Arkansas could get a visit from highly recruited tight end Tre' McKitty in the next few months.
McKitty, 6-5, 235, 4.52 seconds in the 40-yard dash, of IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., has 34 scholarship offers from Arkansas, Florida, Florida State, Auburn, Oregon, Ohio State, Tennessee and others.
He works out at Performance Compound sports training facility in Tampa, Fla., where Jacksonville native Dwight Ross is a partner and director of player development. He hopes to ride up to Fayetteville with Ross.
"He's actually going up there this summer," McKitty said. "I was thinking about going up there with him so I could get a chance for an unofficial visit."
ESPN rates him the No. 6 tight end and 233rd overall prospect in the nation. He cited his relationship with tight ends coach Barry Lunney Jr. and the success the Razorbacks have with tight ends for his interest.
"Coach Lunney and I have been going back and forth, and we have a good relationship, and I like how they use the tight ends," McKitty said.
He has been selected to participate at The Opening, one of the most prestigious events for the top prospects, held at Nike headquarters in Beaverton, Ore., on July 8-10. He's aware of Hunter Henry winning the Mackey Award for being the nation's best tight end last season.
"They had the best tight end in the country last year, too, so that also appeals to me," McKitty said. "I liked how they used both guys [Jeremy] Sprinkle and Hunter Henry."
McKitty, who has a 3.2 grade-point average, is thinking about majoring in aviation. His field of study tops the list of wants in a college along with relationships with coaches and how he will be used in the offense.
Little brother
It's rare for a freshman to receive a scholarship offer from a major college, but even more so to have multiple offers such as safety Brian Williams, the brother of Arkansas sophomore running back Rawleigh Williams III.
Iowa was first to offer Williams on May 4, followed by Missouri and Colorado the same day. He has since added eight others from Power Five conference schools, including Southern Cal, Texas A&M, UCLA and Auburn.
"It's been crazy, just going into spring with nothing and not really thinking anything would come," Williams said.
Williams, 6-1, 190 pounds, of Dallas Bishop Dunne, started every game last season at the varsity level and recorded 45 tackles and 2 interceptions. He's appreciative of the offers, but he has been subdued compared to his parents, Rawleigh Williams Jr. and Kim.
"They were bouncing off the walls," Williams said of his first three offers. "Everybody was really excited and happy for me. My brother was happier than me. He just said he's proud of me."
He's hoping to attend a summer camp in Fayetteville but hasn't decided on which one yet.
Williams and his parents plans to visit Texas A&M today, and Iowa and Missouri later in the summer. Because of his brother, he's been able to experience Arkansas firsthand.
"Arkansas is a great place," Williams said. "It's a family atmosphere. My brother has been treated very well up there and he loves it."
Williams wasn't able to accompany his parents when his brother hurt his neck against Auburn. He watched the game at a friend's house because Bishop Dunne played that night.
Doctors cleared his brother for spring practice, but Coach Bret Bielema withheld him from contact.
"He could have let my brother go through contact in spring just to see if he is ready to go, but Coach B decided to protect Rawleigh by not letting him go full contact even though he was able to," Williams said. "That proves how much Coach B values the well-being of his players."
Email Richard Davenport at
rdavenport@arkansasonline.com
Sports on 06/03/2016