FAYETTEVILLE – Arkansas’ coaching staff knows the importance of signing a high-quality group of offensive linemen in the Class of 2019. The Razorbacks will go through the upcoming season with 13 linemen on scholarship – roughly three short of their usual comfort zone – before losing current starters Hjalte Froholdt, Johnny Gibson and Brian Wallace to graduation.
Head coach Chad Morris added three offensive linemen in his first signing class and now looks to land five more in the 2019 haul. The Hogs have already gained two of their top targets for the class, as Beaux Limmer of Tyler (Texas) Lee committed on March 8 and Joseph Stone of Trussville (Ala.) Hewitt jumped on board this past Sunday.
But there’s still much work to be done. Arkansas is having to sweat it out for a couple of instate four-star offensive line targets in Stacey Wilkins of Camden Fairview and Darius Thomas of Jonesboro.
Wilkins, who has quickly become one of the nation’s fastest-rising prospects, now holds offers from the likes of Florida State, Georgia, Oklahoma, Texas and many others. The 6-7, 280-pound tackle was back in Norman (Okla.) this past weekend for his second visit with the Sooners, the team many believe is in the lead to land Wilkins’ signature. Good news for the Hogs in their pursuit of Wilkins is that he plans to hold off on a decision for several more months.
A younger cousin of Shawn Andrews, arguably the greatest offensive linemen in Razorback football history, Wilkins has visited UA multiple times and is staying in close contact with Arkansas’ offensive staff, so the Hogs aren’t out of it by any means.
With Thomas, a 6-6, 310-pounder who holds multiple SEC offers, it’s a lot harder to judge exactly where things stand at the moment. Thomas plays it very close to the vest, even in the rare occasion of doing an interview.
The fact that he grew up a Razorback fan and has arrived at camps in a vehicle that features a Hog license plate could mean everything, or it could mean nothing at all. What is known for sure is that Arkansas’ staff is willing to wait it out on both Wilkins and Thomas, because it’s very rare for the Natural State to produce two linemen of their caliber in the same class.
However, Morris’ staff has no choice but to pursue other talent in the meantime.
This past weekend, the Hogs hosted one of their most wanted in mammoth tackle Trevor Roberson of Wellington (Texas). Roberson, who checked in at a jaw-dropping 6-11, 380 pounds in Fayetteville, told HawgSports that Arkansas is now in his top group of schools following an eye-opening visit.
“Arkansas, for me, definitely has a whole new ranking of where I thought it would be,” Roberson said. “Arkansas is definitely a contender for whenever I choose a school. I didn’t come in here with low expectations at all, but my expectations weren’t as high as they should have been. This place blew me out of the water. Phenomenal, One hundred percent phenomenal. It was completely outstanding.”
This weekend, the Razorbacks will roll out the red carpet for another top target as Charlotte (NC) Country Day offensive tackle Triston Miller makes his way to NWA. Miller, 6-6, 275, holds offers from Arkansas, Tennessee, West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina, Duke and others.
On May 4, Arkansas will get its chance to host another major target in Jack Buford of St. Louis (Mo.) Lutheran North. Buford has already taken trips to Illinois, Missouri, Oklahoma, Georgia and others, and currently holds nearly 30 scholarship offers.