UA/Scout.com combine: Recruiting notes (DEF)

The Under Armour/Scout.com Combine came to the Lone Star State this past Saturday and featured top athletes from Oklahoma, Texas, and Arkansas. With solid performances going on throughout the day, Scout.com had the chance to talk with some defensive prospects for recruiting updates…

Randall Dent, DL, South Grand Prairie
Dent made a big impression in Dallas with his performance at the combine. With the combine showing behind him, he 6-foot-5, 255-pound defensive tackle from South Grand Prairie talked about how he felt he performed.

“It was a good day. I had a good combine with lots of competition out here,” Dent said. “It gave me the chance to see who is the best and the best out of Texas.”

With offers in hand, Dent continues to work hard to pull in a few more. Especially, from the schools that are at the top of his list.

“I hold seven offers, but my Top 3 are LSU, Texas and Oklahoma State, Dent said. “Oklahoma State, Kansas, Oregon, Arizona, Minnesota, Texas Tech are some of the offers I have. I am still evaluating schools that are showing interest in me and see what’s out there. I just wan the best fit for me.”

Dent finished the season with 50 tackles, five sacks, and 15 tackles for loss. As of right now, the LSU camp is on his summer agenda. As far as other visits, he is undecided.

Thomas Ferguson, DB, South Grand Prairie
After a solid performance at the Dallas, it is clear what school the 6-foot-1, 200-pound Ferguson wants to receive an offer from.

“Oklahoma is still my favorite school,” Ferguson said at the. “It’s nice down there and I really feel like I bond with the coaches and the team.”

But Oklahoma is not the only school that is in pursuit of the Texas defender. Texas Tech, Texas A&M, Auburn, OSU are just a few other schools that have shown him interest.

Ferguson spoke on how the recruiting process has gone for him so far.

“It’s been going great. I get a lot of calls from a lot of recruiters, but I feel it (recruiting) is going well,” Ferguson said. “Right now Kansas is my only offer, but I think more will come. I am just going to continue working hard in the off season.”

Ferguson finished the season with 67 tackles, six interceptions, 10 pass break-ups, and a sack.

Michael Vinson, ATH, Katy Morton Ranch
If there were any players whose stocks may go up after the Dallas combine, it would be Vinson. The 5-foot-9, 160-pound Vinson may have improved his recruiting status, but also picked a few things to help him out as a player.

“I learned you have to work harder in order to perform better,” Vinson said. “I came out here and I think I did good in the 40-yard (4.55), but I could have done better. I have to really work hard this spring.”

Right now Vinson said he wants to check out a few Big 12 programs like Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas A&M and plans to attend camps at all of them. He ended his junior season with 989 yards rushing, 321 receiving, and 10 touchdowns.

Vinson ended the interview with one sentence.

“I’m just trying to play Division I football, that’s all,” Vinson said.