THE RECRUITING GUY : UA eyes Alabama cornerback
Posted on Friday, May 9, 2008
Arkansas has its eye on another top prospect from Mobile (Ala. ) Davidson.
Talented cornerback Gerald West is receiving strong interest from Arkansas, which already has two Davidson athletes — wide receiver London Crawford and defensive end Demario Ambrose — on the roster.
The Hogs are one of eight schools that have offered scholarships to West. Auburn, Alabama, Mississippi State and Florida State are among the others. West has visited Alabama and Auburn, but he said he wants to visit all the schools that have offered him. “Those are definite,” he said. “This summer, I plan to make as many camps as possible.” Davidson Coach Fred Riley said West is not lacking athletic ability. “This is my 27 th year to coach and I coached 10 [years ] on the college level, and Gerald West is the fastest kid I’ve ever timed consistently in the 40 [-yard dash ],” Riley said. “He runs some 40 times that you look at your watch and say I’m not telling him what it said. He’s just run some times that are just phenomenal.” West, 5-11, 168 pounds, 4. 36-second speed in the 40, recorded 25 unassisted tackles, 11 assisted tackles and 3 interceptions last season for the Class 6 A Warriors.
Crawford could play an important role in helping the Razorbacks win over West.
“I really don’t know much about Arkansas,” said West, who has a been timed at 4. 10 in the pro-shuttle. “I just know they picked up London Crawford and London was a bigtime wide receiver down here. I talked to London the last time he came down. He was telling me Arkansas has good facilities and they offer you good academic help. He said it’s a good environment to put yourself in and it’s a real good football program.” West said he believes it’s essential for a cornerback to play the ball like a receiver. “I feel like every time the quarterback is throwing the ball, he’s actually throwing it to you,” said West, whose father James Johnson played running back for Mississippi State in the early 1990 s. “You have to have the mentality that the quarterback is throwing it to you. I believe you can go get anything. That’s the main thing I have on my mind.” HOT PROSPECT North Little Rock defensive 41 end Anthony Rogers, 6- / 2, 230, 4. 9 in the 40, was named one of the Elite 11 prospects at the Nike training camp in Fort Worth on April 26. More than 400 athletes participated in the camp. Rogers orally committed to Mississippi State on April 18 and remains firm, but that hasn’t stopped other schools from trying to change his mind. Tulsa and Baylor offered scholarships recently, while Ole Miss was the latest to offer Rogers on Thursday. Arkansas is showing strong interest and plans to have assistant coach Tim Horton on hand during a spring practice over the next two weeks. LSU also plans to attend a practice to watch Rogers.
WHITE HALL FIVE College coaches are flocking to White Hall to check out five talented prospects. Mississippi State assistant coach J. B. Grimes was on campus Wednesday, while Arkansas assistant Tim Horton and Arkansas State assistant David Gunn were there Thursday.
Offensive linemen Nick Partridge, 6-5, 300, 5. 31, and Brett Craine 6-6, 285, 5. 25, are receiving attention from Arkansas, Oklahoma State, Ole Miss and Tulsa, among others. The Cowboys plan to host both on unofficial visits in June. Oklahoma State assistant coach Joe Wickline has indicated to Partridge the Cowboys might offer him a scholarship when he visits in June.
Craine is rated as the No. 17 left offensive tackle in the country by national recruiting writer Max Emfinger.
Free safety / receiver Desmond Washington, 6-1, 202, 4. 62 and quarterback / running back J. J. Martin, 5-9, ®, 4. 5 are receiving interest from Arkansas State, Louisiana Tech and Tulsa.
Linebacker Garet Philbrook, 6-0, 200, 4. 56, is another to keep an eye on in the fall. He played sparingly last season, but he has very good athletic ability and could garner some serious looks from colleges with a good season.
E-mail Richard Davenport at rdavenport@arkansasonline. com
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