Perception is perhaps one of the hardest obstacles to overcome when it comes to recruiting out-of-state athletes to Arkansas. Once on campus, prospects are usually surprised -- sometimes shocked -- by what they see.
Linebacker Thomas Johnston might be the latter after visiting the Razorbacks on Thursday and Friday.
"It wasn't what I expected," Johnston said. "It was a whole lot better. The way I thought of Arkansas, I thought it would be in a field in the country. When I stepped on campus, I realized it was something special."
Johnston, 6-2, 220, 4.78 seconds in the 40-yard dash, of Spanish Fort (Ala.) High School has 18 scholarship offers from schools such as Arkansas, Auburn, Clemson, Oregon, Iowa, LSU, Louisville and North Carolina State.
"The facilities are unreal," he said. "The new football facility is probably the top one in the country, up there with 'Bama. I didn't expect anything like that. I was like wow."
He said Arkansas was definitely one of his top schools.
"I am going to take my official for the Ole Miss game," Johnston said. "That's the next trip although I might ride up with a couple of buddies earlier. I am trying to bring some 'Bama boys to show what it is like over here. I love it here."
Johnston, rated the No. 18 inside linebacker in the nation by ESPN, started 10 varsity games as an eighth-grader and has 477 career tackles. He needs 147 tackles to set a new career mark in Alabama.
His father, Tyler, and Dean Peavey, who played defensive back at Arkansas from 1990-1994, have been friends for 33 years. Peavey, who joined Johnston and his father on the trip, was impressed with Coach Bret Bielema.
"I tell you what sets us apart, too, is Coach Bielema," Peavey said "You can talk to him for five minutes and can tell you would want your son to go play for him and you would want to play for him. He is a straight shooter, no nonsense, just a real guy."
Peavey also praised defensive line coach Rory Segrest, who's Johnston's lead recruiter.
"Coach Segrest is doing a great job of recruiting Thomas," Peavey said.
RB could visit
Arkansas could get a visit from running back Devan Barrett, one of the nation's better prospects, after Barrett told running backs coach Reggie Mitchell he and his father would be interested in visiting.
"I told him I was going to ask my dad because we have quite a few trips planned right now, but I told him I was definitely going to ask my dad," Barrett said.
Barrett, 6-1, 190 pounds, of Tampa (Fla.) Catholic, has 41 scholarship offers from schools such as Arkansas, Alabama, Florida, Florida State, Ohio State, Tennessee and Southern Cal. ESPN rates him the No. 24 athlete and No. 294 overall prospect in the nation.
"What brings my eye towards Arkansas, they put people in the [NFL]," Barrett said. "They put running backs in the league. That's what I'm looking for when I commit and sign. They're going to get me where I want to be."
Barrett rushed 187 times for 1,891 yards and 21 touchdowns during his junior season, which included nine 100- yard games. He was expected to visit North Carolina on Monday followed by Auburn, Tennessee and Florida State.
Coaches who show "how much interest they have in me is how much interest they're going to get back from me," he said. "I look to who talks to me the most, what schools talk to me the most. That's kind of how I sort it out."
Barrett, who wants to go into coaching, plans to narrow his list during the summer.
Guard not disappointed
Overland Park (Kan.) Blue Valley Northwest basketball guard Darien Jackson made an unofficial visit to Arkansas on Monday and didn't go away disappointed.
"I had a great visit," Jackson said. "They have great facilities, and I really liked being around the coaches and the players."
Jackson, 6-2, 175 pounds, has scholarship offers from Kansas State, Tulsa, Texas-El Paso, Weber State, Stephen F. Austin and Illinois State. Nebraska and Creighton are also showing interest.
"I am looking for a place close to home," Jackson said. "Arkansas is just three hours away, and I plan on coming back down there a few times. They said they are going to be keeping up with me and hopefully I will get an offer later."
He has averaged 12 points a game in a spring and summer amateur league this year.
"They have a lot of athleticism and a lot of talent," Jackson said. "You can tell they are going to be really good."
Email Richard Davenport at
rdavenport@arkansasonline.com
Sports on 06/19/2016