Interview: College camp circuit should see offers increase for Fort Smith LB Deontre Hardwick

College coaches love evaluating high school recruits in person. The one-on-one time allows coaches to see if recruits are as big, fast, and as skilled as they appear on tape. The time during the camp also allows for coaches to see if a player is coachable and it helps forge a bond with said recruit. For Fort Smith linebacker Deontre Hardwick the time traveling is sure to see his offer sheet double quickly.

Hardwick is a tough as nails linebacker for Fort Smith Northside High School capable of playing the middle or strongside for any Power Five Conference program in the nation. During his junior season he unleashed his brand of football punishment coming up with 112 tackles, 12 tackles for a loss, 8 sacks, 1 interception, 4 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery, and 1 fumble return for a touchdown; no stats taken but assuredly created doubt in at least 12 different ball carriers if football was really something they enjoyed doing.

When we last caught up with Deontre he had offers from Arkansas State and Louisiana Tech. Now Central Arkansas, Missouri State, Memphis, and Eastern Illinois have dropped offers with several top Division-I programs trying to lure the 6’1”, 240 pound, bone crusher onto their campus for a camp this summer, with offers sure to follow.

In a Recruiting News Guru exclusive interview we sat down with Deontre to get an update on his camp schedule and see how his offseason workouts have been going.

Deontre, you now have six offers, congratulations. Which other schools are showing heavy interest in you?

“OSU (Oklahoma State) mails me, FSU (Florida State) sends me mail, Arkansas and Arkansas State sends stuff. LSU is still sending me stuff and Tulsa and Memphis of course. Most of my recruiting stuff has been camp date invites because they want me to come up there.”

Which schools will you camp with this summer?

“Memphis wants me for sure for a camp. I’ll probably go to Arkansas, Ole Miss, and OSU. I’ll try to go to as many camps as I can when I can before school football starts. I know for a fact I’m going to LSU and Memphis. The Memphis camp is on the 11th.”

Do you plan to take any unofficial visits over the summer?

“I plan on taking an unofficial to Arkansas State and UCA for sure. I don’t know when I’m going to either of those schools yet.”

Of the schools that have offered you which ones are pushing hard for your verbal commitment?

“Memphis and Arkansas State are pushing the most.”

What pitch are the coaches using on you to try to get you to commit?

“The Memphis coaches call me Baby Ray Lewis. I like that. Arkansas State is not too far from my home. I like that.”

Are you still doing the crazy two-a-day workouts?

“Yes, I’m still doing my two-a-days. Since the season is over I will do a lot more running and parachute stuff with our school defensive coordinator (Felix Kerr).”

Have you maxed out in bench since you posted 305 or squat when he you hit 455?

“No. I don’t think we’ll max out until later in the summer.”

Written by Ryan Wright

Photo credit: rivals; Deontre at The Opening Camp.