FAYETTEVILLE – Arkansas’ 2019 season hasn’t started off the way head coach Chad Morris had hoped, but the Hogs’ recruiting efforts have remained strong.
The Razorbacks currently rank No. 23 in the 247Sports team rankings for the Class of 2020, and the two latest verbal commitments were among the biggest yet.
Four-star athlete Darin Turner of Memphis (Tenn.) Central chose Arkansas over Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, LSU, Ole Miss, Tennessee and several others to become the Hogs’ 15th commitment. Turner, 6-3, 206, was recruited as a wide receiver target by most but is also a standout safety, which may be where the Razorbacks choose to play him.
His former high school teammates, current freshmen Eric Gregory and Shamar Nash, were four-star recruits when they signed with Arkansas in last year’s recruiting class.
“It felt like home to me,” Turner said. “Plus my brothers are there.”
Two days after Turner announced his college decision, the Razorbacks got more good news from within the state as Bryant High outside linebacker Catrell Wallace went public with his commitment. Wallace, 6-6, 210, held offers from Nebraska, Oklahoma State, Ole Miss and several others but was long predicted to end up with the Hogs.
The fourth-ranked overall prospect in the state of Arkansas is the Hogs’ 16th verbal commitment and the third from the Natural State, joining Jonesboro defensive end/outside linebacker Jashaud Stewart and Hazen defensive end Blayne Toll.
Wallace visited the Razorbacks over the weekend and saw Arkansas win its season opener against Portland State on August 31. He is a long and lean prospect in high school, but his frame could allow him to grow into a defensive end in the SEC. He was recruited to the Hill by tight ends’ coach Barry Lunney, Jr., cornerbacks coach Mark Smith, and defensive ends coach Steve Caldwell.
Turner and Wallace were longtime targets that were expected to join the Razorbacks’ class at some point, but where do the Hogs go from here?
Two of the top remaining targets are both rated four-stars by 247Sports, and Arkansas appears to be the team to beat for both.
Offensive lineman Garrett Hayes of Athens (Texas) is the nation’s No. 48 overall prospect and has high interest in the Razorbacks and Texas A&M. The latest rumblings are that Arkansas’ staff feels great about their chances, while sources close to Texas A&M’s staff believe the Hogs are currently in the lead.
Hayes took his official visit in Fayetteville this past spring. He hasn’t yet set any other official visits and has no time frame in mind to make a decision.
The other remaining target is yet another four-star from Memphis in Whitehaven linebacker Bryson Eason, a teammate of four-star linebacker Martavius French, who committed to Arkansas in late July. Both French and Turner have gone to work on getting Eason to join them in Fayetteville. The Razorbacks have never signed a pair of four-stars from Memphis in the same class, let alone a trio.
Eason is taking his time with the process and may even wait until January 4 to announce his decision at the All-American game, but he and French will be back on the Hill for an official visit in mid-October for the Razorbacks’ game against Auburn.
For those who only care about stars and rankings, landing Hayes and Eason would put Arkansas at No. 18 in the current national recruiting rankings.
The Razorbacks are not planning to host any official visitors for this weekend’s home game against Colorado State, but the staff will welcome at least a few dozen unofficial visitors.
Saturday’s game is set for 3 p.m. and will be televised by the SEC Network.