Arkansas
Pitt Extends Offer to Standout Arkansas State Defensive End
Now that Dayon Hayes is officially in the transfer portal, the Pitt coaching staff can’t wait long to upgrade the defensive ends. As such, the first transfer defensive end has received an offer.
Keyron Crawford — a 6-foot-4, 240-pound rising junior defensive end from Arkansas State — picked up a Pitt offer Tuesday afternoon. He’s a big, physical edge rusher who has earned the chance for a start at the Power Four level.
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Crawford was a three-star recruit out of Briarcrest Christian in Memphis, Tenn. in the class of 2022, and he chose the Red Wolves over Power Five offers such as Iowa and Nebraska — as well as Austin Peay, East Tennessee State, Tennessee State, USF, UT Martin and Western Kentucky.
Since entering the transfer portal this spring, he’s already received offers from Cal, Cincinnati, Georgia Tech, Indiana, Minnesota, Mississippi State, Pitt and Virginia Tech.
Crawford was an impactful edge rusher at Arkansas State, recording 39 pressures, 27 hurries and four quarterback hits in pursuit of the opposing quarterback last season. He racked up 44 tackles (22 solo), 10.5 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and a pass breakup.
In two seasons at Arkansas State, Crawford recorded 58 tackles (28 solo), 13.5 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries sand two pass breakups.
Pitt has a need at defensive end, considering Hayes hit the portal this week, and Crawford is the type of portal prospect that would be able to come in and immediately compete for a starting spot, while still having a handful of seasons at his disposal.
Nate Matlack looks like he’s going to have a good season. He’s more suited as an edge, which he is able to be in Pittsburgh. He’s a good player to have, a veteran voice who should produce on the field. Bam Brima has been around for a while, but he’s likely more of a rotational player than anything else.
Jimmy Scott showed some flashes last season, but he’s only taken 109 defensive snaps in his career. That is more than any of the younger defensive ends though.
David Ojiegbe was a highly ranked recruit out of high school in 2023, but he only played a handful of snaps for Clemson last season. I think he’ll be in the two-deep. He’ll have to be. Antonio Camon, Maverick Gracio, Zach Crothers and Edwards have never taken a snap at the college level — Crothers and Edwards just got to Pitt in January.
Edwards has turned heads throughout the spring, and while he’s young, he himself expects to make an impact this season. It wouldn’t be a surprise if he’s able to work his way into the two-deep by the time the season starts.
The transfer portal will take Hayes away, but it can also be used to bring in further reinforcements, of course. Tim Daoust and the coaching staff will surely look to add to the room.
Arkansas
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Arkansas
Arkansas Athletics, CommunityAmerica Credit Union launch multi-year partnership including Razorback Stadium naming rights
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The University of Arkansas Department of Athletics has signed a long-term partnership with CommunityAmerica Credit Union, marking a significant step in the credit union’s growing commitment to Northwest Arkansas. Facilitated by Learfield and Razorback Sports Properties, Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium will become CommunityAmerica Razorback Stadium beginning with the 2027 football season.
Rooted in more than 85 years of helping individuals and families achieve financial peace of mind and building on a 65-year legacy of service in Arkansas, CommunityAmerica is excited to engage with Razorback fans and support the communities they call home.
“This is so much more than a name on a stadium. It’s about becoming part of the Razorback Nation experience and helping fans, students, student-athletes and the communities we and the university serve,” said Lisa Ginter, Chief Executive Officer of CommunityAmerica Credit Union. “Our members are at the heart of everything we do and when we evaluate partnerships like this, it starts with what matters most to them. The University of Arkansas is a powerful source of pride and connection for people across the state and in many of our markets. This partnership underscores our long-term commitment to Northwest Arkansas, where we look forward to growing our presence and helping more families achieve financial peace of mind. We’re already deepening our roots with plans for a campus location and several new branches throughout the region.”
The multi-phased partnership extends beyond naming rights and designates CommunityAmerica as the Official Credit Union of Arkansas Athletics. CommunityAmerica will also serve as an official sponsor of Arkansas Athletics, supporting student-athletes and fans alike. The comprehensive partnership will also include the rebranding of the SEC Club inside Razorback Stadium as the CommunityAmerica Club, where fans enjoy premium amenities on gameday. As part of the agreement, CommunityAmerica will engage directly with Razorback student-athletes providing Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) opportunities, valuable financial education and programs to help them succeed both on and off the field.
