Arkansas Business

This story is from the archives of ArkansasSports360.com.

Arkansas is searching the nation for a few running backs in the Class of 2012 and are known to be in the mix for many of the nation's best.

In the 2011 class, Arkansas only signed one tailback, Jefferson City (Mo.) High School's Kody Walker, though a fullback was also added. In the Class of 2010, the Razorbacks failed to sign a tailback so it's now one of the top priorities of the upcoming class to add some talented running backs.

Arkansas has assigned running backs coach and recruiting coordinator Tim Horton Memphis among his recruiting territories, and Shelby County is loaded with running backs this year. Memphis Wooddale's Jovon Robinson (6-foot-1, 218 pounds, 4.4 in the 40-meter dash), Memphis East's Brian Kimbrow (5-9, 165, 4.4) and Memphis Ridgeway's Sheldon Dawson (5-11, 175, 4.48) are all reporting offers from the Razorbacks as well as many other top schools.

Robinson rushed for 2,200 yards and 36 touchdowns as a junior. In addition to the Razorbacks, Robinson has offers from Arkansas State, Alabama, Ole Miss, Cincinnati, Georgia, Memphis, Mississippi State and Vanderbilt.

"My options are wide open," Robinson said. "A few things I'm looking for are academics, how I fit in the system and do they really care about my future."

Robinson is trying to get to Arkansas this weekend to attend the Red-White game and check out the Razorbacks. Robinson emerged as a top prospect following his junior season.

"I feel I had a great season," Robinson said.

Kimbrow isn't a big back but is tough for his size and is a threat to score each time he touches the football. Kimbrow currently has approximately 26 scholarship offers including the likes of Alabama, Auburn, Tennessee, USC, LSU, Notre Dame and Nebraska in addition to the Razorbacks. Dawson is being recruited by some schools as a running back while others see him more as a cornerback. Cincinnati and Memphis are others offering the two-way speedster.

A running back who will be on Arkansas' campus this weekend is Snellville (Ga.) Brookwood's Nick Tompkins (5-10, 185, 4.4). Among the schools known to have offered Tompkins are Wisconsin, Boston College, Georgia Tech, Virginia and Maryland. In all, Tompkins is reporting 12 scholarship offers.

"I am going down to see Arkansas and I'm real interested," Tompkins said. "I have great vision and breakaway speed. I like that Arkansas plays in the SEC."

One of the more famous names on Arkansas' early wish list at tailback is Oklahoma City Heritage Hall's Barry Sanders Jr. (5-11, 190, 4.4). Sanders, who attended the Arkansas-Alabama game in Fayetteville last season, battled injuries as a junior, but still rushed for 1,136 yards and 16 touchdowns on 81 carries. Sanders' father was a great at Oklahoma State before heading to the NFL with the Detroit Lions. Among the offers for Sanders are Arkansas, Alabama, Oklahoma State, Auburn, Florida State, Notre Dame, UCLA, Tennessee, Texas A&M and Nebraska.

Allen (Texas) tailback Jonathan Williams (5-11, 205, 4.5) will play in the Shoot-Out of the South 7-on-7 Tournament hosted by Pulaski Academy this season and then plans to make the 200-mile trip to Fayetteville afterward to see what the Razorbacks have to offer.