Visit with the Razorbacks enhances offensive lineman’s interest.
University of Arkansas, Fayetteville offensive line target Jack Buford had a good amount of interest in the Hogs prior to his official visit over the weekend. The trip enhanced his opinion of the school.
“They’re not just bringing me in and it’s all business talk,” Buford said. “It’s not all football talk and that meant a lot to me. They’re doing a good job, so they’re up there. They’re definitely up there.”
Buford, 6-5, 325 pounds, of St. Louis Lutheran North received a scholarship offer from the Razorbacks on Jan. 9 and has more than 30 scholarship offers from Auburn, Oklahoma, Missouri, Oregon, Florida, Michigan, Texas, Ole Miss, Georgia and others.
The facilities, coaches, campus and mountains around Fayetteville impressed him.
“I really didn’t think it was going to be like this,” Buford said.
He liked Coach Chad Morris and the coaching staff’s energy and eagerness to win.
“They want to win, so you want to be around a team that wants to win, especially a team that plays in the SEC that wants to win,” Buford said.
Buford and offensive line coach Dustin Fry continue to build their relationship.
“I’d say we’re close,” Buford said. “This weekend definitely brought me, him, Coach Morris, my mom and my dad all closer to the Arkansas family.”
He plans to take his other four allotted official visits. Ones with Oklahoma and Missouri are in the works.
NOT GIVING UP
Junior outside linebacker Zach Zimos committed to California on April 28, but that hasn’t stopped the Hogs from extending a scholarship offer to him.
He was communicating with offensive analyst GJ Kinne in the days leading up to the offer he received during a FaceTime session with Coach
Chad Morris, defensive coordinator
John Chavis and safeties coach Ron
Cooper on Saturday.
“They were all super excited and happy to give me the opportunity to play for them,” Zimos said.
Zimos, 6-4, 215, 4.50 seconds in the 40-yard dash, of Richmond (Texas) Travis has nine other offers from schools such as California, Texas Tech, Boise State, Houston, SMU and Tulsa.
In nine games, Zimos recorded 56 tackles, 5 tackles for loss, a sack, 2 interceptions, 3 pass breakups, 2 recovered fumbles and a forced fumble as a junior. Morris joked that he’s relieved his son and quarterback Chandler of Highland Park High School in Dallas doesn’t have to play Zimos.
“How much they liked me and about how Coach Morris’ kid lives up in Dallas … and he’s glad I’m not in their district going to hit him or anything like that,” Zimos said with a laugh.
Zimos also uses his outstanding speed to run on his school’s 800-meter and 1,600-meter relays. One leg in the 1,600 is brutal and tests mental and physical toughness.
“It’s all mental for sure, just from the starting line to the finish,” Zimos said.
Zimos is unsure about whether he’ll visit Fayetteville.
“I’m not sure yet, it’s still fresh in my head right now,” he said. “Just have to see how things go.”
Zimos, who has a 3.5 GPA, is looking to major in business or entrepreneurship in college.
He relishes the opportunity to harass the offense while dishing out punishment to the ball carrier.
“It’s just something I love doing, causing havoc in the backfield and just bringing the physicality because it’s such a violent sport,” Zimos said.