Arkansas Business

This story is from the archives of ArkansasSports360.com.

Arkansas has extended close to a 100 offers to athletes all across the nation for the Class of 2013, but don't wring your hands if they don't get many of that group.

“Arkansas is basically offering the best of the best right now, throwing a lot against the wall and just seeing what sticks,” said a source knowledgeable of Arkansas' recruiting policy. "They know they won't get many of these kids, but they feel if they can get some of them, it will be well worth the effort. Arkansas is a school that has always identified many of its top targets during the evaluation period in the spring.”

Arkansas has offered four prospects inside the state. North Little Rock 4-star tailback Altee Tenpenny (5-foot-11, 200 pounds) has committed to Alabama, but is planning on being at Arkansas for a Junior Day on March 3. Pulaski Academy 4-star tight end Hunter Henry (6-5, 240) has collected offers faster than any other prospect in the state. This week, Notre Dame was the most recent school to extend an offer. Florida, Alabama, Arkansas and others are in the hunt for him.

Fayetteville 4-star Austin Allen (6-2, 208) has eight offers and has obvious ties to the Razorbacks. His dad, Bobby Allen, is an assistant on defense and his older brother, Brandon, is a quarterback for Arkansas. Fayetteville 3-star linebacker Brooks Ellis (6-2, 215) has five offers including ones from Illinois and South Florida recently. Arkansas seems to be in really good shape with Ellis and possibly Allen.

Texas and Florida are a couple of other states where Arkansas has extended many offers. The Razorbacks have at least 20 offers out in Texas and 13 or so in Florida. Texas is the home of Katy Cinco Ranch 4-star running back Jamel James (5-11, 215) who is Arkansas' lone commitment to this point. Oklahoma recently offered James while LSU and Texas Tech had offered him earlier.

On Monday, Arkansas sent an offer to Houston Dulles cornerback Maurice Smith (5-11, 178). Smith has multiple offers and attended Arkansas' game against Auburn last fall on an unofficial visit. Smith is being considered for a scholarship by Texas as well as other schools.

The Razorbacks were the first school to offer Colleyville (Texas) Heritage quarterback Cody Thomas (6-4, 210) a scholarship, but since then Thomas has collected 15 more offers. Thomas is also a baseball prospect and also was in attendance at the Arkansas-Auburn game last fall.

Also, in Texas, the Razorbacks went to Manvel last year to sign defensive end Taiwan Johnson. This year, Arkansas is back at that school trying to sign wide receiver Austin Bennett (6-1, 170). Bennett had originally planned to visit Arkansas at its first Junior Day, but opted to visit TCU that weekend instead.

In Missouri, Arkansas got its heart broken when they failed to sign Springfield Hillcrest wide receiver Dorial Green-Beckham, but the Razorbacks are back in the state again this year.

Among the top targets in Missouri is Kansas City Rockhurst offensive tackle Zach Hannon (6-5 ½, 298) who was at Arkansas' first Junior Day two weeks ago. Hannon also has an offer from Missouri, where both his parents graduated, and added an offer to Illinois on Wednesday. Kansas has told Hannon they will offer once he comes to campus for a visit.

“I knew once I stepped foot on campus, Arkansas was a good fit for me,” Hannon said. “I love the coaches, the facilities and everything about Arkansas. The atmosphere at the basketball game was great. I love Arkansas.”

Canton (Mich.) offensive lineman Cameron Dillard (6-3, 290) is another example of Arkansas not being afraid to go anywhere to try and get a recruit. Dillard attended the Arkansas-Auburn game last fall and was recently extended an offer by the Razorbacks. Dillard now has 18 offers and is trying to make it to Arkansas March 3 for the Junior Day.