Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Hogs’ coach goes home with eye on DL prospect
THE RECRUITING GUY
Arkansas Razorbacks defensive line coach John Scott Jr., a Greer, S.C., native, is back in the region and is trying to lure highly recruited defensive lineman Alim McNeill to Fayetteville.
McNeill, 6-2, 270 pounds of Raleigh (N.C.) Sanderson, has 32 scholarship offers from Arkansas, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia Tech, Florida, Clemson, Florida State, Michigan and others. He said he and Scott talk about every other day.
“We’re really talking about coming down and visiting,” McNeill said.
The last time the Hogs signed a North Carolina prospect is when former All- SEC defensive end Chris Smith inked with the Razorbacks in 2010. He was a fifth- round draft pick of the Jacksonville Jaguars in the 2014 NFL Draft and was recently traded to the Cincinnati Bengals.
McNeill said he plans to go on a tour of several schools this summer and a visit to Fayetteville is likely.
“This summer I’m going to be going to just about everywhere and Arkansas is definitely going to be a place,” McNeill said.
He’s looking forward to putting a face with a name when he visits the Hogs and talks to Scott. McNeill said the two have a good relationship because of frequent telephone conversations.
Having 32 offers and communicating with so many college coaches can be a challenge, he said.
“It’s really hard sometimes,” McNeill said. “A coach will ask if he could call and I have to schedule it another day later because I already have a coach calling that night,” McNeill said.
He plans to reduce his list of schools in the near future, saying he will pare that list down to 10 or 12 schools in the next month or so before making any campus visits.
McNeill recorded 84 tackles (18 for loss), 6 sacks, an interception, 2 forced fumbles, 2 recovered fumbles and a pass deflection as a junior. He also has impressive weight room numbers with a 350- pound bench press, a 450- pound squat and a 285-pound power clean.
He has a 3.0 grade point average and is considering physical therapy as his major.
Relationships will be key when he makes his college decision in December, pointing to relationships with coaches and how he fits the environment.
RECEIVES UA OFFER
Running back A.J. Carter received his long- awaited scholarship offer from the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville recently.
Carter, 6-1, 225, 4.57 seconds in the 40-yard dash, of Many, La., had 17 previous offers from UCLA, Arizona State, Mississippi State, Missouri, Texas Tech, Boston College and others. His stock rose after he rushed for 2,090 yards and 35 touchdowns on 224 carries as a junior.
He n ow has plans to visit Fayetteville for Saturday’s Red
White game.
“The beginning of my 10th grade year, I always liked Arkansas,” Carter said. “Then I had the breakout year as a junior and I told my running backs coach I wanted to get an offer from them. He said it’s coming; all you have to do is have a good year and it will come. That what I did.”
The Hogs’ physical style of play is a match for his skills.
“They fit my play style,” Carter said. “They run the ball downhill.”
Carter runs legs on the 400- and 800-meter relays, and has recorded 11.01 seconds in the 100 meters. He lists UCLA, Arkansas, Arizona, Mississippi State, Texas Tech and Louisiana Tech as his top schools.
He was to visit UCLA on Saturday and also plans to visit Arizona State, Texas Tech, Mississippi State and probably LSU with an eye on making his college decision this summer before his senior season.
Email Richard Davenport at rdavenport@arkansasonline.com