FAYETTEVILLE – Shortly after announcing his commitment to Arkansas on June 14, Dallas (Texas) Highland Park quarterback Chandler Morris said his first order of business would be to recruit other Razorback targets to the Hill.
So far, the four-star signal caller and son of Arkansas head coach Chad Morris has been a man of his word.
Morris, 5-11, 172, has made contact with several of the Hogs’ most wanted recruits for the Class of 2020, including a pair of big-time linemen who have been high on the Razorbacks’ wish list for several months.
“I’m really trying to get Brady Ward,” Morris said. “I like him a lot, and also Omari Thomas. The (July 26 recruiting) cookout is going to be huge.”
Ward is a 6-7, 315-pound offensive tackle from Mobile (Ala.) St. Paul’s Episcopal who has already visited Arkansas once this year and plans to be back for the Hogs’ next recruiting event in late July.
He holds offers from Alabama, LSU, Oklahoma and many others. The Razorbacks offered last December, and offensive line coach Dustin Fry has made a strong impression thus far.
“I really like Coach Fry, he’s a great man,” Ward said. “We have a lot in common. He’s a great coach, and I think their system is pretty good, and I look forward to seeing what they’re going to do this year.
“I think since he’s younger, I can get along with him more. We have a lot in common, so I like that.”
While Ward’s offer list resembles that of a four-star prospect, he’s currently considered a three-star and the No. 45 offensive tackle in the nation according to the 247Sports Composite rankings.
Thomas, 6-5, 299, is a two-way standout from Memphis (Tenn.) Briarcrest Christian.
While the Razorbacks would love to have him on either side of the ball, there’s loads of competition as Alabama, Auburn, Ole Miss, Tennessee and Texas A&M are also among his top six favorite schools.
Thomas and his teammate, running back Jabari Small, have visited Fayetteville multiple times and are likely headed back to the Hill for next month’s cookout.
According to the 247Sports Composite rankings, Thomas is the No. 93 overall prospect and the No. 8 defensive tackle target in the nation for this year’s recruiting class.
He is being recruited by Fry and defensive tackles’ coach Kenny Ingram, who recruits the city of Memphis for the Razorbacks.
In addition to Ward and Thomas, the younger Morris plans to keep working on several other Arkansas targets, including those he’s made relationships with across his home state of Texas.
“I will be on those Texas boys and all over the country,” Morris said. “Hopefully I have the respect from them and they will want to come play with me and get this place right. We’re going to do that for sure.”
This weekend, Morris will compete against some of the nation’s best quarterbacks at the Elite 11 finals in Frisco (Texas).
“I will be wearing that Razorback on a hat and showing that logo off a bit,” Morris said. “Talking to my some of my boys out there, saying, ‘We’ve got something special coming in Fayetteville. Let’s go be a part of it.’ That will be a lot of fun.”
Arkansas currently has nine verbal commitments for the Class of 2020, including a pair of four-stars in Morris and offensive tackle Ty’Kieast Crawford of Carthage (Texas).
The NCAA’s dead period began Monday at 12:01 a.m. and runs through July 24.
The Razorbacks’ next recruiting event, called the “Kickoff Cookout” is scheduled for July 26 in Fayetteville.