FAYETTEVILLE – After spending another week on the recruiting trail, Chad Morris and the Razorback coaching staff will be back on the Hill this weekend as the Hogs host at least six official visitors. The week’s visit list includes four who have already committed to Arkansas, and two other junior college targets that are seen as must-gets for Morris’s staff.
The group is headlined by offensive linemen Myron Cunningham of Fort Dodge (Iowa) Iowa Central Community College and Chibueze Nwanna of Scranton (Pa.) Lackawanna Community College, both of whom are undecided entering their official visits.
The visitors who have already chosen Arkansas include Sardis (Miss.) North Panola quarterback KJ Jefferson, Jefferson (Texas) wide receiver TQ Jackson, Baton Rouge (La.) University Lab offensive lineman Dylan Rathcke, and Searcy (Ark.) offensive lineman Drew Vest, a committed walk-on.
Cunningham, 6-4, 300, is a major target for the Razorbacks as they try to solidify an offensive line that has been among the SEC’s worst groups over the last three seasons.
The Warren (Ohio) native was initially offered by the Hogs on Sept. 26, but schools such as Oklahoma and Texas quickly followed and have made it a close battle leading up to the early national signing day on Dec. 19.
Cunningham says he is now down to Arkansas and Oklahoma, and the Sooners got their chance to host him on an official visit two weekends ago. Many are betting on the Sooners to land the offensive tackle’s signature, but there are some positives working in Arkansas’ favor.
For starters, Cunningham is looking for a chance to play immediately, and the Hogs can definitely offer that as they look to replace three offensive line starters including right tackle Brian Wallace.
Oklahoma is losing starters, too, but the Sooners already have plenty of talent in place to compete for those spots.
Secondly, it’s important to note that both of Cunningham’s parents are expected to make the trip with him this week, and they did not join him for his trip to Norman two weeks ago.
Nwanna, 6-6, 320, is equally as important to Arkansas’ class, which currently includes three high school offensive line commits who chose the Hogs over less-than-stellar offer lists. In addition to the Hogs, Nwanna holds offers from Missouri, Kentucky, Louisville, Cincinnati, Maryland and others.
He made a couple of official visits this past spring, so it’s key that Arkansas is getting what very well could be Nwanna’s final visit before he decides.
Based on what HawgSports has gathered through sources, the Razorbacks like where they’re at with both Cunningham and Nwanna, and believe the latter could become the next to jump on board if his visit goes as planned this weekend.
Both Cunningham and Nwanna received visits from Arkansas staff members Joe Craddock and Dustin Fry during their respective junior college bowl games last week. The two offensive line targets will be seen again this week prior to arriving for their visit on Friday afternoon.
Jefferson, Jackson, Rathcke and Vest were all visited by different members of the Arkansas coaching staff this week, as well. Rathcke will have a late arrival to Fayetteville this weekend as his team plays for a state championship on Friday afternoon.
The Razorbacks currently have 23 public commitments in this year’s recruiting class, which currently ranks 16th in the nation according to 247Sports’ Composite rankings.
Arkansas plans to sign a maximum of 29 new additions for this year’s cycle, with approximately 21-22 of them inking their National Letters of Intent on the opening day of the early signing period, Dec. 19.