2-sport Pruitt a rare athlete

July 10, 2009 – 6:00 am

Few athletes can claim having scholarship offers in two sports, but Houston Pruitt of Springdale Har-Ber can do just that.
Pruitt, 6-0, 173, 4.55 plays safety in football and has offers from Tulsa and Louisiana-Monroe but recently was offered a baseball scholarship by Arkansas.

Razorback pitching coach Dave Jorn told Pruitt that coach Dave Van Horn and recruiting coordinator/ batting coach Todd Butler were going to watch him pitch at the 6th Annual Xtra Innings Summer Classic in Jonesboro on Sunday and Monday.

On Monday, Jorn called Pruitt with the good news.

“He called me about noon and said he wanted me to be a Razorback,” said Pruitt, who threw 92 miles per hour over the weekend.  “He said he liked that I’m a football player and liked the mentality I have when I’m on the mound.”

Pruitt said in addition to his fastball, he throws a curve ball, slider and changeup.

While he likes football and baseball, Pruitt said he’s considering committing to the Hogs.

“I told my dad that I’ve been dreaming to be a Razorback in anything,” Pruitt said. “If I do baseball it will be at the U of A.”

Pruitt said he and his family will have a meeting with Jorn sometime next week to discuss the offer.