Before Jake Bequette could decide whether he wanted to accept a scholarship to Arkansas and play football for the Razorbacks, he had to decide whether he wanted to play for the Wildcats.
Bequette, a senior defensive end who has made plenty of sacks as a member of Arkansas’s defensive line, told the Times Record of Arkansas that his first scholarship offer came from Kansas State.
It’s only fitting, then, that the senior’s career will end with the Razorbacks playing Kansas State in the Cotton Bowl on Jan. 6.
“It’s kind of funny how it kind of comes back to that,” said Bequette, who said he had offers from Kansas State, Mississippi State and then Arkansas.
Bequette was recruited by former Kansas State coach Ron Prince, who coached at the school for three seasons before being fired in 2008.
Arkansas running backs coach Tim Horton was on Prince’s staff at Kansas State the first season and joked that the offer from the Wildcats is what helped Bequette land at Arkansas in 2006.
“I think I got Jake the scholarship to Arkansas because once K-State offered, then Arkansas offered,” Horton said. “So I give Jake a hard time about that.”
The choice worked out well for Bequette, who grew up in Arkansas. He has started in 41 of 47 games with the Razorbacks and ranks third on the school’s all-time sack list with 21.5.
But Bequette had to wonder at least a little bit about the decision this week, given that his final collegiate game will be against K-State. Right?
Maybe not.
When asked if he would had have committed to K-State had it been the only football team that offered him, he replied: “Let’s not even go there.”
Editor’s Note: On Jan. 6, the Kansas State football team will face Arkansas in the Cotton Bowl. With that in mind, I began counting down to the big game in Cowboys Stadium on Dec. 6 by attempting to write 31 blog posts in 31 days. I use the word “attempting” because I can only think of so many blog ideas at the moment. I’m confident that I can go 31 for 31, but your help is appreciated. Feel free to send a blog idea (or two) my way at krobinett@wichitaeagle.com.