Each week, HawgBeat.com provides a completely free update of everything going on in the recruiting world for the Arkansas Razorbacks.
Arkansas
HawgBeat – Recruiting Roundup: Arkansas starts hosting official visitors
The Roundup
Official visit weekends start on campus
The NCAA recruiting dead period has ended, meaning recruits can now start taking official visits to prospective college campuses until June 26.
As expected, Arkansas has a slew of visitors who will be taking a closer look at Arkansas over the next few weekends. The first weekend of the month, though, is small. Just one recruit is set to be on campus this weekend.
Three-star wide receiver CJ Brown out of Bentonville began his month of official visits with a trip to Arkansas spanning from Friday-Sunday.
Brown is slated to announce his college decision on June 30, and he also has plans to visit Kansas State, Oklahoma State, Vanderbilt and Minnesota this month in addition to Arkansas.
Four-star linebacker and current LSU commit Xavier Atkins was supposed to take his official visit this weekend, but rescheduled for later in the month.
To stay up-to-date on who will be taking official visits, join The Trough, HawgBeat’s premium message board.
Arkansas offers three-star lineman out of Mississippi scheduled, official visit planned
Arkansas has done a solid job recruiting in the state of Mississippi this cycle, already nabbing two four-star athletes out of the Magnolia State in JuJu Pope and Noreel White. The Hogs have their eyes set on another recruit in three-star offensive lineman William Echoles.
Echoles is rated by Rivals as an offensive tackle, but is being recruited to Arkansas to play on the defensive line. He reported the offer from Arkansas on Thursday.
Echoles confirmed to HawgBeat he will take an official visit to Arkansas the weekend of June 16.
The 6-foot-4, 290-pound lineman has picked up multiple offers from SEC schools, including Auburn, Mississippi State, Ole Miss and Mississippi State.
Echoles is one of four recruits from the state of Mississippi and one of three defensive lineman set up for official visits to Arkansas this month.
Arkansas out of the running for five-star defensive lineman
Arkansas in January hosted now five-star defensive lineman Kamarion Franklin, who left impressed with Arkansas’ facilities, but he announced a top five schools and did not include the Razorbacks.
When the initial Rivals rankings were released in February, Franklin found himself ranked the No. 12 overall player in the nation.
The Lake Cormorant, Mississippi, native’s top five included Auburn, Tennessee, Ole Miss, Miami and Florida State.
Arkansas has three defensive linemen in the class of 2024 already committed in four-star defensive ends Kavion Henderson and Charleston Collins, as well as three-star defensive tackle Dion Stutts.
Three-star offensive lineman out of Kentucky plans official visit to Arkansas
Arkansas still has yet to gain a commitment from an offensive lineman in the class of 2024, but the coaching staff is still in on some highly-regarded recruits. One such recruit is Zuri Madison, a three-star offensive lineman from Lexington, Kentucky.
Madison posted on Twitter on Tuesday, saying he has locked in for an official visit the weekend of June 16.
Ranked the No. 3 player in the state of Kentucky in the 2024 class, Madison holds offers from Illinois, Miami and Kentucky. He was offered by Arkansas on May 17.
In addition to his trip to Arkansas, Madison also has official visits scheduled to West Virginia on June 9 and Miami on June 23.
Madison is not the only offensive lineman the Hogs will host in the month of June. Four-stars Fletcher Westphal and Kai Greer will be on campus as well as in-state lineman Kobe Branham, who is set to make a decision on his college future on June 26.
Four-star defensive end TJ Lindsey includes Arkansas in top 10
The Hogs have made the cut for another highly-rated defensive lineman as TJ Lindsey included Arkansas in his Top 10 he released on Thursday.
Lindsey, who was playing for Bryant High School but recently announced he is spending his senior season in Florida at IMG Academy, posted his top 10 on his Twitter account.
Shortly after releasing that top 10, however, Lindsey reported an offer from Alabama, which will likely shake things up in his recruitment.
Arkansas has done well recruiting in-state this class, snagging two recruits in Charleston Collins and four-star wide receiver Courtney Crutchfield. The Hogs are also squarely in the mix for two more in the aforementioned Brown and Fort Smith Southside offensive lineman Kobe Branham.
Three-star defensive back with Arkansas ties includes Hogs in top 6
A three-star defensive back out of Tallahassee, Florida, has included the Razorbacks in his top 6.
