FAYETTEVILLE – Now that Arkansas’ dreadful first season under Chad Morris has finally come to an end, the staff can turn its full focus to finishing off its 2019 recruiting class.
Despite a 2-10 record on the field, the Razorbacks are holding firm at No. 16 in the nation in the 247Sports team recruiting rankings and could climb even higher if things go well down the final stretch.
The next two weeks in particular could go a long way in determining where the Hogs finish, as they’re set to do several important in-home visits before hosting key targets on official visits next weekend, Dec. 7-9.
Morris and the staff hit the road on Sunday, the first day of a contact period that runs through Dec. 15, and will be seeing numerous targets and current commitments throughout the rest of the week.
Outside of checking in on the current commitments, Arkansas’ top remaining targets can really be narrowed down to a total of eight players.
That list, of course, begins with former Clemson quarterback Kelly Bryant, who will welcome Morris and the entire Arkansas offensive staff into his home for a visit on Thursday.
HawgSports’ sources now believe it’s a two-team battle between the Razorbacks and Missouri for Bryant, who made an official visit in Fayetteville when the Hogs hosted Tulsa in late October. While Bryant has clearly received all of the attention over the last several weeks, the Hogs’ need for immediate help on the offensive line is just as big as their need for a difference maker at quarterback.
Arkansas currently has three offensive linemen committed – four, if one chooses to include Warren (Ark.) two-way lineman Marcus Miller – but none of them is considered hands-down early impact types heading into the 2019 season. There’s nothing wrong with that, either, as most high school offensive linemen aren’t ready to make the jump straight into SEC play.
But the Hogs do need at least one and probably two guys that can start pushing for starting jobs from the moment they join the team.
So far, Arkansas appears to be all-in on two JUCO offensive line targets in Chibueze Nwanna of Scranton (La.) Lackawanna C.C., and Myron Cunningham of Fort Dodge (Iowa) Iowa Central C.C.
Nwanna, 6-7, 315, and Cunningham, 6-5, 300, both play offensive tackle in the JUCO ranks.
Nwanna also holds offers from Arkansas, Cincinnati, Louisville, Maryland and others, while Cunningham’s list includes the Hogs, Oklahoma, Texas and others. Cunningham appears to be down to the Sooners and the Razorbacks.
He and Nwanna will be visited by offensive line coach Dustin Fry this week before their way to the Hill for official visits next Friday, Dec. 7.
Fry will see Cunningham on Wednesday and Nwanna on Saturday.
Defensively, the Razorbacks are still chasing a pair of JUCO linebacker targets to help ease the sting of losing senior Dre Greenlaw to graduation.
Caleb Johnson of Fullerton C.C. in California and Lakia Henry of Dodge City (Kan.) Dodge City C.C. have already made official visits in Fayetteville, and both will be seen by defensive coordinator John Chavis next week.
In the prep ranks, linebacker Chris Russell of Dyersburg (Tenn.) is another name to keep tabs on, as he’ll be visited by Chavis on Thursday.
In the secondary, four-star safety Jalen Catalon of Mansfield (Texas) Legacy was visited by coach Mark Smith on Tuesday, while current Mississippi State cornerback commit Greg Brooks of Harvey (La.) West Jefferson will welcome the Hogs on Wednesday.
The Razorbacks currently have 24 public commitments and two “silent” commitments in a class that will include 29 total signees.