FORDYCE -- A month ago, Billy Ferrell said he envisioned himself continuing his football career at the University of Memphis.
Instead, Fordyce's gifted senior defensive lineman fulfilled his dream by signing with the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville during a brief ceremony before family, friends and classmates Wednesday afternoon at Redbug Arena.
Signing on the first day of the NCAA's new three-day early period for high school seniors completed a whirlwind three weeks for the 6-2, 330-pound Ferrell, whose stock soared in the fourth quarter of the recruiting game with recent reported scholarship offers from several high-profile programs.
Louisville offered Nov. 30, with Arkansas and perennial SEC champion Alabama following Dec. 7. Along with Alabama's offer came a visit from its defensive line coach, Karl Dunbar.
"It was just overwhelming," Ferrell said. "Everything just came up on me at one time. Like one day, Louisville came to school. Tuesday, UCLA came to school. Wednesday, Coach Dunbar called me from Alabama and Thursday he came to the school. Same day, that Thursday, Arkansas had offered me. That Saturday, Wisconsin had offered me. Everything just came in like, 'Bam!' "
Ferrell had held a scholarship offer from Memphis since June, but called Arkansas his "dream school" and announced his commitment via social media Sunday following an official visit to Fayetteville over the weekend.
Ferrell had been originally scheduled to visit UCLA.
"I knew where I was going," said Ferrell, whose father, Bill, was a standout running back at Bearden before playing at the University of Arkansas-Monticello in the early 1990s. "I had my mind set a long time ago."
He just needed to hear the sales pitch from new Razorbacks Coach Chad Morris during an in-home visit Dec. 13.
Ferrell hadn't been offered by former Arkansas Coach Bret Bielema, but assistant Barry Lunney Jr. had been recruiting the tight end/defensive end/running back for several years.
Lunney, the Razorbacks' primary in-state recruiter, was retained by Morris and instrumental in Ferrell's signing, Redbugs Coach Tim Rodgers said.
"Better give him the credit," Rodgers said. "He was the one who kept in contact with Billy. He brought Coach Morris and [a] couple of other coaches down here. It was good to have a contact."
Ferrell said he was recruited to play nose guard at Arkansas. Rodgers said the Razorbacks are getting a player with outstanding speed for his size.
Ferrell had 63 tackles, including 8 for loss, and rushed 29 times for 136 yards and 3 touchdowns in the fall for the Class 3A Redbugs.
Ferrell normally wore No. 30 at Fordyce "because that was biggest jersey we had," Rodgers said. "It was a back number."
"You look at his highlight film in 10th grade, he would chase running backs down from across the field," Rodgers said. "He can really run."
Sports on 12/21/2017