Recruiting notes: Linemen important, and Arkansas found two good ones

MARTY COOK

FAYETTEVILLE -- Arkansas' top two recruiting targets this year are defensive linemen and offensive linemen.
The Razorbacks are on two of the biggest and best at those positions in Louisiana, which is fast becoming Arkansas South. The Razorbacks hit Louisiana hard because it produced the most Division I-A signees of any state a year ago on a per capita basis.
Defensive tackle Marcus Jasmin of New Orleans De LaSalle is playing a waiting game with the Razorbacks. Offensive tackle Ron Thomas (6-9, 280, 4.9) of Clinton, La., said the Razorbacks called him this past week and told Thomas they were very impressed with him.
Jasmin (6-5 1/2, 275, 5.0 seconds in the 40-yard dash) talked with Arkansas assistant Clifton Ealy on Friday, and the Razorbacks are waiting to receive a game tape on Jasmin.
For his part, Jasmin is waiting on an Arkansas media guide so he can read up on the Razorbacks. Jasmin said he hopes to get a scholarship offer.
"A friend of my dad's said it is a great school and I should give them a chance," said Jasmin, who has offers from a host of big-name schools. "They talked to me about playing early as a true freshman. I want to play my first year."
Jasmin didn't play football as a junior and said he didn't really know why. The New Orleans Times-Picayune ranked Jasmin as the 26th-best prospect in the state anyway.
"I didn't play last year and not too many people know about me," Jasmin said. "The college coaches do but not the newspapers because they don't have any stats to go by.
"[Ealy] seemed like a nice person. He likes that I'm aggressive and I like to get to the ball. That's the kind of defense they play. He said he liked the way I moved."
Jasmin said he has a 3.0 grade-point average and scored an 18 average on the ACT. He is retaking the test to improve the score although he is academically qualified.
Thomas said Arkansas' phone call a week ago was the first he received from the Razorbacks. He has offers from several SEC schools but said he has no early favorites.
"They said they had interest in me," said Thomas, who couldn't remember whom he talked to. "He asked me if I had any interest in them. They said they were interested in me for offensive tackle.
"He didn't tell me I had a four-year scholarship, but he said if I wanted to attend school there I could come. He said they had a tremendous interest in me."
Thomas said his core grade-point average is just 2.2 but he scored a 23 average on the ACT.
Thomas said he didn't take academics seriously as a freshman and sophomore but earned a 2.7 GPA as a junior after realizing college football was in his future. Thomas is academically eligible with a 23 ACT score and a 2.2 GPA.

Arkansas coaches called running back Colt Colletti of River Ridge (La.) John Curtis this past week.
Colletti (5-11, 215, 4.5) plays in a Veer offense and projects to fullback in college. Colletti also heard a couple weeks ago from former high school teammate Tony Bua, a Razorback freshman safety.
"I've seen them play a few times on TV," Colletti said. "Tony told me he likes it. I asked him how it was and if he liked it and everything. He said the team's pretty good."
Colletti said he has no favorites among colleges.
Colletti couldn't recall which coach he talked to but said it was just a general conversation. Colletti has missed the past couple of games after spraining his left ankle in the second game.

Center Greg Wilson (6-5, 300) of Houston Westlake said he has been a fan of Arkansas since he was a child because he likes the simple elegance of the Razorbacks' uniforms.
"I'm big on uniforms, and I like theirs," Wilson said. "They're down-to-earth basic."
Wilson said Arkansas is in his top five with Arizona, Oklahoma, Texas Tech and Arizona State.

Linebacker Keyaron Fox (6-31/2, 210, 4.6) and offensive lineman Rashaard Green (6-6, 290, 5.2) play for Atlanta Westlake.
They were teammates of receiver Detronn Harris, who was interested in Arkansas a year ago but the Razorbacks didn't have room for him. Harris signed with Auburn.
Fox hasn't been offered but said he has been hearing often from Arkansas.
"They said they like my athletic ability, and they were thinking of putting me at outside linebacker," Fox said of Arkansas coaches.
Green has Arkansas and Tennessee as his clear favorites and is interested in a school with a solid computer engineering program. Green said Arkansas recruiting coordinator Fitz Hill calls regularly.

Offensive lineman Lionel Garr (6-7, 332, 5.2) of Diboll, Texas, has scholarship offers from plenty of top schools but not one from Arkansas yet.
Garr, the nephew of former major league baseball player Ralph Garr, said he is in no hurry.
"I'm pretty much still open," Garr said. "I'm just reviewing my choices and my options. I probably won't narrow down my decision until November or December."
Garr named off schools he was considering and mentioned Arkansas. He said he hasn't talked with any Arkansas coaches but they have been writing his regularly.

Contact Marty Cook at marty_cook@adg.ardemgaz.com

This article was published on Tuesday, October 5, 1999

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