'10 GA DB Stephen Atwater

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'09 GA DB Stephen Atwater

While Arkansas is mainly focusing on the 2009 recruiting class, the Razorbacks also have their eyes open for the 2010 class. The Hogs have offered a scholarship to running back Michael Dyer of Little Rock Christian. They’ve also have offered defensive back Stephen Atwater of Greater Atlanta Christian.

Atwater is the son of former Razorbacks and NFL great Steve Atwater, who starred for the Hogs from 1985-1988 before being the No. 20 pick of the 1989 NFL Draft by the Denver Broncos. The younger Atwater, who played safety, cornerback and wide receiver last season, was offered a scholarship by Arkansas in “late February or early March,” Atlanta Christian Coach Ken Robinson said.

“He got to play quite a bit as sophomore; the best part is he got better as the season went on,” Robinson said. “We originally played him at safety, but for various reasons, we moved him to corner, and he just got better as the season progressed. He led our team with interceptions. He has all of the measurables that people look for, and he’s part of a football family, and football is important to him.” Stephen Atwater and his brother DiAndre, who will be a ninth-grader this season, each wear jersey No. 27, which was their father’s number in college and the NFL.

Robinson said Stephen Atwater is about 5-11, 190 pounds, but is still growing and possesses 4. 5-second speed in the 40-yard dash.

“He’s an incredible student and a great person,” Robinson said. “He has a lot of the intangibles outside the physical part that make him a unique person and a player.” There are other connections that could be an advantage for the Hogs in the recruitment of Stephen Atwater.

Razorbacks recruiting coordinator Tim Horton was a teammate of Steve Atwater for three years in college, and Coach Bobby Petrino’s son Bobby was the second-leading rusher and starting safety for Greater Atlanta Christian last season before moving to Fayetteville.

“Coach Petrino’s son played football with us last football season,” Robinson said. “I hated to lose him. We kind of joked about it a little bit when Coach Petrino left. We said we were probably the first high school team to figure out that we lost our tailback on national TV. “ Bobby was a great player for us. Matter of fact, in a couple of games for us, he just made things happen for us. Some guys just have what you call football sense, and Bobby had that and we hated to see him go. His teammates really liked him.” Robinson said 40 to 50 coaches visited the school during the spring evaluation period, and many took notice of Atwater. “There’s a lot of people that ask about him, and I give them video on him,” he said. “A lot of the colleges that have come through certainly have him on their radar screen.”

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