From today's Arkansas Democrat Gazette:
RECRUITING: Offensive linemen stop by to watch Hogs, Summers
By Otis Kirk (Contact)
FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas continues its spring drills, and recruits continue to take in some of the practices.
On Friday, Fort Scott (Kan.) Community College offensive tackle Jermarcus Hardrick, 6-7, 315 pounds, 5.0 seconds in the 40-yard dash, took an unofficial visit to Arkansas. Hardrick arrived at Arkansas at 8 a.m. and stayed around to see practice. Hardrick is expected to be one of the nation’s most highly sought junior college recruits.
“As of now, Arkansas is easily the best visit I have made so far,” Hardrick said Saturday morning. “I didn’t know much about Arkansas before the visit, but I loved everything about Arkansas.”
Hardrick met Coach Bobby Petrino and assistants Garrick McGee and Mike Summers and said: “They are all very nice coaches who know what they are doing.”
Hardrick said the players impressed him, too.
“It felt like I had known those guys all my life,” Hardrick said. “I really bonded with the players. I certainly didn’t expect the facilities to be that good. The weight room is state-of-the-art and has everything you need to make you better. It’s a family atmosphere at Arkansas. Arkansas just felt like a place I would like to be.”
Hardrick said the campus and Fayetteville were very impressive.
“There is plenty to do there,” Hardrick said. “It was really nice. The campus is really nice.”
Hardrick left Friday a few minutes before practice ended, but he saw enough of the practice to be impressed.
“I watched the offensive linemen a whole lot,” Hardrick said. “Coach Summers impressed me. I learned a lot from him while I was there. These coaches have NFL experience, and they know what it would take for me to get to the next level, and they can help me get there.”
Hardrick is from South Panola High School in Mississippi, but will be playing his second year of junior college football this fall at Fort Scott. Rumors have Hardrick heading back toMississippi when his time is up at Fort Scott, but Hardrick said hold off on that for now.
“Going home isn’t a big deal at all to me,” Hardrick said. “I have grown up a lot since I went to Kansas. I have gone on to bigger and better things, so going home isn’t that big a deal. I just want to go where it’s the best fit for me and where I can get to the next level. I definitely want to play in the NFL. The being close to home won’t be a factor with me.”
Hardrick has scholarship offers from Arkansas, Ole Miss, South Florida, Nebraska and Southern Mississippi, but more offers should come as Division-I coaches make their way to Fort Scott this spring.
“I like Arkansas, Nebraska, Ole Miss, OU and LSU,” Hardrick said. “OU and LSU are both very close to offering me. It helps a lot that Arkansas’ coaches have the NFL experience. That means a lot to me. If I go to Arkansas and do what Coach Summers tells me, I will get a lot better.”
Hardrick said he went from a high school that ran the ball the majority of the time to Fort Scott, which runs a balanced offense. Hardrick said he’s still working on improving all aspects of his game.
“Run blocking is natural for me,” Hardrick said. “We did that in high school, but when I got here, they asked me to pass block, too. I’m improving my pass blocking.
“I have long arms, and I like to pass block now. Our offensive line coach here has worked with me a lot, and I’ve gotten better.”
