One of the nation's top junior defensive backs, Isaac Thompson, will visit the Fayetteville area Wednesday before announcing his college decision Friday.
Thompson, 6-1, 192 pounds, of St. Louis University High School is an ESPN 4-star prospect, the No. 20 safety and No. 245 overall recruit for the 2022 class.
He and his father, Hickey, visited the University of Arkansas on Feb. 1. The NCAA announced a dead period on March 13 that forbids face-to-face contact with college coaches on or off campus because of the coronavirus pandemic.
They will scout out the area and campus on this trip.
"The first time I was there it was mainly for the recruiting aspect and around the football facility, but I'm really interested in getting around the campus, getting a feel for the campus," Thompson said. "How big is it? How small is it?"
Thompson will decide from among Arkansas, Missouri, Texas, Michigan, Florida and Penn State. He recently visited the Michigan campus and the Ann Arbor area while about 20 Wolverine commitments and targets were also in town.
"I liked it a lot. It was a really cool school," Thompson said of his only visit to Michigan. "I loved it. I got to hang out with all the guys and just see the campus, and I think that really helped me to be able to see the campus and the school aspect of the university, and that's why I want to go to Arkansas."
He's been talking to Coach Sam Pittman, cornerbacks coach Sam Carter and defensive coordinator Barry Odom. Carter and Odom recruited him while at Missouri.
"They've all been huge to my recruitment as soon as they got to the University of Arkansas," Thompson said. "Just staying in contact with coach Odom and coach Carter with their defense doing so great this year. I think we could do big things if I went there under coach Odom and coach Carter."
It's the relationships with Odom and Carter that's drawing him to Arkansas again.
"Coach Odom was the first to recruit me, and he's always stuck by me and always been the lead recruiter since my freshman year, the first time I stepped on campus at my school," Thompson said. "He's always been a huge recruiter for me even when he was at Mizzou, and I have a really good relationship with coach Carter. I started talking to him a lot when they got there after my sophomore year."
His father said Arkansas' facilities stood out to him during their first visit along with the fan base that flooded his son's Twitter account when he announced his offer from the Hogs.
"When Isaac first started getting offers and when he put it [Arkansas offer] out, I mean the Arkansas people were like all over it and I just couldn't believe it," Hickey Thompson said. "Then we came up there ... everyone just seemed so excited about the new staff."
Isaac Thompson has a check list of things that will help him determine his school choice.
"Just how comfortable I am at the school and the best opportunity for me to play at the school," he said. "I think I would have a great opportunity with coach Odom and coach Carter supporting me as soon as I get up there being their guy that they recruited since forever and getting a fair shake with Coach Pittman, which I know I would. Having standup coaches behind me preparing me for the next level and outside of football."
This week's visit will be for at least a day, maybe longer.
"We'll probably get down there and for sure stay 24 hours," said Hickey Thompson, who has also been in contact with the Arkansas coaches. "We may stay for a couple of days. Just depends on what the weather is like and what we have going back in St. Louis."
Several analysts have predicted Thompson to announce for Michigan.
"Those reporters and analysts are just reporters and analysts, and they go for their school all the time. Me doing a few interviews, I think they saw that I really liked it and that's where I announced my commitment [announcement] after visiting there," Isaac Thompson said. "So I think they kind of feel like I'm really leaning toward them, but I'm still really open in my recruitment. I'm not set on any school right now."
Email Richard Davenport at
rdavenport@arkansasonline.com
