FAYETTEVILLE – There were 40,128 tickets scanned for Arkansas’ 23-0 homecoming win over Tulsa last Saturday, but one of those people received far more attention than the others.
Former Clemson quarterback and graduate-transfer Kelly Bryant was in town for his official visit with the Razorbacks, and Hog fans did their part to make him feel welcome on the Hill. Throughout the game, Bryant could be seen sitting with former Razorback great Ryan Mallett – who, coincidentally, became a star in Fayetteville after transferring in from Michigan in 2008.
Fans definitely did their part to make Bryant feel welcome, with many approaching him for selfies and beginning a Kelly Bryant chant in the closing minutes of Arkansas’ win.
Bryant, who led Clemson to a 16-2 record and a College Football Playoff appearance before deciding to use his redshirt and transfer earlier this season, came away impressed by the red carpet treatment.
“It was a really good visit, I really enjoyed it from the first second I got here,” Kelly said. “I love the scenery around the campus, the game, talking to the coaches, it was a really good visit.”
“It made me feel wanted, it kind of felt like home. I heard from all the coaches how crazy all the fans get but you really don’t know until you see it. That was probably one of the most special moments and one of the highlights of the visit. I picked up on the Hog Call. I was confused at first about what they were saying but I got it after a few tries.”
With only one year of eligibility remaining, Bryant wants to make sure he’s surrounded by playmakers wherever he may end up in 2019. The South Carolina native and former four-star prospect said he thinks Arkansas has enough talent in place to make a run in Chad Morris’ second season in Fayetteville.
“They’ve got all the pieces here,” Bryant said. “I feel like if I was to come here I could maybe make a spark but I feel like all the pieces are around here. I’ve just got to sit down and make sure I dot all my I’s cross all my T’s. If I come here I need to make sure I’m making the most out of my opportunity.”
As soon as Bryant was replaced as Clemson’s starter by freshman phenom Trevor Lawrence earlier this season, Arkansas was immediately rumored as a strong candidate to land him as a transfer based on Bryant’s connection to Morris, who served as the Tigers’ offensive coordinator when Bryant committed in 2014.
Bryant also has ties to current Arkansas offensive coordinator Joe Craddock, who was a graduate assistant on Clemson’s staff during that time.
“Our chemistry is good,” Bryant said of Craddock. “He was at Clemson with Coach Morris so there’s a really good connection there. He’s a really great dude, he knows a lot, very knowledgeable.”
Bryant, who threw for 3,338 yards and 16 touchdowns while also rushing for 819 yards and 16 more scores at Clemson, appreciates Arkansas’ approach in trying to land him.
“It means a lot that Morris was honest with me,” Bryant said. “I’ve said this that through this process I don’t want to be recruited, I want to be told the situation from the jump because I’ve been through that phase. I’ve only got one year left. Just talking to Coach Morris, he’s always been the same guy, even when he was at other places.”
Bryant visited North Carolina prior to his stay in Fayetteville. He will visit Missouri this weekend and has no timeline on his final decision.