Arkansas Business

This story is from the archives of ArkansasSports360.com.

Arkansas doesn't go to the Midwest to get many prospects, but landed one on Monday when Chicago Simeon quarterback Robert Gregory jumped on board with an oral commitment.

Gregory (6-foot-3, 185 pounds) is rated a three-star recruit by 247 Sports. 247's National Reporter Steve Wiltfong thinks Arkansas is getting one of the top athletes in Illinois and the region.

“Robert Gregory is a tremendous athlete,” Wiltfong said. “I saw him working out at an event this winter. I saw him play in the season opener on Friday at Soldier Field. It wasn't his best game, but he still rushed for 55 yards and passed for two touchdowns.”

Mount Carmel (Ill.) defeated Simeon 26-14 in the contest, but Wiltfong said it was obvious Gregory was one of the best players on the field.

“Even though it wasn't his best game you could see glimpses of why Arkansas recruited him,” Wiltfong said. “He's the type of guy who can change the pace of the game on one play.”

As a junior, Gregory passed for 1,700 yards and 32 touchdowns while also rushing for 920 yards and 18 touchdowns. He chose Arkansas over Iowa and Eastern Michigan. Gregory is Arkansas' first quarterback commitment in the Class of 2012, but Wiltfong said Gregory is a versatile recruit as well.

“He's a great athlete who, in addition to quarterback, could play wide receiver, cornerback or safety,” Wiltfong said. “He could play any position in the secondary. Arkansas has options with him if quarterback doesn't work out for him.”

Gregory has said Arkansas' coaches told him it had been a long time since they had an athletic quarterback such as him so they offered him on the spot when he visited earlier this summer.

“He has the tools to play quarterback,” Wiltfong said. “However, it wouldn't surprise me to see him eventually play a different position. He has got a high ceiling, but he's also a project at quarterback.”

In addition to Gregory, Arkansas is also recruiting Simeon four-star offensive lineman Jordan Diamond (6-6, 290). Diamond is rated the No. 60 player in the nation by 247. Wiltfong said Diamond is a blue chip both on and off the field.

“As a player, he has got everything you're looking for in an offensive lineman,” Wiltfong said. “He can play offensive tackle or offensive guard. He has got long arms, a great base and he loves to play football.”

Wiltfong said that while some feel Diamond is the type recruit who could come in and play immediately, he feels a redshirt year would help him as well.