Hognobbing

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FAYETTEVILLE – Arkansas made national noise with its signing class of 2019, but one particular recruiting victory helped the Razorbacks turn a lot of heads down the final stretch. On January 18, the Hogs landed a verbal commitment from Mansfield (Texas) Legacy four-star safety Jalen Catalon, who was considered a top target by TCU, Texas, Oklahoma and many others. 

Catalon, 5-9, 190, had a lengthy recruitment that began with Chad Morris offering him a scholarship to SMU on December 7, 2016, when Catalon was still only a sophomore. 

The heavily-pursued defensive back was recruited to Fayetteville by Arkansas assistant coach Mark Smith, who followed Morris to Arkansas in December 2018 and led the way for the Razorbacks signing two of Catalon’s teammates in defensive linemen Taurean Carter and Enoch Jackson, Jr.

While getting Carter and Jackson to choose Arkansas over several other notable offers, the Razorbacks know the significance of beating the Texas Longhorns for a prospect in their own back yard.

“It really was, it was a real statement with Jalen,” Smith told HawgSports.com. “Of course the other two big boys that were committed to us and signed in December, they’re just fantastic. They did a great job of just helping out with Jalen. At the end of the day, all three of them trusted what we were doing. They believed in us. They knew that special things are on the way at Arkansas. But to cap it off with Jalen here in February, there was nothing sweeter than that.”

For Arkansas, getting Catalon was sweet for several reasons. While it doesn’t happen very often, going into Texas and coming away with a prospect who was desperately wanted by the Longhorns is a very big deal for the Hogs.

Getting three heavily recruited players from the same school – especially one that produces talent on an annual basis – was another shot in the arm for the Razorbacks.

But most important, Catalon addresses Arkansas’ need for a big-time playmaker in the secondary, and there’s a good chance that he’ll see the field sooner rather than later despite still rehabbing from a season-ending knee injury that forced him to miss almost all of his senior year.

After all, Morris claims that Catalon is one of the best he’s ever seen in the high school ranks.

“One of the top high school football players I think I’ve ever seen. He’s top five, for sure,” Morris said. “He’s a fantastic player, played safety and can play a lot of different positions. I’ve been watching high school football for a very long time and recruiting for a very long time and this young man is one of the best I’ve seen. Can play a lot of positions.

“I think the one word I would say more than anything is extremely instinctive and he loves to play the game,” Morris said. “I’ve watched Deshaun Watson play, seen Vince Young play. There’s been some great ones that we’ve seen, and I’d have to go back and think of some more, but he’s up there. He’s very instinctive, especially when you see what he’s having to do in all phases – offense, defensively. He plays quarterback and also comes in and doubles as a safety. Phenomenal baseball player. He’s a well-rounded athlete. He was a great basketball player, so you look at that and look at the impact he’s had on his team.”

Catalon won’t enroll until the summer, but he’s expected to jump right in and push for the starting job at Nickel, where Arkansas returns a pair of juniors in D’Vone McClure and Deon Edwards.