FAYETTEVILLE – The months of April and May used to be a slower time in the world of college football recruiting.
Prior to recent changes to the NCAA’s recruiting rules, coaches would enjoy some downtime between the end of spring practices and the beginning of prospect camps in June.
That’s certainly not the case anymore, though, as recruits are now allowed to start taking their official visits beginning on April 1 of their junior year.
For Chad Morris and the Arkansas Razorbacks, the next few weeks are beginning to fill up with several targets locking in visit dates with the Hogs.
So far, five of Arkansas’ most wanted are slated to be in Fayetteville on the April 5-7 weekend, which coincides with the Razorbacks’ annual spring Red-White game on Saturday, April 6, and two others are scheduled for the following weekend of April 12-14.
The April 5-7 group includes four, four-star recruits in Norco (Calif.) quarterback Shane Illingworth, Lufkin (Texas) wide receiver Ja’Lynn Polk, Lufkin (Texas) safety Jerrin Thompson, and Carrollton (Texas) Hebron safety Darius Snow, as well as three-star running back Kelvontay Dixon of Carthage (Texas).
Illingworth, 6-6, 225, is one of the more intriguing targets on Arkansas’ wish list for the Class of 2020.
The impressive-looking junior made an unofficial visit in Fayetteville last spring and, despite being recruited primarily by Pac-12 programs much closer to home, still considers the Hogs one of his top choices.
While the Razorbacks have targeted mostly dual-threat quarterbacks as of late, Illingworth is one of the few pro-style quarterbacks to be offered by the Hogs in 2020.
“I have a great relationship with the coaching staff there and I think they’re pushing hardest right now,” Illingworth told 247Sports. “I already visited once before and felt really comfortable there so I’m excited to get back out there again and re-connect with the coaches and players.”
East Texas targets Polk, Thompson and Dixon were all in Fayetteville just a couple of weeks ago when the Razorbacks hosted an elite prospect day on March 9.
Arkansas is still considered the team to beat for Polk, a 6-3, 185-pound wide receiver who was recently bumped to four-star status by 247Sports.
His teammate, Thompson, 6-0, 185, is the No. 10 safety prospect in the nation and said Arkansas has climbed into his top two favorites after seeing Fayetteville in early March.
Dixon, a 5-11, 175-pounder who is also being recruited by some as a wide receiver target, also remains high on the Hogs despite having an offer from the in-state Texas Longhorns, where his brother plays running back.
Snow is another notable four-star prospect on Arkansas’ visit list for the Red-White weekend, as he owns a massive offer list and has been on the Hogs’ most wanted list for well over a year.
The 6-1, 216-pound safety is the son of former NBA standout Eric Snow, who attended Michigan State University prior to his 14-year professional career.
Two more heavily-recruited Texas prospects have locked in official visits with the Hogs for the following weekend of April 12-14, which lines up with this year’s Row Week on the Hill.
The early April 12-14 list includes four-star offensive lineman Ty’Kieast Crawford, a teammate of Dixon at Carthage (Texas), and Crockett (Texas) tight end Allen Horace, both of whom were in town for the big recruiting day on March 9.
Crawford, 6-5, 318, is one of the nation’s elite prospects, coming in at No. 69 overall in the most recent 247Sports rankings.
Horace, 6-4, 233, is a three-star target with offers from Arkansas, Baylor, Nebraska, Oklahoma State and others.
Arkansas’ spring game is set for Saturday, April 6 at 3 p.m.