Numbers down for Texas back, but stock still high

MARTY COOK
ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE

FAYETTEVILLE -- Chris Harris attracted a lot of attention when he rushed for more than 3,000 yards as a junior at Elysian Fields, Texas.
Harris (6-1, 190, 4.4 seconds in the 40-yard dash) hasn't had nearly the same individual success this year but has helped Elysian Fields reach the Class 2A state championship game Saturday. Harris and his father will drive to Arkansas for an official visit after the game.
"Statwise, I really haven't been worried about it," Harris said. "I don't even know how many yards rushing I have, but I'm happy with my performance. I'm a targeted man playing on Friday nights."
Harris also is targeted by recruiters. He already has visited Purdue and will take trips to Arizona and Nebraska in January. Harris said his top three are Arkansas, Arizona and Nebraska.
Arkansas assistant Danny Nutt and track and field assistant Steve Silvey regularly call Harris, who also is a track standout. Nutt and Silvey have earned points by not being too overbearing in recruiting, Harris said.
"[Arkansas] has been with me from the get-go and hasn't let go," Harris said. "They plan on making [a home visit] after the season. They're respecting my still playing football. I really appreciate that. A lot of coaches try to bug and get all up in the mix."
Harris said the Razorbacks are looking at him as a possible tailback, rover or defensive back.

Defensive end Alfonso Boone said he spent two years after high school just partying and working odd jobs before deciding he wanted to go to college.
And Boone knew the only way he could go was through playing football.
He enrolled at Walnut (Calif.) Mount San Antonio College -- because his aunt and uncle lived down the street -- and two years later, Boone (6-4, 290, 4.7) is a highly recruited prospect.
Arkansas called Boone for the first time a week ago and set up his official visit this weekend. Boone, who graduated from Saginaw (Mich.) Arthur Hill in 1995, already has visited Michigan State and also is considering Florida State, Southern California and Oregon.
"I know they beat Tennessee, that's all I know," said Boone, who will graduate in May. "They're in a great conference. The Big 10 and SEC are the best two conferences, and I know I'm going to play in one of those two conferences."
Arkansas defensive line coach Bill Keopple called Boone, who assumed Keopple had seen the game film in which he made three sacks, forced two fumbles, deflected a pass for an interception and ran down a flanker screen from behind.
"I'm a speed rusher," said Boone, 23. "I'm kind of heavy for a speed rusher, but I'm good at it. [Keopple] said I could come in and compete for a starting job right away. I just want a chance to compete."

Quarterback Ray Ray Bivens of Gautier, Miss., has rescheduled his knee surgery and is indeed coming to Arkansas this weekend.
Bivens (6-0, 170, 4.4) was supposed to undergo arthroscopic surgery to repair cartilage damage in his left knee today, which would have postponed his Arkansas visit. Bivens is considering Arkansas, Tennessee, Mississippi, Mississippi State and LSU.
Wide receiver Terrell Hurd (5-9, 160, 4.5) will visit with Bivens this weekend. Hurd graduated from Gautier in 1999 and was set to start his freshman year at Delta State when his father died.
Hurd returned home and enrolled at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College in Gautier to stay close to his family.

Fullback Clarence Denning of Modesto (Calif.) Christian said he considers it an honor that the Razorbacks are recruiting him.
Denning (6-3, 240, 4.6) is taking his official visit to Arkansas this weekend. He also is considering Fresno State, California and San Jose State.
"I'm just going to go down and see what the program is like," Denning said. "I'd like to be offered a scholarship. I talked to them quite a bit on the phone. I talked to Coach [Houston] Nutt and his brother, too. They seemed like real enthused."

Defensive end Santonio Thomas of Belle Glades (Fla.) Central is visiting with teammate Carlton Baker.
"Everything the [defensive line] coach [Bill Keopple] tells me sounds great," Thomas said. "It sounds very interesting. I was very impressed. They said they like how I came off the ball. I fit perfect for their defense. I want to play as early as possible."
Thomas (6-31/2, 255, N/A) is considering Virginia Tech, Pittsburgh and Florida State along with the Razorbacks. Thomas said he doesn't have a 40-yard dash time because he never has run one.

Running back Brandon Hayes of Hopkinsville, Ky., scheduled an official visit to Arkansas this week after the Razorbacks contacted him for the first time a week ago.
Hayes (5-11, 177, 4.5) said he is considering Michigan, Minnesota and Indiana. He rushed for more than 1,600 yards this year.

After no contact for six weeks, Carlisle fullback Griffin Golleher spoke with Arkansas assistant Danny Nutt twice in less than one week.
Golleher (6-1, 204, 4.79) said Nutt apologized for the lack of communication. Golleher said Nutt told him the Razorbacks weren't fully aware of how big he was until they saw him rush for 191 yards against Shiloh Christian in the Class AA state championship game last Saturday.
"I didn't hold a grudge because I love the University of Arkansas," Golleher said. "I'm glad that they're finally looking at me now. He told me they didn't have as many scholarships as they would like, but he was going to be fighting for me. He was trying his best to get me up there."
Contact Marty Cook at marty_cook@adg.ardemgaz.com

ARKANSAS FOOTBALL OFFICIAL VISITS

Recruits taking official visits to Fayetteville this weekend, as confirmed by the players or coaches.

NAME	SCHOOL	POS.	HT.	WT.	40
Carlos Andrews	Tallahassee (Fla.) Godby	DB	6-0	195	4.45
Carlton Baker	Belle Glades (Fla.) Glades Central	LB	6-1	215	4.6
Ray Ray Bivens	Gautier, Miss.	QB/DB	6-0	170	4.4
Alfonso Boone	Walnut (Calif.) Mount San Antonio College	DE	6-4	290	4.7
Clarence Denning	Modesto (Calif.) Christian	FB	6-3	240	4.6
*Arrion Dixon	Wynne	DL	6-4	248	5.1
Chris Harris	Elysian Fields, Texas	RB/DB	6-1	190	4.4
Brandon Hayes	Hopkinsville, Ky.	RB	5-11	177	4.5
Terrell Hurd	Gautier (Miss.) Mississippi Gulf Coast CC	WR	5-9	160	4.5
*Jayson Johnson	LR Fair	DL	6-3	270	5.33
Kelvin Kight	Lithonia, Ga.	WR	6-0	185	4.4
Lawrence Richardson	Galveston (Texas) Ball	DB	5-11	165	4.38
Jarvus Ryes	Lorieauville, La.	DL	6-3	240	4.7
Ron Thomas	Clinton, La.	OL	6-9	280	4.9
Santonio Thomas	Belle Glades (Fla.) Glades Central	DL	6-3 1/2	255	n/a
Marcus White	Theodore, Ala.	DL	6-5 1/2	265	4.82
Jimmy Wilkerson Jr.	Omaha, Texas, Paul H. Pewitt	LB	6-4 230	4.4	n/a
Ray Willis	Angleton, Texas	OL	6-6	265	4.77
Pat Winn	Tuscaloosa (Ala.) Holt	DL	6-3 1/2	285	4.8
*Committed to Arkansas

This article was published on Friday, December 17, 1999

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