FAYETTEVILLE – “Full-tilt boogie” is becoming a popular phrase across the state after new Arkansas head football coach Chad Morris used it in his first team meeting last Thursday.
Morris said it in reference to the fast-pace offense he’s bringing to Fayetteville, but the phrase also adequately describes his first few days on the recruiting trail. He’s working with a partially-filled staff as SMU offensive coordinator Joe Craddock, wide receivers coach Justin Stepp and offensive line coach Dustin Frye are bouncing back-and-forth to help the Hogs recruit while also preparing the Mustangs for next Wednesday’s Frisco Bowl.
Being short-handed hasn’t kept the Hogs from making major moves, though.
On Sunday, the Razorbacks flipped two former SMU commitments in Yoakum (Texas) offensive lineman Silas Robinson and Magnolia (Texas) wide receiver Michael Woods.
The two Lone Star talents were longtime pledges to Morris’s former program before officially being offered by the Hogs last Friday.
Morris’s third commitment on Sunday evening was the weekend’s biggest news, as four-star cornerback Ladarrius Bishop of Ashdown (Ark.) flipped from Mississippi State following a 2-hour in-home visit with Arkansas’s staff.
In addition to the new commits, Morris and his assistants have also been busy seeing several other targets in Arkansas and across the state of Texas.
The Razorbacks spent their Monday in eastern Arkansas checking in on offensive line commitment Noah Gatlin of Jonesboro before conducting an in-home visit with heavily recruited quarterback Gerry Bohanon of Earle.
Schertz (Texas) four-star wide receiver Tommy Bush, Owasso (Okla.) defensive end Courtre Alexander, Pulaski Academy offensive lineman and Arkansas commitment Luke Jones, and Fordyce defensive tackle Billy Ferrell were among the others who welcomed UA staff members for in-home visits so far this week.
Ferrell, 6-2, 330, was offered by Alabama and Arkansas last Thursday.
The athletic Redbug plans to take an official visit at UCLA this weekend.
With a dozen commitments now on board, where do the Razorbacks go from here? There is no question that Bohanon is a top priority for Morris’s staff despite the Hogs already having a quarterback commitment from December 20 signee Connor Noland of Greenwood.
The 6-3, 215-pound quarterback would add a different element to Arkansas’s quarterback group as he would be, by far, the most dynamic runner of the bunch.
Bohanon also plans to sign with the school of his choice on December 20.
The Razorbacks could potentially sign as many as three quarterbacks in this year’s class as they also offered John Stephen Jones of Dallas (Texas) Highland Park a blue-shirt signing opportunity last Saturday.
Jones, the grandson of Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and son of Cowboys CEO Stephen Jones, also has a scholarship offer from Texas Tech.
He told HawgSports.com on Sunday that he’ll hold off on a college decision until Highland Park is finished in the state playoffs.
Morris has also made it clear that he would like to sign another wide receiver.
The Razorbacks are making a run at several four-star talents including Bush, Okla., commitments Jaqualyn Crawford of Rockdale (Texas) and Treveon Johnson of Brenham (Texas).
Arkansas is also on the trail of twin brothers Jordan and Joshua Moore, who are teammates of Robinson at Yoakum High.
The Hogs may need another running back as Arkansas commitment Jeremy Gibson of Reserve (La.) Riverside Academy appears to be going a different direction, and it would come as no surprise if Morris makes a push for another offensive lineman in this year’s class.
Defensively, the Razorbacks filled a big void at cornerback with the addition of Bishop, but they still need at least two defensive linemen and a linebacker to round out the class.
Many of these remaining questions will start to be answered this weekend as the Hogs are expected to welcome at least ten official visitors to Fayetteville.
The NCAA’s dead period begins next Monday, two days before the early signing period.