Petrino picks up star RB/DB
Jerico Nelson, a multi-position player from Destrehan, La., changed his oral commitment from Purdue to the University of Arkansas earlier today, according to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette’s Richard Davenport.
Rivals.com rates him as a four-star athlete, and the No. 9 player in the state of Louisiana. Nelson, 185 pounds, will most likely play safety in college but has done well at running back and quarterback in high school. The 5-foot-10 athlete led Destrehan High (La.) to the 5A state title and a 15-0 record this season as a running back.
Nelson will have some work to do academically to qualify, however, despite his 4.45 speed and 1,098 yards rushing and 23 touchdowns, according to the Shreveport Times.
Quite a pick-up for Arkansas if he sticks with his verbal commitment and can make the grades. National Signing Day is Wednesday.
Man, this guy can recruit!!!! If he coaches as well as he recruits, we will be knocking on the BCS door in 2-3 years. Petrino’s the man!!!
This is one to get excited about — if he qualifies. If Coach Petrino can keep all the soft verbals (Curtis, Wright, etc.) and pick up Joe Adams, I’ll be singing his praises. I noticed a couple more 4 star guys are considering Arkansas now as well. If he adds one or two more before Wednesday (Kendall Wright, Aaron Boyd), then I’ll really be excited.
For the late start, Petrino has definitely exceeded my expectations in verbals. The talent level of some of the kids that are giving the UofA consideration now is noticeable different than the last regime. It appears, Wed will tell the tale, that Petrino is successfully navigating keeping the talent in Arkansas as well as going after some very quality recruits.
It really appears that if Petrino can get them on campus, they will say yes or at least move us to the top of the list. We will see how it translates come signing day. But, I think he is proving some wrong that it is hard to get quality, BCS talent to come to the hill. They are coming. Add another year or two like this to the program and look out, the last 10 years will be but a memory, and Petrino will be building his own dynasty.
….not to get the cart before the horse….just playing out the number of quality players verbally committing. You never know with 17-18 year olds.
Ho Hum…. Let’s wait and see what happens Wednesday. How many of the verbals sign and how many go to Ole Miss will be interesting. Davenport’s column at Whole Hog was interesting….Petrino supposedly told the recruit from Nashville who runs a 4.45 he wasn’t fast enough!