Arkansas Sports 360 - ArkansasSports360.com

12/29/2011 at 9:00am

On paper, Arkansas doesn't have many openings remaining in the Class of 2012, but that isn't stopping the Razorbacks from hosting a large number of prospects in January.

The Razorbacks will have a big weekend on Jan. 20 when the basketball team plays host to Michigan and will also host recruits on Jan. 13 and Jan. 27. Tim Horton, who is Arkansas' recruiting coordinator as well as running backs coach, likes the buzz Arkansas' 10-2 has generated with recruits. Arkansas also knows what a victory over No. 8 Kansas State in the Cotton Bowl on Jan. 6 could add to recruiting as well.

“It would mean a lot,” Horton said of a win over the Wildcats. “Right now, we're doing really good in recruiting. We have some guys coming in here in January who are really terrific players who will have a chance to help us immediately.”

The big prize still being sought by Arkansas is Springfield (Mo.) Hillcrest 5-star wide receiver Dorial Green-Beckham (6-6, 220). Green-Beckham has only taken one official visit to this point and that was to Texas. He recently canceled a scheduled visit to Oklahoma. Green-Beckham will play in the U.S. Army All-American game on Jan. 7 in San Antonio (Texas).

Arkansas is hoping to get Green-Beckham on campus on Jan. 21 for an official, though he has taken several unofficial visits to Fayetteville, including one to the Auburn game this season. In addition, Green-Beckham's team played its second game of the season in Reynolds Razorback Stadium this season against Rogers Heritage. Green-Beckham's final five schools are Arkansas, Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri and Alabama though it isn't thought Missouri and the Crimson Tide are going to be a factor in his final decision.

A pair of Texas A&M commits could also visit during the Jan. 20 weekend. Spring (Texas) Dekaney 5-star running back Trey Williams (5-8, 175) and Houston Westside 4-star offensive lineman Germain Ifedi (6-5, 305) are considering a trip to Arkansas.

Paradise Valley (Ariz.) Chaparral 5-star athlete Davonte Neal (5-9 170) currently has 26 schools in pursuit, but has chosen to give the Razorbacks one of his official visits on Jan. 20. Neal will be a wide receiver in college and, like Green-Beckham, can basically name his college.

Van (Texas) 4-star linebacker Dalton Santos (6-3, 250) is committed to Tennessee, but has decided to return to Arkansas on Jan. 20. Santos was one of the many recruits in attendance at Arkansas' Red-White game. Santos is also considering Texas A&M and some others although he insists he's solid to Tennessee.

Norman Nero lettered at Arkansas from 1995-98 and now has a son who is among the top prospects in the nation. Atmore (Ala.) Escambia County 4-star defensive tackle Tyler Nero (6-2, 285) is committed to Auburn and also considered Alabama among others. Nero is going to be another one of the official visitors on Jan. 20. Nero's final decision could come down to the Hogs and Auburn.

Another 4-star recruit who will be at Arkansas on Jan. 20 is Chicago Simeon offensive tackle Jordan Diamond (6-6, 290). Diamond visited Arkansas this summer along with several other schools and was very impressed with what the Razorbacks have to offer. However, it will be an upset if Diamond doesn't sign with a Big Ten school. Diamond did visit Auburn recently too so Arkansas is still holding out hope for him to head to the SEC and play for the Razorbacks.

A couple of other 4-star recruits committed elsewhere are also scheduled to visit Arkansas Jan. 20. Powder Springs (Ga.) McEachern defensive end Darius English (6-6, 215) is committed to South Carolina, but will give the Razorbacks a look. In addition, Citra (Fla.) North Marion tight end Sean Price (6-3, 235) is going to compare Arkansas to South Florida and some other schools.

Several of Arkansas' commitments will also visit on Jan. 20 including Pottsville 4-star offensive lineman Jeremy Ward (6-4 ½, 285) and East Poinsett County 4-star linebacker A.J. Turner (6-3, 208).

One of Arkansas' biggest needs still remaining in this class is to add a linebacker and they will have a few candidates on campus during the Jan. 13 weekend. North Bergen (N.J.) middle linebacker Vin Ascolese, 6-2, 230, was being recruited by Paul Petrino at Illinois and also has an offer to Michigan State as well as others. He is playing in the Semper Fidelis Bowl game on Jan. 3 prior to visiting Arkansas on Jan. 13.

Birmingham (Ala.) Jackson-Olin middle linebacker Beau Hankins (6-2, 235) and Montgomery (Ala.) Carver outside linebacker Harding Harper (6-2, 210) are also scheduled to trip to Arkansas on Jan. 13. Hankins has drawn strong interest from schools such as Stanford and Georgia as well as others.

Missouri commit and Waco (Texas) cornerback Will Hines (6-0, 175) is another visited scheduled to be at Arkansas on Jan. 13. Hines is a 3-star recruit and is considered likely to stick with Missouri at this point.

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Quick Hits:

•Erie (Pa.) McDowell 4-star running back Greg Garmon (6-1, 200) visited Arkansas the weekend of Dec. 16. Garmon will announce his decision on Jan. 3 while participating in the Semper Fidelis Bowl game. He will pick between Arkansas, Miami and Iowa.

•Norman (Okla.) running back Donovan Roberts (6-0, 202) was recently offered by Oklahoma. He's scheduled to be at Arkansas during the Jan. 20 weekend and is still committed to the Razorbacks.

•Mobile (Ala.) Vigor defensive end JaMichael Winston (6-5, 240) has been committed to Arkansas for a few months, but now plans to visit Michigan State (Jan. 20) and Clemson (Jan. 27) following a trip to Fayetteville on Jan. 13. Winston said he's still a solid commit to Arkansas, but also has said he will make a final decision on where he's going to school on Feb. 1, which is National Signing Day.

Tagged: Dorial Green-Beckham, Otis Kirk, Arkansas Razorbacks