Hogs work hard to gain DE’s attention
Relentless recruiting by University of Arkansas defensive tackles coach John Scott Jr. is the main reason why defensive end Dante Walker is planning to make an official visit to Fayetteville this weekend.
“Coach Scott has been consistent and that’s really what I’m basing it off of, consistency and I just really want to see how it is down there,” Walker said.
Walker, 6-3, 240 pounds, of Ellenwood (Ga.) Cedar Grove, has an impressive list of scholarship offers, including ones from Arkansas, Auburn, LSU, South Carolina, Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia, North Carolina and numerous others.
“I’m looking for a home, really,” Walker said of his Arkansas trip. “Like a good environment … a great energy environment.”
He said Scott is selling immediate playing time and a chance to help elevate the Razorbacks program.
“Just playing early, really,” Walker said. “Help him try and build a great program.”
ESPN rates Walker a 4-star prospect, the No. 31 defensive end and No. 263 overall prospect in the nation for the 2019 class.
Walker, who calls Scott a great coach with high energy, recorded 69 tackles, 23 tackles for loss, 9 sacks, 8 quarterback hurries, 3 forced fumbles and 1 recovered fumble for the Class 5A Raiders as a junior.
His physicality, along with a quick first step and high motor, gives offensive linemen fits.
“I feel like I’m one of the best pass rushers in the nation,” Walker said.
Walker made an unofficial visit to LSU last weekend. His trip to Arkansas will be his first official visit, while trips to Tennessee and South Carolina are possible after the season.
As a sophomore, Walker had more than 20 scholarship offers. He started his search for his college destination close to home.
“At first, I would got to the local schools like [Georgia], like the closest schools,” he said. “Nothing too far and then as I got older the recruiters that stayed consistent and was still there, that’s who focused on.”
The Hogs are one of five schools Walker is focusing on.
“Right now, it’s consistent battle like Arkansas, Tennessee, Auburn, South Carolina and LSU,” he said.
Walker is one of nine prospects making official visits to Arkansas this weekend.
Offensive lineman Tim Anderson, 6-5, 285, of Saddleback College in California; defensive end commitment Eric Gregory, 6-3, 270, 4.7 seconds in the 40-yard dash, of IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla.; defensive lineman Taurean Carter, 6-3, 265, of Mansfield (Texas) Legacy; safety Jalen Catalon, 5-10, 180 of Mansfield Legacy; running back commitment A’Montae Spivey, 6-0, 207, 4.4 Phenix City (Ala.) Central; defensive end commitment Zach Williams, 6-4, 230, 4.57 ,of Joe T. Robinson; defensive line commitment Enoch Jackson, 6-0, 290, of Mansfield Legacy; and cornerback commit Adonis Otey, 6-0, 170, of Murfreesboro (Tenn.) Blackman, round out the list of visitors.
THE RIGHT WAY
Murfreesboro (Tenn.) Blackman Coach Kit Hartsfield praised Arkansas Coach Chad Morris and his staff for their ways in recruiting while landing receiver Trey Knox on Monday.
Knox, 6-4, 210, chose the Razorbacks over scholarship offers from Tennessee, Auburn, Florida, Ohio State, Clemson, Penn State, LSU, Notre Dame, Stanford and others. ESPN rates him a 4-star recruit, No. 41 wide receiver and No. 272 overall prospect in the nation.
He joins his teammate, cornerback Adonis Otey, as a commitment to the Hogs. Otey, an ESPN 4-star prospect, committed to Arkansas on Aug. 1.. He’s making his official visit to Fayetteville this weekend.
Morris, offensive coordinator Joe Craddock, defensive coordinator John Chavis and receivers coach Justin Stepp left no stone unturned when pursuing Knox and Otey.
“Arkansas was relentless in recruiting Trey and Adonis,” Hartsfield said. “Coach Morris, Craddock, Stepp and Chavis were all building relationships since the day they were hired. They worked really hard, and they do things the right way. They weren’t going go down without swinging.”