The recruiting of junior college cornerback Joseph Putu is heating up, and Arkansas is one of the schools showing strong interest.
Putu has been communicating with Arkansas defensive coordinator Robb Smith and defensive backs coach Clay Jennings and plans to make an official visit to Fayetteville next weekend.
Putu, 6-2, 195, 4.37 seconds in the 40-yard dash, of North Dakota State College of Science has scholarship offers from Toledo, Alabama-Birmingham, North Texas and Tennessee State.
The number of offers could go up soon because of help from someone well connected to college coaches.
"People are just starting to find out about me. I wasn't out there," Putu said. "Now my highlight video got into the right person's hands and now he's giving it to the right people. The last couple of weeks I've been talking to nothing but big schools.
"I'm starting to blow up now."
Since receiving help with his recruitment, Putu has also been hearing from UCLA, Tennessee, Texas A&M, Iowa State, West Virginia and Nebraska. The Mountaineers appear to be close to offering.
Putu, who was named a second-team National Junior College Athletic Association All-American, recorded 10 interceptions, one of which he returned for a touchdown. He also had 55 tackles, 5 forced fumbles and 8 recovered fumbles this past season.
He also was named to the All-Minnesota College Athletic Conference first team and was National Junior College Athletic Association All Region XIII.
Smith visited with Putu on Thursday.
"He talked about the visit a lot, he took my email down so he can mail me my flight," Putu said. "He said the head coach will love me."
Putu, who was born in the Ivory Coast, moved to Rhode Island when he was about 6 years old. He said Smith and Jennings have been consistently in touch with him.
"I'm interested because the coaches have shown me a lot of love," Putu said. "I'm really liking it."
He said no other school can come in and get his last visit from the Hogs.
"Like I said they've been talking to me, showing me the love," said Putu, who expects to receive a visit from Coach Bret Bielema later tonight. "They make me feel like that's the place for me. You have to go somewhere they want you."
He appreciates Jennings being upfront with him.
"He sounds like a real guy. He sounds like somebody that will keep it 100 with me every single time," Putu said. "He's going to tell me the truth."
He's planing to major in sports management and business.
"I want to become an agent or anything sports management related," he said.
Hogs offer linebacker
Arkansas extended a second Cedar Hill, Texas, prospect Jan. 13 when junior linebacker Dimitri Moore reported the Hogs offering him.
"I was really honored and surprised and excited about it. It's an SEC offer," Moore said. "I mean, that's a dream. It was a real blessing."
The Razorbacks offered his teammate, junior receiver Charleston Rambo, in November.
Arkansas was the second school to offer Moore, 6-3, 195. Illinois was the first to offer, and he has since added offers from Iowa State and Tulsa.
Cedar Hill Coach Joey McGuire told him about the Arkansas offer.
"He said Arkansas was a dream school," Moore said. "He grew up in Texarkana, and I just got offered by them."
Moore said he'll "for sure" visit Fayetteville in the near future. His brother, Richard Moore, is a freshman linebacker at Texas A&M. He said his brother is a good source for advice on the recruiting process.
"He just gives me pointers and stuff," said Moore, who has a 3.4 grade-point average. "It's a real blessing to have someone like him to look up to. He helps me a lot."
Hogs host prospects
More than 10 highly regarded prospects making official visits to Arkansas will be leaving today after arriving Friday.
The Hogs hosted four commitments: offensive lineman Jake Heinrich, 6-4, 290 5.3 of Urbandale, Iowa; defensive lineman Briston Guidry, 6-3, 284, 4.9 of Metairie (La.) Rummel; linebacker De'jon Harris, 6-1, 230, 4.7, of Marrero (La.) John Ehret; and receiver Kofi Boateng, 6-1, 180, 4.6, Arlington (Texas) Lamar.
Receiver Tyrie Cleveland, 6-3, 190, 4.32, of Houston Westfield brought four family members and a family friend with him to Fayetteville. ESPN rates him the No. 4 receiver in the nation.
Safety Brandon Jones, 6-0, 195, 4.4, of Nacogdoches, Texas, and his mother arrived Friday night for his official visit. ESPN rates him the No. 1 prospect at his position.
The Hogs also hosted cornerback Kristian Fulton, 6-0, 170, of Metairie Rummel and cornerback Eric Cuffee, 6-0, 188, of Waco, Texas. Fulton is ESPN's No. 3 cornerback, while Cuffee is the No. 10 cornerback in the nation.
Highly regarded safety Calvin Bundage, 6-3, 200, 4.5, of Edmond (Okla.) Santa Fe made the trip with his mother.
Email Richard Davenport at rdavenport@arkansasonline.com.
Sports on 01/24/2016