FAYETTEVILLE – In addition to putting the finishing touches on a top 25 recruiting class this week, Chad Morris and the Razorbacks are also adding a solid group of preferred walk-ons to the 2019 roster. Preferred walk-ons are different from traditional walk-ons in that they are guaranteed a spot on the 105-man roster when summer camp begins in August.
Most traditional walk-ons don’t start practicing with the team until classes begin a few weeks after the first day of camp.
This year, Morris and his staff offered approximately 13 players a preferred spot, and so far, they’ve come away with some of their most wanted.
Searcy offensive lineman Drew Vest was the first PWO to jump on board with the Razorbacks in late November. Vest, 6-6, 300, was originally headed to UCA on a scholarship, but the opportunity to play for the home state Hogs was too much for him to pass up. He graduated high school early and enrolled at the UA in December, meaning he’ll be able to get a head start by going through spring drills as a true freshman.
Vest will be asked to play guard for the Razorbacks.
One of Arkansas’ biggest PWO gets in this year’s class happened when Pulaski Academy wide receiver John David White committed in late January. White, 5-11, 175, grabbed the state’s attention as a senior when he caught 86 passes for 1,732 yards and a staggering 30 touchdowns.
His impressive production brought opportunities from UCA, Air Force, Oklahoma State, Arkansas State and others, but he’s headed to Fayetteville to join his high school teammate, 2019 four-star tight end Hudson Henry.
Last Thursday, the Hogs landed another in-state offensive lineman as a preferred walk-on when Shiloh Christian’s Logan Kallesen went public with his decision. Kallesen, who was offered a spot months before Vest landed his, chose the Razorbacks over a scholarship offer from Harding and other smaller programs. He will be a center for Arkansas offensive line coach Dustin Fry.
On Super Bowl Sunday, the Razorbacks added a defensive PWO in Jonesboro linebacker Logan Orr. The 6-2, 220-pounder went under the radar as a high school prospect after missing all of his junior season with injuries, but went on to become one of the state’s top defensive players as a senior this past fall.
Orr, whose father played baseball at the UA, chose the Razorbacks over a preferred walk-on offer from his hometown Arkansas State Red Wolves.
Greenwood High defensive end Morgan Hanna, 6-4, 220, added his name to Arkansas’ preferred walk-on commitment list on Monday. Hanna had several scholarship options, including Arkansas Tech, Henderson State and Ouachita Baptist, and also received PWO offers from Alabama and TCU down the final stretch.
The Hogs may not be done adding walk-ons for this year’s class, either, as they’re still awaiting answers from several other targets. One of those is Dallas (Texas) Highland Park cornerback Hudson Clark, who is expected to make his decision between Arkansas, Texas and SMU at any time.
The 6-2, 180-pound defensive back racked up 40 tackles and an impressive nine interceptions as a senior. Clark’s parents both attended the UA, and his father, Travis, has worked as a senior director for the Dallas Cowboys for nearly 30 years.
Clark’s teammate, wide receiver Finnegan Corwin, also owns a PWO offer from Arkansas and could be close to a decision, as well.
Both Clark and Finnegan took official visits in Fayetteville on the weekend of January 18.
Lastly, Arkansas is still targeting Memphis (Tenn.) Briarcrest Christian tight end Richard Hunt, who also holds a PWO spot at Alabama.