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The 2014 recruiting season's books will be closed come Wednesday. That is until four years from now when we look back at the class in its entirety and judge its path towards NFL first round picks and that string of three national titles, but those posts are for another day.
For now, we are concerned with tying up the loose ends and watching to see if Bret Bielema and his staff can pull some surprises. The good ones.
OL Andrew Mike will announce his decision on Monday and has his list narrowed down to Florida, Arkansas, Penn State and Vanderbilt. He will be in Nashville for his final official this weekend, but has formed a close relationship with former Vandy, now Penn State coach James Franklin.
You may remember Mike as the prospect who watched a labrum repair surgery on his official visit to Arkansas a few weeks back. He's interested in the pre-med route. Being recruited by Sam Pittman and Jim Chaney, you can tell by this alone the Arkansas coaches are sincerely interested in his services.
Whether or not OL Frank Ragnow decides to become a Razorback or not, how he plans on announcing his decision is fantastic (see the last 0:15 seconds of this video). Also, I don't know the validity of the statements made at the 5:50 mark but their worth other offensive linemen hearing.
He will decide between Arkansas, Minnesota and Florida State at 3:30 Central.
And if you, like me, watched the video in its entirety -- an unimpressive Minnesota local news production with an obviously nervous interviewer on an Arkansas prospect's basketball season -- then you know it's time for the recruiting season to come to an end.
Now on to the guys that will be making their way to Fayetteville for the weekend. It's a smaller group than we've seen over the last month. In addition to the players listed below, Bielema will be hosting a number of players he and his staff will try and convince to walk-on and eventually earn a scholarship.
Uncommitted
S Gary Cross (6-foot-2, 190-pounds)- If it's not obvious to you yet I'll let you in on something. The defensive coaches are looking to add some size to the defensive backfield. Cross is from Fordyce and based on the information available at 247sports.com is one of the walk-ons coming in this weekend. Barry Lunney visited with him early in December and he does not have any offers outstanding.
Committed Elsewhere
DT Breeland Speaks (6-3, 270)- Speaks is currently committed to Ole Miss and is from Jackson, Mississippi. The Hogs appear to have a slim chance of landing him. However, the fact that he is taking an official visit, his last one no less, could be a good sign. Bielema has said time and time again that he just wants to get recruits to campus and then let it do the rest.. Speaks has offers from LSU, Florida State, Mississippi State and South Carolina, too.
As always, there are rumors that a SUPER SECRET visitor may be showing up. We'll see.
