FAYETTEVILLE – When Chad Morris was officially hired as Arkansas’ head coach on December 7, most fans had already written off the possibility of a strong finish to the 2018 recruiting class. There was a sense that Morris would basically be given a pass due to the challenges he faced upon arriving in Fayetteville. After all, a prolonged coaching search left him with very little time to work with before the early signing period began on December 20.
The signing period was also being coupled with a 25-day dead period, which restricted contact with prospects, and Arkansas was still operating with a partial staff as Morris hadn’t yet made his defensive hires. The chips were stacked, yet somehow Morris and the Razorbacks are in position to finish the 2018 cycle with a bang.
Arkansas added two new commitments on Sunday, two more on Monday, and it appears the Hogs could get good news from others who visited Fayetteville last weekend.
The run of verbal pledges began Sunday morning when linebacker Andrew Parker of New Orleans (La.) Sophie B. Wright went public with his decision after wrapping up his official visit on the Hill.
Parker, 6-2, 225, was an off-the-radar prospect who had been recruited by John Chavis at Texas A&M Once Chavis was officially announced as Arkansas’ new defensive coordinator, he wasted little time in extending an offer to Parker, who attends a brand-new high school in the heart of The Big Easy.
Hours after Parker’s announcement, the Hogs picked up a key commitment from another weekend visitor in Owasso (Okla.) defensive end Courtre Alexander.
A month ago, most felt certain that Alexander would accept a new offer from the Texas Longhorns after his official visit in Austin (Texas).
That wasn’t the case, as the 6-4, 260-pounder turned down the Horns, Kansas State and others when he committed to Morris on Sunday afternoon.
Both Parker and Alexander were seen as important additions, but Monday’s news may have been even bigger as Arkansas flipped heavily recruited safety Myles Mason from Mississippi State.
Mason, a 6-2, 205-pounder from Hewitt-Trussville (Ala.), also held scholarship offers from Auburn, Louisville, LSU, Tennessee and others.
Running back Rakeem Boyd of Independence (Kan.) Independence Community College also jumped on board late Monday afternoon. Boyd, a Houston (Texas) native who signed with Texas A&M out of high school, ran for 1,211 yards and 14 touchdowns as a redshirt-freshman in the JUCO ranks in 2017.
The Razorbacks likely aren’t done receiving commitments from last weekend’s visitors, either. They’re in a favorable position to land a pair from Louisiana in Aaron Brule of powerhouse Rummel High and heavily-recruited safety Joseph Foucha of New Orleans McDonough 35.
Brule, a four-star target according to Rivals.com, is still considering TCU and Oklahoma State.
Foucha told HawgSports.com he has a top three of Arkansas, Arizona State and Auburn, though it’s probably more of a battle between the two SEC schools.
Other weekend visitors included major defensive end target Tyree Wilson of New London (Texas) and Brenham (Texas) wide receiver Treveon Johnson.
Wilson is still committed to Texas A&M but says he has “a tough decision” to make between the Hogs and Aggies.
Johnson, an Oklahoma commitment, said his weekend in Fayetteville raised the Hogs’ chances of stealing one from the Sooners.
The Razorbacks still have two big weekends remaining before the Feb. 7 signing day.
This weekend’s visit list includes offensive lineman Ryan Winkel of Memphis (Tenn.) Christian Brothers, linebacker Jaylen Moody of Conway (S.C.), and a former Arkansas commitment in defensive end John Mincey of Homerville (Ga.) Sandy Creek.
The final weekend’s visitors includes four, four-star prospects, as well.
Many of those targets weren’t even considering Arkansas a month ago, yet the Hogs at least have a chance.
Not all of them will choose Arkansas, but Morris and his staff deserve credit for creating some excitement down the final stretch.