Virtual visit turns 4-star DT’s eyes to Arkansas
University of Arkansas football Coach Sam Pittman and staff hosted numerous prospects for virtual visits on Feb. 3, and one of the nation’s top defensive lineman is planning to make a trip to Fayetteville be- cause of what he learned virtually.
Andrew Maddox, 6-4 and 275 pounds, of Hattiesburg (Miss.) Oak Grove, is a consensus 4-star prospect in the class of 2025 and is rated the No. 2 defensive tackle in the nation by Rivals and the No. 29 overall recruit.
“Man, I was very impressed with what I saw [with] the facilities, the food choices. The dorms are real nice,” Maddox said. “I thought Texas A&M was nice but when I saw Arkansas’ dorms, I was like, ‘Man, this is a whole another level.’ I really love everything about it and I can’t wait to get up there. I’ll try and figure a way to get up there soon and see everybody and see everything. It’s a nice setup they do with the virtual meeting. I enjoyed it.”
Pittman and Arkansas defensive line coach Deke Adams visited Maddox’s school on Jan. 31.
“I enjoyed them,” Maddox said. “I really appreciate them and I’m glad they show me the attention I need.”
Arkansas, Ole Miss, LSU, Alabama, Texas A&M, Auburn, Tennessee, South Carolina, Florida State, Texas are some of the more than 30 scholarship offers Maddox has accumulated.
Maddox’s relationship with Adams, a native of Meridian, Miss., appears strong.
“I love Coach Adams,” Maddox said. “He’s a different type person. He’s somebody you get along with, great personality. You can talk to him about anything.”
He recorded 99 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, a pass breakup and a forced fumble as a junior last season. Maddox had 64 tackles, 8 tackles for loss and 4 sacks as a sophomore.
His brother, quarterback Anthony Maddox, was committed to Texas A&M and current Arkansas offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino for the 2024 class, but the firing of Jimbo Fisher as the Aggies’ head coach eventually led him to sign with Ole Miss.
The virtual visit rekindled the younger Maddox’s previous relationships with Petrino and Razorback co-defensive coordinator Marcus Woodson, who he had met when Woodson was at assistant at Florida State. Woodson is also a Mississippi native.
“They talked a little bit about … Petrino [because] came from Texas A&M, so I remember him,” Maddox said. “Me and Petrino, I have a connection because my brother … that’s where he was first committed to, so he and I had that connection with each other. I know him and he knows me, and I know [Woodson]. We have a connection, too. So I know a couple of people up there.
“Yeah, everything about it, they just really let me know what it was. They told me the real. Some people will shoot you anything, but they let me know how they feel about me. They made me feel good and made me feel like that’s my home.”
Maddox also said he’s hoping to visit Arkansas in the spring and is planning to release his top 10 schools in about the same time frame.
“That’s why I’m going to these schools and visiting and trying to see if I like it or don’t like it,” Maddox said. “The pros and cons of the schools.”
Auburn, Florida, Mississippi State and Tennessee are some of the other schools he’s looking to visit in the spring.
Maddox, who has 4.0 grade-point average, said he is considering business as his major in college while looking to be an entrepreneur after his playing days are over.
“I plan on giving back to the community and everybody,” Maddox said.