The Recruiting Guy

Goodrich ready to see what Hogs have

An Arkansas Razorback helmet at Chad Morris introductory press conference Thursday, Dec. 7, 2017.
An Arkansas Razorback helmet at Chad Morris introductory press conference Thursday, Dec. 7, 2017.

A recent scholarship offer and having a former Razorback as a coach has cornerback Mario Goodrich interested in making an official visit to check out the football program at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville.

Goodrich and Mark Smith, who was the recruiting coordinator for Razorbacks Coach Chad Morris when he was at SMU, have been communicating about when the Hogs will see him after the dead period ends Jan. 11.

"He said they have meetings this week and he's going to let me know when they're going to come up and see me," Goodrich said.

Goodrich, 6-2, 180 pounds, 4.4 seconds in the 40-yard dash, of Lee's Summit (Mo.) West, has more than 20 other scholarship offers, including ones from Oregon, Georgia, Florida, Michigan, Missouri, Kansas State, Nebraska, Iowa and Ole Miss.

He said Smith has been able to grab his attention.

"Basically, I can come in and start," said Goodrich, who plays guard on the school's basketball team. "It's another school that's not too far away from home, so I want to keep that in my options. Basically it's a new staff ... and they need corners really."

Goodrich also said Smith makes him feel wanted in Fayetteville.

"He's been hitting me up on a daily basis and seeing how I am and see what he needs to do to get me down there," Goodrich said.

Lee's Summit West defensive line coach Limbo Parks, an All- Southwest Conference offensive guard for Arkansas in 1985, is happy the Hogs offered a scholarship to Goodrich.

"He said he's glad they're looking at me because we had some players they didn't offer with the old coaching staff," Goodrich said. "He wants me to take the visit for sure because I would probably like it there."

Goodrich committed to Nebraska in May and reopened his recruiting Dec. 2 after Mike Riley was fired as the Huskers' coach.

He has officials visits set for LSU, Georgia, Ole Miss and Florida in January, but he's talking to his parents about visiting the Hogs.

"I have a couple of slots that I'm thinking about switching around," said Goodrich, who officially visited Nebraska earlier.

ESPN rates Goodrich as a 4-star prospect, the No. 19 cornerback and No. 146 overall prospect in the nation. He recorded 49 tackles, 41/2 tackles for loss, 15 pass breakups and an interception this season.

PG picks Arkansas

Arkansas women's basketball coach Mike Neighbors received his third oral commitment for the 2019 class when point guard Makayla Daniels pledged Dec. 29.

Daniels, 5-6, of Frederick, Md., chose the Razorbacks over scholarship offers from Iowa, Iowa State, Texas Tech, Marshall, Richmond, St. Joseph's and Delaware.

She visited Iowa, Iowa State, Marshall, Richmond, Texas Tech and St. Joseph's prior to attending a summer camp in Fayetteville and visiting the Razorbacks in November.

"I picked Arkansas because when I was on campus, it was like home away from home," said Daniels, who also said most of her father's family lives in Oklahoma. "I really like the coaching staff, and I could see myself playing there and I couldn't really see myself playing at the other schools I visited. It was kind of near a lot of my family."

Neighbors' visibility during her visits helped seal the deal, she said.

"Most of the schools, when you're on a visit, you don't see the head coach as much," Daniels said. "But we saw Coach Neighbors a lot."

Daniels, who's a 31/2 star recruit by ProspectsNation.com, led her school to the 3A state championship as a sophomore by scoring 47 points in the championship game -- the third highest for a Maryland girls basketball state tournament game. She also had the highest-ever point total for the semifinals and finals of a state tournament with 76 points.

While she's more than capable of scoring, Daniels enjoys being a defensive stopper.

"I like defense a lot more than I like offense," she said. "I like beating up on people."

Center Destinee Oberg, 6-2, of Burnsville (Minn.) Academy of Holy Angels and wing Ginger Reece, 5-10, of Lawton (Okla.) Eisenhower pledged earlier to Neighbors and his staff.

ProspectsNation.com rates Oberg as the No. 4 post and No. 26 prospect, while Reece is the No. 16 wing and No. 64 prospect in the nation.

Email Richard Davenport atrdavenport@arkansasonline.com

Sports on 01/07/2018

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