The Razorbacks made a splash in the transfer portal Thursday as Georgia Tech offensive tackle Corey Robinson II signed to play for Arkansas, according to a report from On3.

Robinson took a visit to Arkansas from Dec. 15 to 17 and had the chance to watch the Razorbacks practice in preparation for the Liberty Bowl, and the Arkansas coaching staff was able to convince him to shut things down.

The 6-foot-5, 305-pound Georgia native finished the 2024 season with a 69.2 offensive grade, 91.2 pass-block grade and 56.3 run-block grade on 539 snaps.

The 91.2 pass-block grade ranks No. 1 amongst Power Five offensive linemen, as Robinson didn’t allow a single sack all year for the Yellow Jackets.

2023 (Redshirt Sophomore): Appeared in 12-of-13 games and made five starts at left tackle (season opener vs. Louisville and final four games of the season vs. Clemson, Syracuse, No. 1 Georgia and UCF) … Saw action on 374 snaps, which ranked sixth among Georgia Tech offensive linemen … Helped pave the way for Georgia Tech to rush for 203.8 yards per game, good for tops in the ACC and 12th nationally … Also a key cog in an offensive front that allowed just 1.15 sacks per game, which also led the ACC and ranked 15th nationally.

2022 (Redshirt Freshman): Started all 12 games at left tackle … One of only two lineman to start at the same position each game, helping anchor an offensive front that had five different starting combinations in 12 games … Ranked second among Georgia Tech’s offensive linemen in total snaps with 735.

2021 (Kansas): Redshirted … Retained four seasons of eligibility.

High School: Rated as a three-star prospect by Rivals, 247Sports and ESPN … Was credited with 65 pancake blocks and surrendered just one sack as a senior in 2020, when he helped lead nearby Roswell H.S. to an 8-3 record, the second round of the Georgia 7-A state playoffs and more than 2,000 passing yards and 1,900 rushing yards … Invited to participate in 2020 World Bowl national combine … Selected to play in 2019 GACA all-star game … Coached at Roswell by Chris Prewett.

Personal: Majoring in business administration.

FAYETTEVILLE — The NCAA transfer portal madness this month has affected every position group on the University of Arkansas football team.

One group that has taken a few hits but will still be well represented for the Liberty Bowl against Texas Tech is the linebacker spot.

Starters Xavian “Slide” Sorey and Stephen Dix, who both transferred in prior to the 2024 season, are not only gearing up for the Hogs’ Dec. 27 bowl game in Memphis, but they’ve already announced they’re running it back with the Razorbacks in 2025.

The two sat together for a video conference with members of the media after Wednesday morning’s practice.

“Hey man, playing with Slide has been awesome, man,” Dix said. “He’s a ball player. Love him, man. He goes out there, he plays so hard, like it’s crazy.

“I’ll be telling him, ‘Dog, you play really hard.’ He hits really hard. I think me and him … we’re just building our chemistry day-in and day-out.”

Added Sorey, “Like he said, I think we’ll be able to grow closer together and learn from each other more and be, man, we’ve got to be that one-two punch.”

The pair did plenty of one-two punching in their first season together with the Hogs.

Sorey leads the Razorbacks with 89 tackles and is second on the team with 9 tackles for loss. The redshirt junior from Campbellton, Fla., who transferred from the University of Georgia, also had a pair of sacks, three quarterback hurries, a pass breakup and an interception.

Sorey has started all 12 games and Dix, a redshirt junior from Orlando, Fla., who transferred from Marshall, has started the past nine. Dix ranks third on the team with 65 tackles and added 2.5 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, 3 hurries, a pass breakup and a critical fumble recovery in the end zone during a 24-14 win at Auburn on Sept. 21.

“I think another year with us, we’re going to be … I think we’re going to be the best duo out there on the field next year in college football,” Dix said. “So just stay tuned for that, man. But it’s been awesome having to play next to him.”

The Arkansas linebacker room did lose four-game starter Brad Spence, as well as Carson Dean and Kaden Henley to the portal.

