LB considering UA
Arkansas fans startled linebacker Kendrick Jackson with their knowledge of him during his official visit to Fayetteville over the weekend. Jackson, 6-0, 240 pounds, of Haynesville, La., has scholarship offers from Arkansas, Louisville, Tulsa, Memphis, Louisiana Tech and other, and was committed to Arizona prior to the trip but said afterward that’s not the case anymore.
Arkansas fans startled linebacker Kendrick Jackson with their knowledge of him during his official visit to Fayetteville over the weekend
“It makes me really feel at home,” Jackson said.
Jackson, 6-0, 240 pounds, 4.8 seconds in the 40-yard dash, of Haynesville, La., was committed to Arizona prior to the trip, but he said afterwards that’s not the case.
“I’m going to reopen my recruitment,” said Jackson, who was accompanied on the trip by his mother and younger sister. “I’m not with Arizona anymore.”
He was hosted by linebacker Dwayne Eugene, another Louisiana product.
“He was telling me about how he had the opportunity to come up here and it was a good fit for him,” Jackson said.
Jackson, who has scholarship offers from Arkansas, Louisville, Tulsa, Memphis, Louisiana Tech, Hawaii and others, recorded 118 tackles and 34 tackles for losses as a senior and 121 tackles, including 27 for losses, as a junior.
He could make a decision today.
“I’ll talk to my mom and my brothers and narrow it down,” Jackson said.
Jackson is a four-sport athlete that also participates in basketball, track and field and baseball. He and Arkansas Coach Bret Bielema talked about his chance to come and in play right away.
“That I can come in and make an impact on this team,” Jackson said.
NICE FIT
Safety Brandon Scott gave his official visit to Arkansas over the weekend a thumbs up and talked about the highlights.
“The community, the fans, the players,” Scott said.
Scott, 6-0, 190, of Destrehan, La., reports having 25 scholarship offers, including ones from Arkansas, Central Florida, Nebraska, Iowa, Arizona State, Kentucky and Minnesota.
He spent time with Arkansas defensive backs Henre Toliver, Rohan Gaines, Santos Ramirez and Josh Liddell.
“Their personalities, it fits mine,” Scott said. “They want to play the next few years, that is how I want to play for the next few years. That is how I want to develop as a player.”
He recorded 65 tackles and 3 interceptions as a senior and 39 tackles, 6 interceptions, 4 pass breakups and 2 forced fumbles as a junior.
Scott and Kendrick Jackson went to dinner together Saturday night, and Scott said he was impressed with the Razorbacks fans base.
“It was crazy,” Scott said. “I was pretty shocked.”
Scott also said his lead recruiters, Arkansas receivers coach Michael Smith and defensive backs coach Clay Jennings, were recruiting him hard during the visit.
“Coach Smith and Coach Jennings, they have been on me since I got here,” Scott said. “I like them a lot.”
Scott said he will decide between Arkansas and Central Florida.
READY TO CALL
Receiver Dominique Reed, 6-3, 185, 4.36 of Coffeyville (Kan.) Community College, said he’ll probably tell the school of his choice at 10 a.m. Wednesday and later announce it on Twitter. He officially visited Auburn over the weekend.
He will chose from Arkansas, Arizona State, Texas and Auburn. He also visited his other three finalists.
Reed played at Camden Fairview before going to junior college.
K.J. KNOWS?
North Little Rock receiver K.J. Hill will sign with his school of choice at 9 a.m. Wednesday. The former Arkansas commitment has narrowed his list to Ohio State, Alabama or Arkansas. The Buckeyes or the Crimson Tide appear to be his likely destination.
NO, NICK
Arkansas 2016 receiver commitment Jordan Jones thought about visiting Alabama over the weekend after Coach Nick Saban visited his school last Wednesday.
That changed after Arkansas Coach Bret Bielema, offensive coordinator Dan Enos and tight ends coach Barry Lunney Jr. visited the school Friday.
“It was just a decision that me and my family made,” Jones said.
Jones, 6-3, 180, of Youngstown (Ohio) Cardinal Mooney, has the burst off the line and top-end speed to help the Razorbacks stretch the field. He startled the Arkansas coaches when he was timed at 4.34 seconds in the 40-yard dash during a camp last summer.
Bielema and Arkansas receivers coach Michael Smith were key in his pledge to the Hogs, Jones said.
“I just connected with the coaches,” he said. “I like Coach Smith. He feels like a father figure to me. Like I said before about Coach Bielema, it’s not just about football with him or just playing on Saturday’s. It’s more than that. That’s why I’m pretty big on them.”
Jones and his father Adrion plan to visit Fayetteville this weekend and watch the Arkansas basketball game against Mississippi State at Walton Arena.
During the recruiting process, Jones has gotten to know Razorbacks receiver Jared Cornelius, and he said he plans to hang out with Cornelius on the trip.
“The first time we met, we kind of connected,” Jones said. “We’ve been texting and hanging out since then.”
E-mail Richard Davenport at rdavenport@arkansasonline.com