Ashton Hampton’s top six schools include Florida, Florida State, Arkansas, LSU, Miami and Clemson.
Hampton’s father, Alonzo, is the head coach at the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff, and a native of Warren. Prior to joining the UAPB program, he was a coach at Florida State and Oregon. He also spent time as a defensive analyst for Chad Morris at Arkansas in 2019.
For Florida State University School, Hampton plays both wide receiver and defensive back, but he is being recruited by co-defensive coordinator Marcus Woodson to play defensive back.
Expect Arkansas to be in it until the end for Hampton, given his Arkansas ties and relationship with Woodson, who came to Arkansas after coaching defensive backs at Florida State last year.
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Arkansas
Former Arkansas OT Ty'Kieast Crawford transferring to West Virginia, per report
Former Arkansas offensive tackle Ty’Kieast Crawford has changed his mind on his destination for this fall and is transferring to West Virginia, his agents told ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg on Monday.
The 6-foot-5, 324-pounder had originally committed to play for UCLA in 2025, but now the mammoth tackle has pivoted and has decided to play for Rich Rodriguez in Morgantown this fall. Crawford started 9 games along the Razorbacks’ offensive line.
Crawford’s collegiate journey has already taken him to multiple schools. He began his career at Charlotte, choosing to play there over the likes of Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, LSU, Missouri, Ole Miss, Tennessee, Arizona, Baylor, Colorado, Florida State, Houston, Indiana, Oklahoma State, Purdue, SMU, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, USC and, ironically, West Virginia. So Crawford will now have played for 2 of the schools he originally spurned, in Arkansas and West Virginia.
But Crawford didn’t last long at Charlotte, playing just 1 season for the 49ers. He entered the transfer portal and ended up at Arkansas after spurning the Razorbacks in his original recruiting process. Crawford appeared in 33 games for the Razorbacks over the course of 4 seasons, making 9 starts.
He will have 1 more year of eligibility left when he arrives in Morgantown to play for Rodriguez this fall.
Cory Nightingale, a former sportswriter and sports editor at the Miami Herald and Palm Beach Post, is a South Florida-based freelance writer who covers Alabama for SaturdayDownSouth.com.
Arkansas
Some Arkansas school districts announce Monday closures or delayed openings | Arkansas Democrat Gazette
After last week’s winter storm, several Arkansas school districts have announced that they will remain closed or will open late on Monday because of icy road conditions in neighborhoods and secondary streets:
* Benton School District: Closed.
* Booneville School District: Closed.
* Bryant School District: Closed.
* Cabot School District: Schools will have a 2-hour delayed start.
* Conway School District: School will start at 10 a.m. after a 2-hour delay. Snow bus routes will be in effect.
* Greenbrier School District: Closed.
* Hot Springs School District: Closed.
* Jacksonville/North Pulaski School District: Closed. District offices and departments will open.
* Little Rock School District: Closed. However, all 12-month employees, school administration and custodians should report to work at regularly scheduled times.
* North Little Rock School District: Closed. District Central Office sites will open at 10 a.m. Monday.
* Pulaski County Special School District: Closed. District offices will be open for those who can safely report to work, including auxiliary offices. School staff who are 244-day employees will be expected to report to work as well.
* Sheridan School District: Closed.
This list is based on school district news releases and social media posts, and it is not comprehensive. For information on other Arkansas school districts, patrons are asked to consult their school’s website or district app.
Arkansas
Where Arkansas transfers landed
Where Arkansas transfers landed
While the Arkansas Razorbacks have been hitting the transfer portal hard, it is partially as a result of having more than 20 scholarship players decide to enter the portal after a 6-6 regular season that was capped off with a Liberty Bowl win over Texas Tech on Dec. 27.
The transfer portal officially opened Dec. 9 and it was open for a 30 day window through Dec. 28. There is also an additional five-day window for players to enter once their season is over, plus there will be an additional 10-day portal window from April 16-25.
ALSO READ: Arkansas Football 2025 Roster Tracker
HawgBeat provides a look at where former Razorbacks have transferred so far…
Note: “GP” denotes games played. Even if a player appears on special teams, that counts as a game played.