“We are thrilled to welcome CommunityAmerica Credit Union as the Official Credit Union of Arkansas Athletics as one piece of a partnership that will benefit our student-athletes, fans and the state of Arkansas for years to come,” said Hunter Yurachek, Vice Chancellor and Director of Athletics at the University of Arkansas. “Our vision in the Department of Athletics is to be our best and CommunityAmerica’s commitment to excellence as a trusted, people-driven financial institution mirrors that same vision. This partnership is just getting started but its impact will help shape our future.”
Beginning with the 2027 football season, the partnership will expand into its second phase with the naming of CommunityAmerica Razorback Stadium and the launch of CommunityAmerica Razorback Checking, Debit and Credit Cards.
With a legacy of serving members across Arkansas and nationwide, CommunityAmerica is ranked among the most trusted and innovative credit unions in the country and among the largest in the Midwest. CommunityAmerica is excited to engage and serve Razorback fans and members more deeply with a variety of financial products and services that align to their passion for the University.
“Our members are proud of where they live and what they stand behind, and for so many in Arkansas and across our shared communities, that means being part of Razorback Nation,” Ginter said. “As we look ahead to launching Razorback-branded products in 2027, we’re excited to offer experiences that celebrate that pride, strengthen relationships and deliver meaningful value for the people and communities we serve.”
“This is a historic partnership featuring an innovative brand with a passion and proven track record of supporting their community, paired with one of the leading college athletics programs in the country,” said Allison Fillmore, Senior Vice President, Business Development at Learfield. “Learfield and Razorback Sports Properties are excited to collaborate with Arkansas Athletics, which will enhance fan and student-athlete experiences for years to come.”
Razorback Sports Properties is the locally based Learfield team that is the exclusive multimedia rights holder for Arkansas Athletics and oversees all sponsorship agreements on behalf of the Razorbacks.
About the University of Arkansas Department of Intercollegiate Athletics
The University of Arkansas Department of Intercollegiate Athletics pursues its vision to “Be Our Best” while developing 465+ student-athletes into Razorbacks and Champions for Life. As members of the Southeastern Conference (SEC), the Razorbacks consistently compete at the nation’s highest levels while proudly representing the University of Arkansas and the entire state. Arkansas has established itself as one of the most competitive programs in the nation, winning nine NCAA titles and over 50 SEC Championships in recent years.
About CommunityAmerica Credit Union
CommunityAmerica Credit Union is a not-for-profit financial institution committed to helping members get on a path to thrive and achieve financial peace of mind. Founded in 1940, and with Arkansas roots dating back to 1968, CommunityAmerica has grown to meet the evolving financial needs of its members. With nearly $10 billion in assets and more than 600,000 members, the credit union is ranked among the nation’s 50 largest credit unions. It is the largest credit union in Arkansas, Kansas, and Missouri, and one of the largest financial institutions with expanding operations in Northwest Arkansas. CommunityAmerica offers a full suite of financial products and services for individuals and businesses, including checking and savings, mortgages, loans, commercial banking, wealth management, retirement planning, and insurance. Federally chartered, CommunityAmerica serves members across multiple markets nationwide with branch locations in Arkansas, California, Kansas, Missouri, Nevada, Tennessee, and Texas. Learn more at CommunityAmerica.com.
About Learfield
Learfield is the leading media and technology company powering college athletics. Through its digital and physical platforms, Learfield owns and leverages a deep data set and relationships in the industry to drive revenue, growth, brand awareness, and fan engagement for brands, sports, and entertainment properties. With ties to over 1,200 collegiate institutions and over 12,000 local and national brand partners, Learfield’s presence in college sports and live events delivers influence and maximizes reach to target audiences. With solutions for a 365-day, 24/7 fan experience, Learfield enables schools and brands to connect with fans through licensed merchandise, game ticketing, donor identification for athletic programs, exclusive custom content, innovative marketing initiatives, NIL solutions, and advanced digital platforms. Since 2008, it has served as title sponsor for the acclaimed Learfield Directors’ Cup, supporting athletic departments across all divisions.
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