Written by Ryan Wright – interview co-conducted by Jordan Jones

The Arkansas Razorbacks’ coaching staff is coming off an amazing 2015 in-state recruiting haul where only one top player offered from the Natural State left for another Division-I program, receiver K.J. Hill (Ohio State). The top talent within the state has yet again attracted college recruiters from all over the nation with players committed to Boise State, Louisiana Tech, Texas Tech, Illinois, and Arizona just to name a few. The one in-state offer that has yet to commit is 5-star Hope High School defensive end McTelvin Agim.

Agim is a beast listed at 6’3”, 273 pounds, with 4.62 forty-yard dash speed. Over the last two years he has put up video game statistics finishing 2013 with 77 tackles, 32 tackles for a loss, 16 sacks, and one fumble recovery earning Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Sophomore Defensive Player of the Year honors. His 2014 stat line was similar, even with teams running away from him, racking up 72 tackles, 22 tackles for a loss, and four fumble recoveries earning All-State honors again.

Another in-state talent that has drawn national recruiting attention is Smackover High School do-everything two-way star Jordan Jones. Jones (6’2”, 180) is a true athlete lining up at cornerback and safety on defense and at wide receiver and in the backfield at quarterback in the Wildcat offense. The 4.4 speedster had 25 receptions, 687 yards, and 10 touchdowns as a sophomore and 31 receptions, 779 yards, and nine scores a year ago.

Jones was one of the first Class of 2016 players to commit to the Hogs making his pledge on June 19, 2014. The early commitment has kept most D-I teams away but both Alabama and Ole Miss have recently started courting Jones again.

For Agim, offers for the southeast Arkansas talent have come in from across the nation with Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, Houston, LSU, Mississippi State, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Stanford, TCU, Texas, Louisiana-Monroe, Missouri, and Arkansas State hoping to land this difference maker. Agim has set an announcement date of Sept. 5 naming his Top 4 schools as Arkansas, Baylor, Texas A&M, and Ole Miss.

In a truly exclusive Recruiting News Guru interview, Jordan Jones and I sat down with McTelvin after a recent scrimmage to discuss his upcoming senior season and his recruiting process. I also flipped the switch on Jordan a time or two to get his thoughts on the recruiting process as a Razorback commitment.

Interview

McTelvin, the Bobcats just finished a scrimmage, how does Hope look going into the 2015 season?

“We’re looking pretty good. We just got done with a scrimmage, we still have some things to fix but we are way ahead of where we were at this time last year.”

What do you think will be the strength of this year’s Hope team?

“The defense most definitely. Our defense is stepping up. Our offense will score but our defense will be the main focus point.”

What did you do in the offseason to prepare for your senior year?

“I did CrossFit this summer. I was trying to get my endurance up and get faster and stronger too.”

What were some of the gains you made in the offseason working out? Did you see a jump in your bench press, 40, or shuttle run?

“I’ve seen it in my endurance. I’ve been able to go longer than others on the team. Others were gassed and I was still good. I was able to do my sprints faster than others. I’m able to get my wind back faster.”

What are your goals for the 2015 football season?

“All-State, state champs, and all A’s in class. Things like that.”

McTelvin, where all have you unofficially visited in the offseason?

“This offseason I went to Baylor, Arkansas, Ole Miss, and Texas A&M – I don’t think I saw anybody else. Yeah, the only schools I visited are in my Top 4.”

Jordan: Being that you’re from Arkansas do you feel pressure on you to go to Arkansas? I know for me, because I’m from Arkansas, everyone was expecting me to go there.

“Being in Arkansas, but I am from Texas, you’re going to get pressure. The Hogs have some of the craziest fans. They will stay in the stands until the clock hits all zeroes, even if it is a blowout. They are great fans. I do get pressure from everywhere, especially on social media. I have family that plays for Baylor and one plays for Texas A&M. I feel pressure to go there all the time. This is a decision you have to make for yourself. Nobody can do that for you.”

Great question. McTelvin, when you sit down and go over your pros and cons list, what are some of the things you look at for a given school or program?

“I did that. I did my pros and cons. Some things that excite me about the schools are who will help me get to the next level and help me be a dominating player. Which school will help me get exposure while giving me a good education at the same time?

What type of feedback have you received from these colleges? What are the different colleges telling you will make you a dominating player at the D-I level?

“Really it’s my mindset. A lot of the game is mental. My mindset is that I’m going to be the best. I’m not going to let anybody out work me. That’s what coaches like. My mind is above my age. My age does not deter my mindset. When I was in ninth grade I sat down and said this is what I want to do. I’ve put my mindset to being the best. Coaches really like that because it’s different. That’s one thing a lot of coaches tell me. My first step too.”

Jordan: When you think about your game, what will that one college get with you once you are on campus?

