Edmond North WR Mitch Perkinson talks Arkansas and one-day camp circuit

Written by Ryan Wright

Mitch Perkinson had a breakout season for Edmond North High School in 2014. The Huskies had an up-and-down season but Perkinson routinely found a way to get open coming up with 25 receptions for 420 yards with two touchdowns.

The roughly 6’0”, 177 pound, slot/possession receiver is on a lot of college recruiting boards with teams like Kansas, Kansas State, SMU, North Texas, Central Arkansas, and Wyoming all in a wait-and-see mode based on Perkinson’s senior season. Now the Oklahoma talent can add one more school to his list of growing interests, the University of Arkansas.

Perkinson just finished another eye opening one-day college camp performance with the Razorbacks and sat down for an exclusive Recruiting News Guru interview to discuss his camp performance and give an update on how his college camp circuit has gone so far this summer.

 

Mitch, how did the Arkansas camp go for you yesterday?

“It went really well. I performed really well in the one-on-ones. We did some 7×7 and I made some great grabs in 7×7. I really liked Coach (Michael) Smith, the wide receiver coach. I just liked the way he coached and I had a really good day yesterday.”

Can you set the scene on at least one of the great plays you made during the camp?

“One of the routes I ran in one-on-ones was a stutter comeback. The cornerback, I just totally faked. He thought I was going deep and I came back, I got him pretty well.”

Did the coaches talk to you after camp?

“Yes. I talked to Coach Smith. I got to talk to Coach Smith a little bit. He said he liked my routes and my hands. He said those are very valuable. I actually got to talk to some of the players there. They were coaching as well. One of the players showed me around the facilities after. I really liked the facilities.

Who showed you around?

“Drew Morgan (receiver).”

Did Drew have any insight on the camp or any words of wisdom to share with you?

“He was helping me with a lot of things. He was helping me at the top of my routes to keep my elbows in and my hands open. Just things that will help me be a better receiver.”

When you finished up with Coach Smith, did he layout the steps going forward between you and the Arkansas program?

“He didn’t talk too much about it. He said he was going to come watch us the first game against Santa Fe to watch me and Calvin Bundage. He really likes Bundage, so he’ll be at that first game.”

What did the Hogs measure you at their camp?

“They measured me at 5’ 10”, 175.

Did you shrink when you went to Arkansas?

“I think I did. I must have shrunk. Usually I am 5’11” or so.”

What are some of the other camps you’ve been to so far?

“I’ve been to Missouri State, Central Arkansas. I went to the Wyoming camp two days ago. Kansas State, Kansas, Stephen F. Austin, Lamar, and Colorado State, I think that is about it. I have some other camps coming up as well.”

What are the other camps you have coming up?

“I have SMU, North Texas, Abilene Christian, Tulsa, and Arkansas State.”

I know your best 40-time is in the 4.5 range. What is the best time you’ve clocked during the camp circuit?

“At Kansas State I ran a 4.63. I’ve not been able to get down in the 4.5 range at the camps but I’ve also not been working out since I’ve been going to all the camps. That should go back down pretty soon.”

Of all the camps you’ve attended which camp was your best in terms of performance?

“I think I did really well at was at Kansas State. Coach (Andre) Coleman, he loved my route running. They really seemed to like me up there. I went undefeated in one-on-ones there. I didn’t lose one rep there. I was very proud of that.”

Where was everything left with KSU after the camp?

“They told me I made it on their recruiting board. I thought that was a good deal. I talked to their recruiting coordinator, the D-line coach, Coach (Blake) Seiler. He said he was definitely going to be in touch with me and watch me this year.”

With all the camps you have attended what are some of the things that you have learned from these camps that will help you throughout your senior year?

“I think its good going around the country getting a feel going against all these different DBs. I think that will help me during the season. I’ll be ready for any type of coverage or anything a DB tried to throw at me I’ll be ready for it.”

Have you made any changes to how you run routes since attending the camps?

“Yeah, I’ve made some changes to the way I come out of the top of my breaks, makes me faster. I’ve learned different routes each colleges uses.”

With the upcoming camps you have left, what is your focus for those camps? What do you hope to gain from these upcoming camps?

“The most, I liked to pull an offer from one of the schools. If not, I want them to see me in person and fully evaluate me. I just want them to let me know what they think about me and see how it goes from there.”

 

Photo credit: Mitch Perkinson; Mitch with Coach Smith.

Photo credit: Mitch Perkinson; Mitch with Drew Morgan.