The Recruiting Guy

Tennessee RB impressed with UA coaches

Arkansas assistant coach Jeff Traylor speaks Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2018, with members of the media in the Fred W. Smith Football Center on the university campus in Fayetteville.
Arkansas assistant coach Jeff Traylor speaks Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2018, with members of the media in the Fred W. Smith Football Center on the university campus in Fayetteville.

After meeting with Arkansas Razorbacks Coach Chad Morris and associate head coach and running backs coach Jeff Traylor on Sunday for Prospect Day, highly regarded running back Eric Gray is planning another visit to Fayetteville.

Gray, 5-10, 184 pounds, of Memphis Lausanne Collegiate School received a scholarship offer from Morris and Traylor during his visit to go along with offers from Texas A&M, Michigan, Ole Miss, Tennessee, Stanford and numerous others.

"I like Arkansas," Gray said. "I was very impressed with Coach Morris and Coach Traylor and how they sat down with just me and my dad and made sure that I knew I was a priority and that I fit in the system they're going to run."

ESPN rates Gray a 3-star prospect, No. 18 running back and No. 271 overall prospect in the nation. He rushed 323 times for 3,151 yards and set a Shelby-Metro record with 45 touchdowns this season and was named to the MaxPreps Junior All-American team.

Gray's rushing yards was the second highest for a single season in the county. Arkansas' facilities also impressed him.

"The facilities were amazing, from the weight room to the training rooms to the indoor facilities everything was great," Gray said.

The two-time Division II-AA Mr. Tennessee Titan Mr. Football, Gray rushed 230 times for 2,215 yards and 38 touchdowns as a sophomore after rushing for 322 yards, a touchdown as a freshman. He has chance to become the first ever three-time Mr. Football as a senior.

Gray was also named the Gatorade Tennessee Player of the Year for 2017. The trip to Fayetteville increased the Hogs' chances of landing Gray.

"Made it 10 times greater," Gray said. "I've never been down there before Sunday, but seeing the campus and meeting the coaches made the chances much higher."

Gray is already making plans to visit the Razorbacks again.

"Definitely in the spring," he said.

All football for Foucha

Razorbacks safety signee Joesph Foucha was set on playing basketball in college and hopefully beyond before his coach convinced him otherwise.

Foucha, 5-11, 190, was highly regarded point guard that played for the school and spring and summer basketball teams until New Orleans McDonogh 35 High School Coach Wayne Reese intervened.

"Half the time we didn't even see him," Reese said. "We didn't even know who he was."

Reese, 72 years old, completed his 44th year as head coach at McDonogh 35 this past season. He talked to Foucha and was able to get him to play football for the first time as a sophomore after years of playing basketball.

Part of his sell to Foucha was the lack of guards his size in the NBA.

"You don't realize the pressure that's put on those kids from those coaches," Reese said. "When the kids start off young with those coaches, they believe in those coaches and you have a hard time convincing those kids."

"I couldn't believe just looking at the kid, he's not even a basketball-built type kid, he's a football built type."

Foucha, who chose the Hogs over Ole Miss, Auburn, Florida State and others, recorded 68 tackles, 5 interceptions, 6 forced fumbles, 4 recovered fumbles, 15 pass breakups as a senior.

Reese said convincing Foucha his future was on the gridiron and not the hardwood wasn't that difficult because of his 50 years of coaching experience.

"It was no problem for me because I've had guys like Marshall Faulk and all those type of guys where I convinced them to play football instead of doing other things," Reese said.

Having a track record of producing athletes that have went on to play in the NFL helps along with his longevity.

"That's my lucky charm," Reese said. "I know how the kids are thinking and I know what they can do and what they can't do. Ninety-nine percent of the kids in the area, I know their parents or grandparents."

E-mail Richard Davenport at rdavenport@arkansasonline.com

Sports on 02/16/2018

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