After his Florida Gators beat Arkansas 71-63 Saturday at Walton Arena, Coach Todd Golden said:
“I think the strength of Arkansas team, from my perspective, is their ability to penetrate and get downhill and get to the rim.
Major Arkansas defensive back target PJ Woodland plans to visit Fayetteville soon thanks to his relationship with Razorbacks co-defensive coordinator Marcus Woodson and secondary coach Deron Wilson.
“I’m liking Arkansas. I talk to Coach Woodson and Wilson every day,” Woodland said.
Woodland, 6-0, 160 pounds, of Hattiesburg (Miss.) Oak Grove, has more than 20 offers from schools such as Arkansas, LSU, Texas, Auburn, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Texas A&M, Tennessee, Louisville and Florida State.
Woodson and Woodland’s relationship started prior to Woodson being named to the Arkansas staff in January.
“He came to see me at practice,” Woodland said of Woodson visiting the school during the spring evaluation period. “I’ve had a great relationship with Coach Woodson since he was at Florida State. He told me when he was at Florida State he loved me a lot. He said they wouldn’t let him offer me, but as soon as he touched down at Arkansas he said he had to get me.
“I’ve been building a relationship with those two guys and I plan to make a trip up there. It’s going to be an unofficial visit. I’m going June second and third.”
Woodland, who received an offer from Florida State on March 20, said Wilson’s roots help his connection with him.
More from WholeHogSports: Dave Van Horn named SEC coach of the year by peers
“He’s a great guy,” Woodland said. “He’s cool to be around. He’s from Louisiana, so he gives that southern vibe towards me. My parents have a good relationship with him as well.”
Rivals rates Woodland a 4-star prospect, the No. 22 cornerback and No. 186 overall prospect in the nation in the 2024 class. He recorded 38 tackles, 7 interceptions and 4 pass breakups as junior, and had 19 receptions for 262 yards and 3 touchdowns.
Woodson and Wilson’s relentless pursuit of Woodland and their ability to help him improve his skill set makes the Hogs attractive.
“That they want me and I’ll be a great help to the Razorbacks,” he said. “I think Coach Woodson and Coach Wilson can develop me to be a great defensive back at their school.”
It appears Arkansas will be one of three visits for Woodland in June.
“I’ll think June first, I might be at Mississippi State,” Woodland said. “I’ll be at Texas June 16th through the 18th for an official visit and then that’s about it so far.”
Woodland named a top five of Mississippi State, Texas, Tennessee, Florida State and Texas A&M on April 11.
“That was my top five, but it was the top five I had best interest in at first but my recruitment is still 100% open to all schools that want to recruit me,” said Woodland, who’s looking to make his college decision before his senior season.
Woodland, who has a 3.2 grade point average, is looking to major in business.
“I want to go to school for business and finance,” Woodland said. “Learn about money, learn how to save it, learn how to put it away.”
He was impressed after hearing the reputation of the Sam M. Walton College of Business.
According to the UA website, an analysis of federal student loan data in The Wall Street Journal in 2021 found the Sam M. Walton College of Business MBA is the 11th-best return on investment out of 600 MBA programs across the country.
Woodland credits his mother for his frugal tendencies with money.
“My mom preaches a lot on that,” Woodland said. “She’s a realtor. She also works with insurance. She’s big on it.”
The Arkansas high school boys basketball season is in full swing, and High School On SI has scores for every team and classification.
Keep track of Arkansas high school boys basketball scores below.
Arkansas high school boys basketball scores
CLASS 6A
CLASS 5A
CLASS 4A
CLASS 3A
CLASS 2A
CLASS 1A
2024-25 ARKANSAS BOYS BASKETBALL SCHEDULES: FIND YOUR TEAM
Follow High School On SI throughout the 2024 high school boys basketball season for Live Updates, the most up to date Schedules & Scores and complete coverage from the preseason through the state championships!
Be sure to Bookmark High School on SI for all of the latest high school boys basketball news.
High School On SI will serve as the premier destination for high school sports fans, delivering unparalleled coverage of high school athletics nationwide through in-depth stories, recruiting coverage, rankings, highlights and much more. The launch of a dedicated high school experience expands Sports Illustrated’s reach to even more local communities as fans can now truly follow athletes from “preps to the pros” on a single platform, bringing them closer to the action than ever before. For more information, visit si.com/high-school.
To get live updates on your phone – as well as follow your favorite teams and top games – you can download the SBLive Sports app: Download iPhone App| Download Android App
— Andy Villamarzo | villamarzo@scorebooklive.com | @highschoolonsi
After his Florida Gators beat Arkansas 71-63 Saturday at Walton Arena, Coach Todd Golden said:
“I think the strength of Arkansas team, from my perspective, is their ability to penetrate and get downhill and get to the rim.
The Arkansas State Police is investigating a Sunday homicide that took place about 9 miles from the state’s southeast corner, the agency announced Monday.
Around 8:15 p.m. Sunday, a Eudora Police Department officer on patrol heard what sounded like gunshots, according to a report.
The officer responded and was flagged down by witnesses who reported that Jamarion Plummer, 25, had been shot at his home in the 1000 block of North Main Street.
Plummer was taken to Chicot Memorial Medical Center, about 15 miles to the north, in a private vehicle. He was later transferred to UAMS Medical Center in Little Rock, where he died from his injuries at approximately 11:30 p.m. Sunday.
The Eudora Police Department requested the assistance of state police. The investigation is ongoing.
Ozempic ‘microdosing’ is the new weight-loss trend: Should you try it?
Meta is highlighting a splintering global approach to online speech
Metro will offer free rides in L.A. through Sunday due to fires
Las Vegas police release ChatGPT logs from the suspect in the Cybertruck explosion
‘How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies’ Review: Thai Oscar Entry Is a Disarmingly Sentimental Tear-Jerker
Michael J. Fox honored with Presidential Medal of Freedom for Parkinson’s research efforts
Movie Review: Millennials try to buy-in or opt-out of the “American Meltdown”
Photos: Pacific Palisades Wildfire Engulfs Homes in an L.A. Neighborhood