The University of Arkansas is one of 22 schools that has offered scholarships to junior runner Jaylon Glover, and it seems to have a solid chance of winning it.
“They are definitely one of my best schools,” said Glover. “Especially how they use their backs. I see that virtually (visit), but I see that the facilities in Arkansas and the stadium are beautiful. The coaches always talk about how good the fans are up there.”
Glover, 5-9, 190 pounds, from Lakeland, (Florida) Gibson also offers scholarships from the state of Florida, Miami, South Carolina, South Florida, West Virginia, Kentucky, Georgia Tech and others.
The Hogs extended the offer in August, and he and running back coach Jimmy Smith have since hit it off.
“After that, Coach Jimmy and I are clicking from there,” he said.
Glover was a huge fan of the third season of Netflix’s “Last Chance U”, which featured former Arkansas runner Rakeem Boyd and Independence (Kan.) Community College in Kansas.
“I thought it was really cool that he ended up in Arkansas,” said Glover.
Smith has many family and friends in Miami, while his wife Quanisha is also from there. His connections with Florida are one of several reasons why he and Glover have a strong relationship.
“This is my dawg,” said Glover. “He probably hits me on a daily basis. We don’t always talk about football, but he loves my game. It’s cool, especially since he’s from Florida and we can relate to some of the same things. He talks about my film and what I can improve and what I am good at. He is real and I appreciate him for being real. Yes, Coach Jimmy Smith is my guy. “
He exchanged text messages with trainer Sam Pittman on Wednesday.
“He hit me and said, ‘Wow’, the transformation from my second year to the third year, he definitely saw it,” said Glover.
Like other candidates, Glover is adapting to recruitment without the chance to visit university campuses and meet coaches face to face because of the covid-19 pandemic. The NCAA extended the dead period to April 15 and another extension is a possibility. With limitations, Glover focuses on things he can control.
“Definitely, one of the great things is knowing where I am on the board and being honest with the coaches, but if you can start building relationships not just with the position coach or one or two guys on the team, but you can really have a conversation with the head coach also means a lot, “said Glover.
Earlier this week, he was named the state’s Class 6A Player of the Year and is a candidate for the Dairy Farmers award, which recognizes the state’s best football player. National recruiting analyst Tom Lemming of the CBS Sports Network considers him a potential 4-star client.
He ran 161 times for 1,588 yards and 31 touchdowns, which averages a touchdown for every 5.1 loaded. He also had 10 receptions for 155 yards and 3 touchdowns. Glover ran for 1,592 yards and 14 touchdowns in 212 runs as a second year.
Glover is also an excellent student, averaging 4.2 points. He’s not sure what he wants to graduate from, but he wants to get involved in sports after football.
“I want to love my job, I don’t want to do something like, ‘Oh, I have to go to work.’ Http://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2021/jan/10/florida-rb- hit it out with arkansas-position, “said Glover.
Academics and their level of comfort with the school will play an important role in the college’s decision.
“When it all comes down, I just want to find a place where I love school,” said Glover, whose father, Stanley, is a high school math teacher. “It’s a business, so the coach who recruited me can be there today and leave tomorrow, so I want to make sure that if something goes wrong, I will be in love with the school, so I won’t feel like I was a coach there.”
Send an email to Richard Davenport at [email protected]
Highlights of Jaylon Glover
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