Last weekend, Arkansas Coach Bret Bielema and his staff hosted the one of the better groups of football prospects on official visits since recruiting services started in the early 2000s.
Of the 12 prospects who visited, five were rated among the ESPN 300 top prospects in the nation.
ESPN's No. 4 wide receiver in the nation, Tyrie Cleveland, 6-3, 190 pounds, 4.32 seconds in the 40-yard dash, of Houston Westfield, also visited Fayetteville in July and talked to Hogs offensive coordinator Dan Enos on both trips.
He said the latest visit helped the Hogs' case in trying to sign him.
"Absolutely," Cleveland said. "I asked a lot of questions, and they got answered."
He said he was impressed that Arkansas senior quarterback Brandon Allen passed for 3,440 yards and 30 touchdowns this season.
"It was just about offensive schemes, everything [Enos] does and how things work," said Cleveland, who's ESPN's No. 52 overall prospect in the nation. "I came down this summer and he kind of told me what they were going to do and throughout the season he proved it. He kept his word."
Cleveland was hosted on the visit by Razorbacks receiver Keon Hatcher.
"The first thing he said wasn't about football, it was about the love of the people here," Cleveland said. "Everybody takes care of each other. It is like a big family."
Cleveland, who has committed to Houston, has also visited Oklahoma, Arizona State and TCU, and he might visit Florida this weekend.
"On signing day, that is when I will make my final decision," Cleveland said. "If it is another school, it's just how it is. If it is Houston, it is Houston."
Nacogdoches (Texas) High School safety Brandon Jones, who's ESPN's No. 2 rated safety and rated No. 49 overall in the nation, visited Arkansas with his mother.
He said they were both surprised by what they saw.
"[There's] a lot of newer equipment and stuff like that, which is good," Jones said. "They just have a lot of stuff like that a some of other schools don't have within the weight room and training room which really stood out to me."
He also said the new Jerry & Gene Jones Family Student Athlete Success Center was impressive.
"They just have everything set up for you to succeed," Jones said. "It's pretty much no way to fail unless you want to."
Jones, 6-0, 195, 4.3, recorded 135 tackles, 19 tackles for loss, 2 interceptions, 3 pass breakups and a forced fumble this season.
A school's environment will be a deciding factor for his college decision, Jones said. He also said he had a home feeling while in Fayetteville.
"I did, which I was surprised by again," Jones said. "I've always heard, 'Once you come here, you'll fall in love.' So it's for sure living up to the hype."
Jones has also visited Texas, Texas A&M and Ole Miss. He is scheduled to visit Baylor this weekend and might make a midweek visit to TCU.
He said he plans to announce his final three schools Feb. 1, and will announce his decision two days later on national signing day.
Metairie (La.) Archbishop Rummel cornerback Kristian Fulton, ESPN's No. 3 cornerback and the No. 27 overall prospect in the nation, also visited Fayetteville last spring.
He said his official visit to Arkansas over the weekend has him considering the Razorbacks.
"The feeling of coming back up here definitely has me thinking," Fulton said. "It is going to be a tough decision."
Fulton, 6-0, 170, visited LSU on Jan. 15 and is scheduled to visit Florida this weekend. He said he will announce his decision Feb. 3, national signing day.
Should he pick the Hogs, he'll join his teammate, Briston Guidry, an Arkansas defensive line commitment who's ESPN's No. 16 defensive tackle and No. 143 overall prospect. He would also reunite with Arkansas cornerback Henre Toliver and linebacker Dwayne Eugene, both Rummel graduates.
"You have to find a environment that has a family like," Fulton said. "I don't think you can find that anywhere else and that is something positive about the school and you got to go somewhere comfortable. I definitely feel comfortable here. The players are great and the fans are great and they treat us great up here."
Fulton also said he is confident Bielema has the Arkansas program going in the right direction and was encouraged by all of the talented recruits visiting over the weekend.
"I believe Coach B is building something special here," Fulton said. "This class we had up here is crazy. I talked to the coaches, and they say they haven't had this type of class up here before."
He also said the in-state pressure to stay home won't impact his decision.
"It will be my own decision," Fulton said. "I got to be there for the next three to four years. Wherever I go, hopefully they will accept my decision."
E-mail Richard Davenport at rdavenport@arkansasonline.com
Sports on 01/26/2016