Bielema treks to Utah, eyeing defensive standout
Arkansas doesn’t normally pursue football talent in Utah, but linebacker-defensive end Porter Gustin isn’t your typical prospect.
Gustin’s parents, John and Scarlett, were outstanding athletes in high school and college. John was a quarterback at Wyoming in 1991-1994, when current UA offensive coordinator Jim Chaney was on the staff. John Gustin still holds the mark for the Cowboys’ sixth best single-game passing performance, 427 yards against New Mexico in 1994. He threw for 2,757 yards and 17 touchdowns for the season.
His mother was a high school All-American in basketball and a two-time all-conference performer at Brigham Young and Wyoming.
Arkansas Coach Bret Bielema and defensive coordinator Robb Smith visited with Gustin and his parents Thursday in hopes of landing an official visit.
“We definitely appreciate Coach B’s sacrifice to come all the way out here and put that investment into Porter, we like it,” John Gustin said. “We really like him a lot, he’s a great guy. My wife thinks very highly of him.”
Porter Gustin, 6-4, 238 pounds, 4.63 seconds in the 40-yard dash, of Salem (Utah) Salem Hills, has scholarship offers from approximately 35 schools, including Arkansas, Oregon, Notre Dame, Southern Cal, Ohio State, Arizona State and Florida State.
Gustin recorded an electronic time of 4.63 seconds in the 40 during The Opening, the prestigious summer event held at Nike Headquarters in Beaverton, Ore., that features the nation’s top 162 prospects.
Gustin is also a standout in basketball, baseball and track and field. He averages 25.5 points and 13.3 rebounds per game in basketball. He has some major-league baseball teams interested in his mid-90s fastball. He placed fourth in the state in the javelin during the spring in his first year of the event.
Bielema and Smith watched Gustin’s basketball practice for about an hour before meeting with the family.
“We were able to grab Porter and go into the coach’s office and sit down and have a good 45-minute talk or so about the program,” John Gustin said.
ESPN rates Gustin the No. 8 athlete and the nation’s No. 129 overall prospect. At quarterback, he completed 212 of 349 passes for 2,864 yards and 22 touchdown while running 92 times for 891 yards and 10 touchdowns this season.
Gustin also recorded 152 tackles, 29 tackles for loss, 10.5 sacks, 16 quarterback hurries, 2 interceptions and 2 pass breakups.
He’s one of six national finalists for the U.S. Army Player of the Year.
It was Bielema’s second trip to Salem Hills. He visited with John Gustin, a volunteer coach at the school, on Nov. 3 during the Hogs’ second bye week.
This time, Arkansas’ backto-back shutouts of LSU and Ole Miss, and the Hogs’ defensive scheme were discussed.
“That stood out, just about defensive strategy and Porter and his ability in a scheme like that to put pressure on the quarterback,” John Gustin said, “and just a little bit of how he could work into the system and what direction they’re headed and what they’re building towards.”
There was talk about Fayetteville, academics and the number of prospects enrolling at Arkansas in January in addition to football.
“We talked of the importance of schooling and getting an education and focusing on that,” John Gustin said. “He talked a little bit more of just the environment out there.”
John Gustin said the chance to hear from Smith was much appreciated.
“That stood out because you’re hearing from the guy behind the defense,” Gustin said.
The Gustins learned about defensive line commitment Hjalte Froholdt, who’s from Denmark, and how Froholdt’s mother felt her son would be well taken care of while in Fayetteville.
“That’s important when you turn your son over to somebody,” John Gustin said. “You want to have all the confidence in the world that they’re going to go there and four, five years later be a better man, and he [Bielema] definitely exudes that confidence in us.”
Porter Gustin has officially visited Notre Dame. He was to visit Southern Cal this weekend, but canceled due to an illness.
He plans to reschedule the Trojans visit for January. He’ll take an official visit to Arizona State next weekend. The Razorbacks are in contention for one of Gustin’s two remaining visits, along with Ohio State, Oregon, LSU and maybe Florida State.
Bielema has done well to get Arkansas in the mix despite the Hogs being one of the later teams to offer Gustin.
“He made a big impact on Porter to move up into that group that he’s really considering right now,” John Gustin said. “So he’s done a great job obviously behind the scenes and Twitter or whatever. They’ve developed a good relationship.”
Email Richard Davenport at rdavenport@arkansasonline.com