Arkansas lands oral commitment from 3-star-plus offensive lineman Devon Manuel.
The University of Arkansas has been in the lead for offensive lineman Devon Manuel since his March 7 visit to Fayetteville, and on Tuesday he orally committed to the Razorbacks.
Manuel said his relationship with Arkansas offensive line coach Brad
Davis was a big part of his decision.
“Ever since they offered me, he’s [texted] me every single day since,” Manuel said. “Recruiting me hard and letting me know how he would care about me and how much he would take care of me and with that, that’s all I needed and all I wanted.”
Manuel, 6-8, 315 pounds, of Arnaudville (La.) Beau Chene High School, picked the Razorbacks over scholarship offers from Michigan State, Indiana, Iowa State, Houston, Kansas, Central Florida, Louisiana Tech and others.
He also said he believes he will get great coaching and care under Davis and Coach Sam Pittman.
“I know Coach Davis and Coach Pittman are great offensive line coaches,” Manuel said. “I wanted to go somewhere that I would be taken care of and I would have a family atmosphere. Since Day One, Arkansas shows me that’s where all of that is. It was really a no-brainer.”
National recruiting analyst Tom Lemming of CBS Sports Network said Manuel is a 3-star-plus prospect with big upside.
“Interesting kid, very tall, pretty athletic,” Lemming said. “He can bend his knees and he’s a natural athlete, but still right now a 3-star-plus guy with 4- or even 5-star potential. He needs to be developed, but you cannot overlook his size.”
Manuel averaged 4.6 points, 7.1 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game for his school’s basketball team this season. He said Davis wants him to play left tackle in Fayetteville.
“Of course, I still need to be developed. [Davis] sees me as a dominant left tackle in the SEC,” Manuel said. “That’s the highest and biggest competition in college football.”
The other Arkansas commitments have made Manuel feel at home, he said.
“They added me to a group chat about three weeks ago,” Manuel said. “That was another plus. It just showed how other teammates were just making an effort to create a brotherhood over there.”
Manuel’s mother was unable to make the March trip to Fayetteville and is anxious to see what everything her son has raved about.
“She wants to see what all the hype is about,” he said.
Manuel, who bench pressed 325 pounds, squatted 565 and power-cleaned 305 last summer, also received interest from LSU, Baylor, Ole Miss and Auburn.
He becomes Arkansas’ 12th commitment for the 2021 class. Oral commitments are nonbinding.