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OL Patrick Kutas – Ole Miss
From: Christian Brothers High School (Memphis, TN)
Transferred to: Ole Miss
Seasons spent at Arkansas: 3
Career Stats: 25 GP
TE Luke Hasz – Ole Miss
From: Bixby High School (Bixby, OK)
Transferred to: Ole Miss
Seasons spent at Arkansas: 2
Career Stats: 17 GP, 42 REC, 577 YDS, 7 TD, 13.7 YPC
CB Jaylon Braxton – Ole Miss
From: Frisco Lone Star High School (Frisco, TX)
Transferred to: Ole Miss
Seasons spent at Arkansas: 2
Career Stats: 11 GP, 20 tackles, 1 INT, 11 PDEF, 1 FF
OL Joshua Braun – Kentucky
From: Florida
Transferred to: Kentucky
Seasons spent at Arkansas: 2
Career Stats: 50 GP
S TJ Metcalf – Michigan
From: Pinson Valley High School (Pinson, AL)
Transferred to: Michigan
Seasons spent at Arkansas: 2
Career Stats: 24 GP, 72 tackles, 3 INT, 10 PDEF, 1 TFL, 1 FF
DB Tevis Metcalf – Michigan
From: Pinson Valley High School (Pinson, AL)
Transferred to: Michigan
Seasons spent at Arkansas: 1
Career Stats: 12 GP
DE Nico Davillier – UCLA
From: Maumelle High School (Maumelle, AR)
Transferred to: UCLA
Seasons spent at Arkansas: 3
Career Stats: 34 GP, 34 tackles, 5 TFL, 2 SACK
C Addison Nichols – SMU
From: Tennessee
Transferred to: SMU
Seasons spent at Arkansas: 1
Career Stats: 26 GP
LB Brad Spence – Texas
From: Klein Forest High School (Houston, TX)
Transferred to: Texas
Seasons spent at Arkansas: 2
Career Stats: 23 GP, 70 tackles, 7.5 TFL, 4.5 SACK, 2 PDEF, 1 INT, 1 TD
LB Carson Dean – Purdue
From: Hebron High School (Carrollton, TX)
Transferred to: Purdue
Seasons spent at Arkansas: 2
Career Stats: 4 GP, 1 tackle
QB Malachi Singleton – Purdue
From: North Cobb High School (Kennesaw, GA)
Transferred to: Purdue
Seasons spent at Arkansas: 2
Career Stats: 5 GP, 21 COMP, 28 ATT, 358 YDS, 1 PASS TD, 17 RUSH, 74 YDS, 3 RUSH TD
WR Isaiah Sategna – Oklahoma
From: Fayetteville High School (Fayetteville, AR)
Transferred to: Oklahoma
Seasons spent at Arkansas: 3
Career Stats: 28 GP, 54 REC, 632 YDS, 3 TD, 11.7 YPC, 2 RUSH, 43 YDS
DB Dylan Hasz – Appalachian State
From: Bixby High School (Bixby, OK)
Transferred to: Appalachian State
Seasons at Arkansas: 2
Career Stats: 24 GP, 2 tackles
RB Rashod Dubinion – Appalachian State
From: Cedar Grove High School (Ellenwood, GA)
Transferred to: Appalachian State
Seasons at Arkansas: 3
Career Stats: 31 GP, 209 ATT, 888 YDS, 8 RUSH TD, 42 REC, 315 YDS, 2 REC TD, 7.5 YPC
LB Alex Sanford – Purdue
From: Oxford High School (Oxford, MS)
Transferred to: Purdue
Seasons at Arkansas: 3
Career Stats: 23 GP, 1 tackle
LB Kaden Henley – Harding
From: Shiloh Christian High School (Springdale, AR)
Transferred to: Harding
Seasons at Arkansas: 3
Career Stats: 1 GP
OL Ty’Kieast Crawford – UCLA
From: Charlotte
Transferred to: UCLA
Seasons at Arkansas: 4
Career Stats: 39 GP
OTHERS
Uncommitted
OL Amaury Wiggins
DB Dallas Young
WR Dazmin James (expected to enter portal)
Quit/kicked off before end of season
LS Eli Stein (Wisconsin)
WR Jaedon Wilson (UCLA)
WR Davion Dozier (Appalachian State)
TE Ty Washington (Notre Dame)
TE Var’keyes Gumms (UNLV)
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