Arkansas is looking to sign at least four offensive line prospects for the 2016 football recruiting class and is hoping to lure junior college offensive tackle Paul Ramirez to Fayetteville.
As for other offensive linemen in this recruiting class, the Hogs have signed Deion Malone of Northwest Mississippi Community College and have an oral commitment from Jake Heinrich of Urbandale, Iowa.
Ramirez, 6-7, 295 pounds, of San Bernardino Valley College in California, received a scholarship offer from the Razorbacks on Dec. 27. He has been communicating with Arkansas offensive coordinator Dan Enos about a possible visit.
"They just wanted me to know they were looking for a tackle and they wanted me to visit the 22nd weekend," Ramirez said.
He plans to officially visit Louisville this weekend and has a visit set for Indiana for Jan. 22-24, but he may make a trip to Fayetteville instead.
"I'm still working on that," Ramirez said. "I have a Indiana scheduled, but I'm not too sure if I'm going to switch it. I'm still waiting for next weekend to figure out what I'm going to do."
The NCAA recruiting dead period started Dec. 14 and ends Wednesday at midnight. Enos appears to be headed West to see Ramirez.
"I think Coach Enos is going to come Thursday when the dead period is over," Ramirez said. "He wants to meet in person and talk."
Ramirez, whose 13 scholarship offers also include ones from Louisville, Arizona State, Boise State and Purdue, earned California Community College Athletic Association first-team All-American honors last season.
He discussed his interest in the Hogs.
"Obviously, they're in the SEC, so it's like a powerhouse," Ramirez said. "They're pretty good in the running game and it looks like they develop offensive players to go on to the next level. It looks like a good program."
Ramirez said he is still open for the Jan. 29 weekend and hasn't decided on a particular school to visit.
Enos has told him about the opportunities at Arkansas.
"He said they're pretty much looking for a guy coming in as a starter," Ramirez said of the Hogs' tackle position. "They're pretty much telling me they're going to give me a chance and if I can run with the big boys ... that's where I'll start."
Ramirez also said education tops his list of importance while looking for a school.
"The second one would probably be the coaching staff and how they coach and all that," he said. "The third one would probably be the program itself how they rank and how good their program is."
Harris stuck on Hogs
Just because the recruiting dead period started Dec. 14, it doesn't mean the Arkansas coaches haven't been staying in touch with recruits.
The dead period forbids face-to-face contact between coaches and prospects on and off campuses, but coaches can still communicate with recruits on the phone, Twitter, Facebook or e-mail.
Razorbacks linebacker commitment De'jon Harris, 6-1, 230 pounds, 4.7 seconds in the 40-yard dash, of Marrero (La.) John Ehret, has been communicating via Twitter and phone with Arkansas Coach Bret Bielema, defensive coordinator Robb Smith, linebackers coach Vernon Hargreaves and receivers coach Michael Smith, his lead recruiter with the Razorbacks.
"I messaged Coach B and both Coach Smiths and Coach Hargreaves," Harris said. "I talked to Coach B about a week ago. I'm still talking to Coach Smith and Hargreaves on the phone."
He plans to accompany two teammates on an official visit to Colorado this weekend, but said he has no interest in the Buffaloes. He'll make his official visit to Fayetteville on Jan. 22-24.
Harris recently received a late scholarship offer from Alabama and has plans to visit the Crimson Tide on Jan. 29.
"Coach B is just making sure that I'm still solid with them," Harris said. "I told him I was a still a 100 percent solid and I was just going on visits just to go."
He rushed for 1,300 yards and 14 touchdowns last season to help Ehret to a 12-3 record and its first trip to the Class 5A non-select championship game in 30 years. He also had 11 catches for 254 yards and 5 touchdowns, and passed for 400 yards and 6 touchdowns. Defensively, he recorded 80 tackles and 7 sacks.
The Alabama coaches explained their decision to offer him a scholarship.
"They tell me not a lot of guys get that offer and they offered for a reason," Harris said.
Arkansas receivers coach Michael Smith has been recruiting Harris since his sophomore year. Harris said the long relationship helps the Hogs.
"Yeah, it does," said Harris, who committed to the Razorback last year in May. "You start to build something so long and early."
Carmouche reconsiders
Jordan Carmouche announced Sunday on Twitter that he was reopening his recruitment after being committed to Arkansas since Oct. 31.
"After much prayer and consideration I have decided to decommit from the University of Arkansas and open my recruitment back up," Carmouche wrote on Twitter.
Carmouche, 6-1, 225, 4.6, of Manvel, Texas, evidently wants to play running back in college, and the Hogs weren't on board with his request. Arkansas recruited Carmouche as a linebacker.
E-mail Richard Davenport at rdavenport@arkansasonline.com
Sports on 01/12/2016