FAYETTEVILLE – Last year the NCAA passed two rules that have completely changed the way recruiting works in major college football. The first change gave high school prospects an opportunity to sign with the school of their choice in the middle of December, which about 70 percent chose to do in the Class of 2018.
The second major rule change – which allows recruits to start taking official visits between April 1 and June 24 as opposed to the start of their senior season – wasn’t viewed as a big deal at the time but is starting to create a major buzz. Many head coaches aren’t in favor of the idea and are choosing to not host spring official visitors at all.
At Arkansas, though, Chad Morris and the Razorbacks are taking a “come one, come all” approach. The Hogs will welcome at least five of their offered targets beginning this Friday and plan to have more visitors on campus in the weeks ahead.
This weekend’s group features a pair of four-star defensive players and three offensive linemen.
Adonis Otey, a cornerback from Murfreesboro (Tenn.) and the nation’s No. 167 overall prospect according to Rivals.com, will be getting his second look at Fayetteville when he arrives on Friday. Otey, 6-1, 170, was part of a large group of Tennessee Studs who visited the Hill unofficially on Feb. 25.
In addition to Arkansas, he holds offers from Alabama, Florida, Florida State, LSU, Michigan, Ohio State, Oklahoma and several others.
Otey said he was pleasantly surprised by his first trip to Fayetteville.
“They’re going to be up there now because I actually love it there,” Otey said. “It’s raised them up there now. I didn’t know much before coming up there, but I know a lot now and I love it.”
Collin Clay, a defensive end from Oklahoma City Putnam City, is another four-star prospect who plans to be back on campus this weekend. The 6-5, 255-pound Clay told HawgSports.com recently that Arkansas is still No. 1 on his list heading into the visit.
“I talk to them every day. They show a lot of love,” Clay said. “They’re still in the lead right now.” Clay has a current top ten that includes Arkansas, Florida, TCU, Michigan, Colorado, North Carolina, Oklahoma State, Oregon, Georgia and Duke.
On offensive, the Razorbacks will be hosting one lineman who’s already committed to play in Fayetteville in addition to two other mammoth tackles who are very high on the Hogs’ board. Beaux Limmer, 6-5, 260, of Tyler (Texas) pledged to Arkansas on March 8, turning down other offers from Baylor, Northwestern, Oklahoma State, Vanderbilt and others.
Limmer plays for Lee High, which is coached by Kurt Traylor, the brother of current Arkansas running backs coach Jeff Traylor. While Limmer isn’t exactly a small young man, he’ll look like a runt compared to the other two offensive linemen on campus this weekend.
Joseph Stone is a 6-8, 340-pound tackle from Trussville (Ala.) Hewitt-Trusville, and Trevor Roberson of Wellington (Texas) is even bigger at 6-11, 345. Stone has already visited Arkansas unofficially on Feb. 24. He has offers from Louisville, Purdue and others, but there’s a decent chance he jumps on board with the Razorbacks very soon after saying the Hogs are in the lead for his services.
Roberson will be a first-time visitor in Fayetteville. His offer list includes the Hogs, TCU, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Baylor and several others.
Arkansas currently has three commitments for the 2019 class in Limmer, Rison (Ark.) defensive back Malik Chavis, and Memphis (Tenn.) Central defensive lineman Trevis Hopper.