games this year," Stewart said.

Academics key

Manvel, Texas, defensive end Alfred Bryant also visited Arkansas for the spring game, and he and his parents were impressed with the Razorbacks' focus on academics.

"The number one thing that stood out to me was the football players were graduating with 3.0 GPAs or higher," said Stewart, who noted the Razorbacks were one of his top schools. "That was really the main thing that stood out to me."

Bryant, 6-3, 240, 4.74, has 11 scholarship offers from schools such as Arkansas, Colorado, California, SMU, Indiana and Fresno State. He's a big fan of defensive line coach Rory Segrest, who's Bryant's lead recruiter.

"A great coach, a great defensive line coach," Bryant said.

He recorded 60 tackles, 8 tackles for loss, 12 sacks, 3 quarterback hurries, 1 recovered fumble and 1 pass deflection as a junior.

"I'll probably make a decision around maybe the end of spring or beginning of the season," Bryant said.

Two-sport athlete

Arkansas extended a scholarship offer to Greenwood sophomore quarterback Connor Noland on Thursday.

Noland, 6-2, 185 pounds, also has offers from UCLA, Texas A&M and Arkansas State. He completed 72 of 106 passes for 844 yards and 8 touchdowns for the Bulldogs while splitting time with starter Luke Hales. North Carolina also offered him Thursday.

He's also an outstanding pitcher and has baseball offers from Arkansas and Northwestern.

Noland was happy about the football offer from the Razorbacks, but he isn't ready to pull the trigger.

"No commitment yet," said Noland, who visited the Hogs on April 16. "I am very excited by the offer to play both sports. I'm still 50-50 and love them both. I will have the opportunity to play both at Arkansas. Every school that has shown interest is open to playing both."

Email Richard Davenport atrdavenport@arkansasonline.com

Sports on 04/29/2016

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