Hogs in the mix for emerging DB

Mansfield (Texas) Timberview defensive back Trevor Walker de-committed from Washington State last week, and now the Razorbacks are very much in the picture with defensive tackles assistant Kevin Peoples leading the charge.

Walker, 6-1, 190, 4.53, was flying well under the radar until several programs made their way to see him in action during spring ball. The safety accepted his first big offer from the Cougars, but 19 offers later, Walker wants to make sure he checks out all of his options before coming to a final decision.

The senior said late Monday night that Arkansas is one of the schools he definitely wants to learn more about over the next few months.

"That was one of the things with Arkansas - I talked to Coach Peoples after he came to one of my practices. I gave him a call again last week after I de-committed, told him I had de-committed, and that's when he said he wanted to see my film," Walker said. "I talked to him the next day and he told me the defensive backs coach had seen it and they wanted to offer right away.

"They wanted me to come up for their camp on the 21st, but I guess they liked the film enough to go ahead and offer. I'm not sure about coming to the camp, but I know I want to come hopefully sometime this summer. If not, I know I want to come officially this season.

"I look at Arkansas as being a school that I can come in there and be on a team that competes for a national championship."

One thing that has some prospects a little hesitant of the Razorbacks is their current coaching situation after Bobby Petrino's unexpected dismissal in April. But Walker, who exploded onto the scene in just a matter of weeks, doesn't see it as an issue at all.

"For me, like I said, Arkansas hadn't heard about me until after all of that," Walker said. "I wasn't being recruited by them before (the coaching change), so it doesn't impact someone like me because of the timing of it."

Walker, who owns a 455-pound squat max and a 37-inch vertical, has the type of versatility that Arkansas and many others would love to add on defense. He's also a top notch student and doesn't mind putting in extra work in the film room.

"I think a lot of schools look at my film and my grades and think I'm more of a package type of guy," Walker said. "I'm a bigger defensive back, I can step up in the box, and if you look at my film you'll see that I roll down and cover the slot. That's something I've been doing since my sophomore year. I look at myself as a hybrid. Coach asks me to play Free, then I can do that. If he asks me to man up on the outside receiver, then I can. And if he wants an eighth or ninth man in the box, then I can step up and help with the run.

"Looking at my grades, knowing me as a person and being a student of the game, I think I have knowledge of the game. I used to play quarterback and I think that helps. I think they look at all of that and just say, 'Okay, let's go for him.'"

So, what's next for the talented safety, and when would he like to make a final decision?

"I'm taking it easy right now, honestly," Walker said. "I'm trying to visit schools as much as I can and eventually make the right decision. I know that'll probably be after the season, or that's the way it's looking right now, anyways."

Walker had 89 tackles, 17 pass break-ups and five interceptions as a junior last fall. As a sophomore, he recorded 73 stops, 11 PBUs and four picks.

He is the No. 72 overall player in the state of Texas according to Rivals.com.