Arkansas Football: Inside Look at Incoming Freshmen Jeremy Sprinkle
By Ryan Wright
Fayetteville, Ark. – When former Arkansas Razorback head coach Bobby Petrino took over after the departure of Houston Nutt to Ole Miss, the Hogs focus in recruiting changed dramatically. Instead of recruiting solely by position Arkansas began recruiting athletes that could play multiple positions at the collegiate level; in other words Arkansas starting recruiting athletes or “tweeners” at key positions.
One of those hybrid athletes from Arkansas’ 2012 recruiting class includes incoming freshman Jeremy Sprinkle.
Sprinkle was a two-way standout player for White Hall (Arkansas) during his prep career at defensive end and tight end. Listed at 6’6”, 215-220 pounds with a forty-yard dash time of 4.6 the only question that remains is which position will he play for the University of Arkansas?
Scout.com rates Sprinkle as the No. 85 defensive end in the country. 247Sports ranks Sprinkle as the 15th best tight end in the country, but still has him as a 3-star prospect.
Regardless of recruiting service rankings the Hogs are getting a hard nosed football player that gets after the quarterback on defense and has the speed to take on linebackers in one-on-one passing situations.
With his big frame but lighter weight for his positions a year in the weight room will more than likely decide Sprinkle’s ultimate destiny. Will he add massive weight to his frame and grow into a defensive end or add 10-15 pounds and become a speedy tight end that can block?
Looking at the 2012 incoming recruiting list, six other defensive ends will populate Arkansas’ fall practices leaving the door open for Sprinkle to possibly join offensive coordinator Paul Petrino to start his college career.
The Razorbacks have five freshman tight ends listed on their roster, not including Sprinkle, two juniors, and one senior. One of the freshmen included on Arkansas’ roster is fellow 2012 recruit Demetrius Dean.
Dean was originally a signee of Arkansas’ 2011 recruiting class and a former teammate of redshirt freshman quarterback Brandon Allen at Fayetteville High School.
Dean was held out of participation of Arkansas football events including practices and enrolled for the 2012 spring semester. At 6’3”, 245-250 pounds, Dean has already been lauded for his soft hands and crisp pass routes displayed during team scrimmages.
When he reported to campus Dean had gained some weight and was out of shape causing him to spend time on the sidelines instead of on the field. Spending the rest of the spring and summer with the team should help Dean get into football shape and challenge for playing time in 2012.
Inside the Numbers
Sprinkle was offered scholarships by Kansas, Louisville, Memphis, Purdue, Mississippi State, and Arkansas State. He committed to the Hogs June of 2011.
Scout.com rated Sprinkle as the No. 5 in-state recruit. Rivals.com ranked him as the No. 7 overall in-state prospect.
Arkansas Razorback Recruits 2012
OG Cordale Boyd, 3-star, 6’3”, 290 pounds, Memphis, TN
OG Jeremy Ward, 3-star, 6’4”, 290 pounds, Pottsville, AR
WR D’Arthur Cowan, 3-star, 6’1’, 175 pounds, Olive Branch, MS
WR Keon Hatcher, 4-star, 6’1”, 195 pounds, Owasso, OK
WR Eric Hawkins, 3-star, 6’5”, 220, Longview, TX
WR #Demetrius Wilson, 3-star, 6’2”, 170 pounds, Glendale, AZ
WR McKale McKay, 3-star, 6’6”, 192 pounds, Louisville, KY
RB Nathan Holmes, 3-star, 6’1”, 180 pounds, Port Arthur, TX
RB Donovan Roberts, 3-star, 6’0”, 200 pounds, Norman, OK
RB Jonathan Williams, 4-star, 5’11”, 205 pounds, Allen, TX
TE/DE Jeremy Sprinkle, 3-star, 6’6”, 215, White Hall, AR
TE *Demetrius Dean, 3-star, 6’3”, 250 pounds, Fayetteville, AR
CB Ray Buchanan Jr., 3-star, 5’10”, 170 pounds, Suwanee, GA
CB Jared Collins, 3-star, 5’11”, 170 pounds, Tulsa, OK
FS Will Hines, 3-star, 6’1”, 175 pounds, Waco, TX
SS Defonta Lowe, 3-star, 6’2”, 180 pounds, Bearden, AR
LB A.J. Turner, 3-star, 6’3”, 200 pounds, Lepanto, AR
LB Vin Ascolese, 3-star, 6’2”, 215 pounds, New Bergen, NJ
LB Otha Peters, 4-star, 6’1”, 220 pounds, Covington, LA
DE Brandon Lewis, 3-star, 6’5”, 220 pounds, Memphis, TN
DE JaMichael Winston, 3-star, 6’6”, 230 pounds, Prichard, AL
DE Darius Philon, 3-star, 6’1”, 282 pounds, Prichard, AL
DE Deatrich Wise Jr., 4-star, 6’5”, 220 pounds, Carrolton, TX
DE Taiwan Johnson, 3-star, 6’3”, 240 pounds, Manvel, TX
DE *#Austin Flynn, 3-star, 6’4”, 250 pounds, Los Angeles Harbor CC
*Early enrollee at University of Arkansas
# Denotes junior college player
Position by position breakdown of Arkansas 2012 verbal commitments:
Offensive line: two
Running backs: three
Wide receivers: five
Quarterbacks: none
Tight ends: two
Defensive line: six
Linebackers: three
Safeties: two
Cornerbacks: two
Kickers: none