Hognobbing

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FAYETTEVILLE – Last week was a good one for Chad Morris and the Arkansas Razorbacks. Three of the Hogs’ top targets committed to the program and gave the Razorbacks a much-needed momentum boost.

The busy week began on Monday when Jefferson (Texas) wide receiver TQ Jackson went public with his pledge. Jackson, 6-3, 188, 4.5, chose the Hogs over TCU, Texas Tech, Missouri and many others.

“I’ve got a great relationship with the coaches,” Jackson told HawgSports.com. “I like the scheme that they’re trying to put me in and I like what they’re trying to build. I feel like I can be a big part of that and turn it around.

“I’ve actually been committed to them for a couple of weeks. I moved it up because I knew, my parents knew, and it was time. It was like, ‘What am I holding out for?’”

Arkansas landed another heavily-recruited east Texas target just 24 hours later when Lufkin defensive tackle Carl Williams jumped on board. Williams, 6-4, 310, picked the Pigs over offers from Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, TCU and several others.

The big lineman had originally planned to wait until the fall to announce his decision, but a dream sped up the process.

“Last night I had a dream that I was playing for the Razorbacks and we were playing Alabama,” Williams said last Tuesday. “It was crazy. I woke up this morning and I really felt like it was a sign that I need to commit today.

“I really liked Arkansas on my official visit, it was amazing. There’s no other place like it. The coaches are wonderful and it’s beautiful up there.”

Getting Jackson and Williams on board would have been enough to call it a very successful week for the Hogs, but they weren’t done, yet.

On Friday, in-state four-star defensive end Zach Williams of Joe T. Robinson High decided it was time to end the process with a commitment to Arkansas.

Zach Williams, 6-4, 225, 4.6, is the son of former Razorback linebacker Rickey Williams, who ranks eighth on the school’s all-time leading tacklers list.

The younger Williams saw his recruitment take off after the Hogs offered on Feb. 11. Despite a strong push from the likes of Alabama, Texas, TCU, Florida and others, Williams knew he wanted to stay at home.

“The coaches were nice, they were embracing,” Williams said. “I kept going on all of my different visits, and Arkansas was always in the back of my mind.  I guess I just woke up one day and I was like, ‘I guess I’m ready,’ so I told my parents. They told me to wait it out and see if I still feel that way, and I still did.”

The trio of commitments couldn’t have come at a better time for Arkansas. Two weeks ago, the Razorbacks saw three of their most wanted targets come off the board as running back Marcus Major chose Oklahoma, offensive lineman Triston Miller picked in-state North Carolina State, and cornerback Bobby Wolfe decided to stay closer to home at Texas A&M.

The big week could also be the beginning of a big month for the Hogs, as several of their top targets are set to visit Fayetteville for the staff’s “Woo Pig Cookout” on July 27.

It’s an event that usually produces multiple commitments for Morris’ staff, so it’d be no surprise to see a few more jump on board.

A couple of names to keep an eye on are Richmond (Texas) Fort Bend Travis linebacker Zach Zimos, who has Arkansas in his top three after visiting in June, and Pflugerville (Texas) Hendrickson safety Myles Brooks, who recently de-committed from Baylor.