“They’re going to get a player that is dominating on the field. Football is really all that I have. Everybody is going to end up dying one day. With football I feel like there’s God waiting. He’s given me this. I give it my all. I’m not going to half-step. I’m not going to give 95 percent. I’m going to go full throttle every chance I get. You never know when you will take your last snap on the field.”

McTelvin, you picked Sept. 5 as your announcement date, was there a special reason why you picked that day?

“My family reunion, also I want to help the school recruit that I am going to commit to. My family reunion is that weekend. I wanted to do it around my family. I’m big on family. I feel like if everything goes wrong my family will be there. If I break my leg and everything is over my family will still be there. They’re stuck with me. I’m really big on family and I want to share this with them.”

When you make your announcement are you going to do something simple, have four hats on a table, or read from a prepared statement? Have you figured that part of the announcement out yet?

“I’m thinking about doing four hats or maybe just one. I have not decided yet. I’m doing it at my grandmother’s house in the front yard. That’s where it all started. She was a real big part of helping me become the person that I am. She was a big part of my life when I was young. Without her influence I don’t know where I would be right now.”

McTelvin, does one of the schools in your Top 4 already know you’re a commitment? Are you a silent commitment already or when you commit will this be a surprise to everyone?

“I’ve talked to all of the schools. I told one of them I’m feeling them more than the others. I’m just waiting to announce to everyone.”

Jordan: McTelvin, what’s been the hardest part of your recruiting process?

“Believing in somebody. This is potentially a multi-million dollar decision. It’s hard to put your trust in someone that you do not know and did not grow up with. I’d say that is the hardest part, putting your trust in somebody. You’re taking a leap of faith, that’s hard.”

Guys, great question and answer. Jordan, for you what was the hardest part of your recruiting process?

“My recruiting process was not that hard. Just staying committed when other schools are promising this and promising that. Just staying with it and not listening to all the doubters saying “I don’t know why you’re going there they don’t throw ball.” That was pretty much the hard part hearing the negative side.”

I have a question for both of you. What is one thing you would change about the recruiting process?

McTelvin: “I can’t really name something. I visited every college I wanted to visit. I feel good with my decision that I’m making. I went to the camps for all four schools. Over the last five weeks I’ve visited the campus and spent the whole weekend with them. It was basically like an official. I really wish I could have had an official but because I am graduating early I won’t be able to do that with football, the ACT, and everything like that.”

Jordan, what about for you?

“I really don’t know because Fayetteville, University of Arkansas, was the only school that really pushed hard for me. I had an offer from Tulsa but Arkansas came to me and they told me what I needed to do grade wise. I don’t think I’d change anything about the process. It’s just the process we have to live with.”

McTelvin, without trying to give anything away, is there a difference between the school you are going to commit to and school No. 2 on your list? What is that slight difference between the schools?

“Business. I’m the type of guy that gives 110 percent. I also want the coaches and players at the school to give the same amount of effort. If I get hurt I don’t want it to feel like it’s for nothing. I want to be where everyone has the same mentality as me. I feel like I’m trying to get ready for the next level so I want to go to a school that can get me ready for that opportunity.”

When you watch college or NFL games is there a player or two you like to watch to pickup different aspects of the game?

“In college, I was watching Jadeveon Clowney (South Carolina), his sophomore season. That’s how I really try to model myself after. I’m a big fan of his. DeMarcus Ware (Denver Broncos), with the Cowboys, that’s my favorite team. Those are my top two players.”

What do you want to major in when you go to college?

“Kinesiology, study of the body. That’s something that’s interesting to me. I want to be a coach when I get out.”

What is your favorite part of playing football?

“It is a stress release. If something happens in life it can mess you up all day, being able to play is a stress reliever. I really like high school football and being able to play football with the guys you grew up with that grew up in the same town with you. When you get to college there are different personalities and it’s a different world. In high school you came from the same area. Friday nights are something different. You’ll never get that again. The team chemistry is something special.”

Backtracking a little bit but, you open up the season against Nashville right?

“We open on Sept. 4. I’d say, naw I can’t say it because I feel like every team will be a challenge and every team we face I’ll have to go out hard when we play them.”

Hey guys, thanks for taking time to do the interview. This was a lot of fun.

McTelvin: “Yeah, it was cool. Thanks for calling me and doing this.”

Jordan: “You’re welcome.”

Good luck with your decision. We’ll be waiting eagerly to see where you’re going.

Photo credit: twitter.com; Agim at Arkansas signing autographs.

Photo credit: twitter.com; Agim at Baylor with Tre Davis and Davion Hall.

Photo credit: scout.com; No. 33 McTelvin Agim.

Photo credit: scout.com; Jordan Jones at Arkansas’ indoor facility.