However, redshirt senior Anthony Switzer and true freshman Bradley Shaw will give the unit solid depth for the bowl game.

Dix and Sorey are both high on the potential for both of those players.

“Man, he’s looking good,” Sorey said of Switzer, who has missed time recently with an undisclosed injury. “He was striking something today, I’ll tell you that.”

Switzer, a native of Marion, which is just an 18-mile drive to Liberty Bowl Stadium, spent three seasons at Arkansas State before transferring to Utah State and then back to his home state.

“Switzer’s going to be out there and he’s going to be going ham, man,” Dix said. “I believe we’re going to his hometown in Memphis, so that’s going to be real good for him. I’m really happy to have let him have that opportunity to play in front of his hometown, his community. I think that means a lot to him.”

Shaw, a 6-1, 235-pounder from Hoover, Ala., has come on strong lately. He has 12 tackles, including a sack and a quarterback hurry in limited duty.

“Brad, he’s just steady climbing,” Sorey said. “Every day, every week, he just gets better and better. I’ve been saying, I think he’ll ball out. I know he’ll ball out. … Being around and watching him grow, it’s nice.”

Said Dix, “That young-un, man, me and Slide have both sat down and watched him in practice and we’re like, ‘Dog, he’s going to be really, really good.’ We said it, ‘Dog, we think he’s going to win a Butkus (Award) before he leaves here.’ That’s the kind of potential you see from him at a young age.”

The Butkus Award is given annually to the top linebackers in all levels of football, from the prep ranks to the NFL.

Dix and Sorey said they did not discuss returning to the Razorbacks together.

“It kind of just happened,” Sorey said. “I feel like for both of us, we’ve kind of got to do what’s best for us and that was best for both of us to come back. We didn’t talk about it before.”

Sorey said being around defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Travis Williams and his teammates for another season were the biggest motivating factors that led him to return.

Added Dix, “I mean whatever he does, I’m on board with it. … I think we’ve got so much respect for one another, so whatever he did, hey, it is what it is. But we ended up coming back and it worked out for the best. I’m really happy to be playing by him again for another year.”

A panel of Arkansas lawmakers approved special compensation awards for maintenance workers at the Department of Veteran Affairs on Wednesday.

Current and incoming full-time maintenance staff at the Arkansas State Veterans Cemeteries, located in North Little Rock and Birdeye, and the Arkansas State Veterans Homes in North Little Rock and Fayetteville will be eligible for the $3,000 one-time awards, according to the request from the state’s Office of Personnel Management.

The Arkansas Legislative Council is expected to approve the measure Friday. The Uniform Personnel Classification and Compensation Plan Subcommittee gave approval with no debate or dissent.

The bonuses should “increase successful recruiting, and [lead to] better retention” of the employees in question, OPM Director Kay Barnhill wrote in the request to the subcommittee. Recruitment and retention of state employees has been a priority for state officials in recent months.

In October, lawmakers approved $5,000 one-time bonuses as recruitment and retention measures for nurses who care for people with profound intellectual disabilities at seven state-run facilities. The cumulative totals for the one-time payments were projected to be $510,000 at the Human Development Centers, $467,000 at the Arkansas State Hospital and $283,000 at the Arkansas Health Center, according to the Arkansas Department of Human Services.

Barnhill said at the time that she expected an upcoming pay plan overhaul across all agencies to increase nurses’ pay. In November, Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders announced the overhaul, highlighting salary increases with double-digit percentages for the positions most difficult to fill. Besides nurses, those positions included correctional officers, social services employees and Arkansas State Police officers.

The pay plan restructure will require legislative approval. Barnhill told the Personnel Subcommittee on Wednesday that OPM is “putting the finishing touches on it right now” after feedback from state agencies.

OPM “can certainly work toward” finishing the plan and sending it to lawmakers before the legislative session begins on Jan. 13, Barnhill said in response to questions from Rep. Lane Jean, R-Magnolia, co-chair of the Joint Budget Committee.