FAYETTEVILLE -- Arkansas is one of the few schools that figures to give LSU defensive end commitment Justin Thomas and linebacker Thomas Johnston an opportunity to play at the same school.
Thomas, 6-5, 265 pounds, and Johnston, 6-2, 220, 4.78 seconds in the 40-yard dash, both of Spanish Fort (Ala.) High School, arrived in Fayetteville shortly before noon Friday for official visits and will leave today.
The two are best friends and have discussed playing together in college.
"It's very exciting," Thomas said. "It's a dream. Everyone wishes to play in college with their best friend."
Thomas has scholarship offers from Arkansas, Alabama, LSU, Nebraska, Tennessee, Iowa State, South Carolina and others. Johnston said he was happy his good friend could join him on the trip to Arkansas.
"I'm glad Justin can experience it with me," Johnston said.
Johnston has scholarship offers from Arkansas, Michigan State, Arizona State, Auburn, Clemson, Oregon, Iowa, LSU, Louisville, North Carolina State and others. He visited Arkansas in June, and he immediately scheduled this weekend's official visit.
Johnston said he is fond of Arkansas Coach Bret Bielema and also likes the chance for playing time for he and Thomas.
"He's a straight shooter," Johnston said of Bielema. "There's opportunity all over the field for us."
Thomas committed to LSU in August when Les Miles was the head coach. Miles was fired Sept. 25.
"I'm waiting to see who they get as a coach," Thomas said. "That's basically what I'm waiting on."
He said he plans to officially visit LSU and Alabama.
"That's it for right now," Thomas said. "I don't know of any others."
On Thursday night, Spanish Fort defeated Saraland, Ala., in a game televised on ESPN2.
"I really liked it, playing on national TV," Thomas said. "A bunch of kids don't get that."
Badger swipe?
Arkansas Coach Bret Bielema is trying to lure junior safety Reggie Pearson Jr. away from Wisconsin, where he previously coached.
Pearson, 5-11, 185, 4.50, of River Rouge, Mich., committed to the Badgers in August. The Hogs extended a scholarship offer to him in early September.
On Sept. 1, the first day college coaches could contact junior prospects, Bielema reached out to him.
"He was like the first coach that communicated with me the first day recruiting started for juniors," Pearson said. "It showed me the dedication they have for recruiting players. He was just saying, 'We're really interested and we like how you play.' Then he pointed out he was the only head coach to communicate with me that day, and I told him he was right."
Pearson, who recorded 77 tackles and 2 interceptions as a sophomore, has 11 scholarship offers, including ones from Arkansas, Wisconsin, Iowa State and Syracuse.
"I'm really interested in [Arkansas]," he said. "He [Bielema] told me he likes how I play the game and how I communicate on the field and I'm also good off the field. It showed me how Arkansas football is."
After talking to his parents, Pearson said he'll likely attend an Arkansas game this season. He has a 4.0 grade-point average and is looking to major in mechanical engineering.
The SEC is a big draw for Pearson, he said.
"SEC football is very, very attractive to anybody in the Midwest or anywhere all over the country," Pearson said. "It's a competitive conference and that what I like to do is compete."
Page turns
Pulaski Robinson junior athlete Nathan Page continues to show why he's one of the best in-state prospects in his class.
He had 2 carries for 31 yards, 6 receptions for 64 yards and a touchdown in a 35-31 victory over Malvern on Friday night. He also had an 80-yard kickoff return for touchdown and made six tackles on defense as a defensive back.
For the season, he has 30 receptions for 878 yards and 13 touchdowns. On defense, he has 36 tackles, 2 interceptions and 4 pass breakups.
He's returned 6 punts for 209 yards and a touchdown.
E-mail Richard Davenport at
rdavenport@arkansasonline.com
Sports on 10/16/2016