After Myke Tavarres’ official visit to Arkansas a week ago, he said distance from his home out West would play a role as he tried to decide between the Razorbacks and Arizona.
Myke Tavarres visited Arkansas last week.
He thought it over, talked about it with his family and friends and came to a conclusion.
“Whether I go to Arizona or Arkansas, I still have to hop on a plane regardless,” said Tavarres, who grew up in Oregon. “So distance really doesn’t matter. They’ll have to get on a plane either way to come see me.”
Come next winter, Tavarres, a sophomore linebacker at College of the Siskiyous in Weed, Calif., will be hopping on a plane to Arkansas again.
He committed to the Razorbacks on Wednesday, becoming the Hogs’ 11th commitment for 2013.
Tavarres (6-2, 225 pounds, 4.55-second 40-yard dash) has numerous friends who live in Arizona, and Tuscon is about 600 miles closer to his home in Lake Oswego, Ore., than Fayetteville is. He knows friends and family members would have an easier time coming to see him play at Arizona, and he’s a little more familiar with the Pac-12 than the SEC.
But Arkansas’ coaching staff – especially linebackers coach Taver Johnson – played a huge role in his decision.
“Taver Johnson would be my position coach, and I would be spending most of my time with him,” said Tavarrer, who tries to talk to Johnson at least once a week. “Me and him already have a relationship and the chemistry for a player and a coach. It makes it that much better for me to want to play for him. So that is what was really pulling me toward Arkansas. That and the fans. They are outstanding fans. It’s ridiculous.”
In addition to Arkansas and Arizona, he also has offers from Nevada, Oregon State, Purdue, Rutgers and Texas Tech.
Tavarres, whose lead recruiter for Arkansas is assistant coach Kris Cinkovich, had 51 tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, three forced fumbles and an interception in eight games as a freshman for College of the Siskiyous. He was an All-Golden Valley Conference selection in football and also finished first in the decathlon at the NorCal Community College Championship and was fourth in the state decathlon championship.
Tavarres is on pace to graduate from the junior college in December and will have three years to play two at Arkansas.
- Robert Turbeville
- Arkansas Insider - Hawgs247