Hognobbing

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FAYETTEVILLE – Shortly after putting the finishing touches on its 2019 signing class, it didn’t take Arkansas long to start the 2020 cycle with a bang. Last Friday, the Razorbacks landed a surprise commitment for next year’s class when heavily-recruited wide receiver Ze’Vian Capers of Cumming (Ga.) Denmark went public with his pledge via Twitter.

Capers, 6-4, 200, chose the Hogs over Clemson, Florida, Louisville, Michigan State, South Carolina and others to become Arkansas’ first addition to the 2020 class. Capers was recruited by Arkansas wide receivers coach Justin Stepp.

“It was mainly the relationship I have with Coach (Chad) Morris and Coach Stepp,” Capers said. “We talk every single day, and that’s kind of the main thing, the relationships. When I went up there for a visit not too long ago, they had a tough season at 2-10. But when I went up there to see them play LSU, the place was rocking. The fans were enjoying the game, and that’s the main thing, I got a family vibe.”

Capers’ decision came much earlier than expected, especially considering he had just trimmed his list to 10 favorites in January, but Arkansas’ coaches emphasized the importance of him being the first to jump on board.

“It means a lot to be the first commitment,” Capers said. “Now I can start helping Arkansas get some guys to come join me and put Arkansas back on top.”

Getting Capers in the boat was especially big news for Stepp, who signed arguably the best group of wide receivers in the nation for the 2019 class. Stepp’s 2019 haul included four, four-stars in Treylon Burks, Trey Knox, TQ Jackson and Shamar Nash, and Arkansas finished as the only team to land four of the nation’s top 50 wide receivers in 247Sports’ rankings.

The Razorbacks are still in good shape for other notable wide receivers for the 2020 class, too, as HawgSports.com currently lists six receivers having “warm” interest in Arkansas.

That group includes a pair of four-stars in Collin Sullivan, 6-1, 184, of Round Rock (Texas) and Javian Hester, 6-3, 175, of Tulsa (Okla.) Washington, both of whom have already visited Fayetteville and will be back on the Hill for Arkansas’ highly anticipated prospect day on March 9.

Savion Williams, 6-4, 195, of Marshall (Texas), Caleb Medford, 6-3, 185, of Henderson (Texas), and Ja’Lynn Polk, 6-2, 185, of Lufkin (Texas) are three more big-bodied receivers who plan to be on campus that day, as well, and all three already hold impressive offer lists.

Rico Powers, 6-2, 180, of Savannah (Ga.) Benedictine and Josh Downs, 5-10, 165, of Suwanee (Ga.) North Gwinnett are two other four-star targets that Arkansas is hoping to lock in visits with over the next few weeks. 

Since four were signed in the 2019 class, Arkansas will likely be very selective with its remaining two scholarship spots for this year’s class. 

Overall, the Hogs are currently projected to have room for a total of 19-21 signees in the 2020 cycle as three scholarships went unclaimed for the 2019 class and can roll over to next year’s efforts.

Arkansas could still use those remaining spots to find a late addition at linebacker, or even bring in another graduate-transfer quarterback at some point this offseason.

Texas A&M redshirt-sophomore quarterback Nick Starkel has already announced his intentions to grad-transfer after the spring semester, and Arkansas appears to be the early favorite for his services.

The Razorbacks already have one grad-transfer quarterback in this year’s class in Ben Hicks, who transferred in from SMU in January.