FAYETTEVILLE – Since last winter, Bret Bielema has operated under the notion that he would only have room for 14-16 new additions in the recruiting class of 2018. That number could be quite a bit larger now, the Arkansas head coach said at his weekly press conference on Monday.
“It’s probably gone up a little bit just because we’ll have some guys who are early grads,” Bielema said. “Next [week] we’ll honor our seniors, and there’s probably as many as two, maybe even more – not significant guys, not guys who are in the starting lineup – but maybe some guys who were backup players that might get out of here and explore that option [of transferring]. So, the number might increase. I think we could probably get up to a number of maybe twenty guys.”
The Razorbacks currently count 12 verbal commitments for the Class of 2018 after landing offensive lineman Noah Banks from Iowa Western Community College last week.
Technically, 14 of Arkansas’ spots are accounted for as two 2017 additions – Ty Clary and Hayden Henry – joined the program as blue-shirt signees last year. A blue-shirt player is simply a walk-on whose scholarship is delayed for a semester.
Assuming Arkansas’ new target number is increased to 20, the Razorbacks would have approximately six spots left to fill.
The Hogs’ remaining needs have remained the same for several months. It starts up front on the offensive line, which has been a glaring weakness for the Razorbacks over the last two seasons. Arkansas needs immediate help, and the staff believes Banks, 6-7, 305, can help right away at one of the tackle spots. He will have two years to play two seasons when he arrives in January, and chose the Hogs over Missouri, Minnesota, Iowa State and others on Nov. 8.
The Razorbacks also hold commitments from in-state offensive linemen Noah Gatlin of Jonesboro and Luke Jones of Pulaski Academy.
They’d like to add at least one more to the mix, and one of their top targets, offensive tackle Jahmir Johnson of Yuma (Ariz.) Arizona Western C.C., is one of three JUCO official visitors expected to be in Fayetteville for an official visit this weekend.
Johnson, who will have three years to play three seasons at his next stop, has been on a hot streak since Arkansas became his third scholarship offer on Oct. 3.
The 6-6, 290-pound offensive tackle has added offers from the likes of USC, Tennessee, West Virginia, Ole Miss, Arizona State and several others in recent weeks. Johnson is a Philadelphia (Pa.) native who attended the same high school as current Arkansas running back David Williams. He’s one of two Arizona Western players who will be in town this weekend, as the Hogs also welcome defensive tackle Noah Jefferson for a two-day stay.
Jefferson, 6-6, 320, is the younger brother of former Razorback Cam Jefferson, who spent the 2014 season in Fayetteville as a grad-transfer from UNLV.
Noah Jefferson signed with USC out of Las Vegas (Nev.) Liberty and played 14 games for the Trojans as a true freshman in 2015. He only played in one game as a sophomore in 2016 before deciding to transfer. He holds offers from Ole Miss, Fresno State, Oregon State and Florida Atlantic, and will have two years to play two at his next school.
Arkansas’ third JUCO official visitor for this weekend is Tucson (Ariz.) Pima C.C. safety Aaron Maddox, who has offers from Colorado, Louisville, North Carolina State, Temple, Maryland and others. Maddox, 6-1, 190, is a native of North Augusta (S.C.) whose father was a captain on Arizona’s “Desert Swarm” defense of the early 1990s.
Aside from the three JUCO targets, Arkansas also hopes to address remaining needs at outside linebacker, and possibly add a wide receiver and a second running back in this year’s class.
Arkansas kicks off against Mississippi State at 11 a.m. Saturday. CBS will televise the game.