FAYETTEVILLE — Bradley Shaw, one of the nation’s top linebackers, came away impressed with his first trip to Fayetteville this weekend.
He spent about 48 hours on his official visit to Arkansas.
Razorbacks coach Sam Pittman and defensive coordinator Travis Williams made him feel good about the program.
“It was amazing to finally get up and see the place, talk to Coach T-Will, Coach Pittman. It was nice,” Shaw said.
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Shaw, 6-0, 220, of Hoover, Ala., has offers from Arkansas, Georgia, Alabama, Notre Dame, Auburn, Florida, Texas A&M, Stanford, Ole Miss, Southern Cal, South Carolina, Tennessee and other programs.
He enjoyed talking with Pittman and his wife Jamie at dinner.
“It was just a regular conversation, just talking to us like a regular person,” Shaw said. “Not talking football, just getting to know us, our parents and family members. That’s really big.”
He’s being recruited by Williams, special teams coordinator Scott Fountain and defensive analyst-assistant linebackers coach Jake Trump.
Arkansas surprised him after seeing what the school had to offer.
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“I’m from Alabama,” he said. “I don’t really know anything about Arkansas. I’ve seen them play, but the coaches were telling us the people around here are all about football. They love the Hogs.”
Shaw said Arkansas is one of his top schools, along with Mississippi State, Alabama and Auburn. On3.com rates him a 4-star prospect, the No. 13 linebacker and No. 177 overall recruiting in the nation in the class of 2024.
He has been selected to play in the All-American Bowl in San Antonio on Jan. 7. His player host, linebacker, Jordan Crook showed him a good time.
“He wasn’t really trying to sell me on Arkansas. He just wanted me to have a good time,” Shaw said.
He and Williams had a film session during the trip.
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“It’s the same stuff I’m doing in high school,” he said. “I’d be doing the same thing here, so it’d be a smooth transition. They run the same defense we run in high school, so it’d be easy.”
He plans to make his decision once he’s done with his official visits.
“Next week, I’m not going anywhere,” said Shaw, who has officially visited Notre Dame. “Then I’ll probably go to Auburn and Alabama.”
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.
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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)
MEMPHIS –While Beale Street is famous for being the Home of the Blues, red was the color of the day Dec. 26 at the Beale Street Parade, where many watchers were clad in red — a team color for both teams playing in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl the following day.
Marching bands, vintage vehicles, cheer squads and floats marched, strutted and cruised down the historic street in downtown Memphis as fans of the Arkansas Razorbacks and the Texas Tech Red Raiders lined the streets, cheering as bands and cheer squads from their schools passed by.
The University of Arkansas Razorback Marching Band, cheerleaders and pep squad brought up the rear of the parade, creating a grand finale as they marched to meet Texas Tech’s Goin’ Band from Raiderland at Beale Street’s Handy Park for a festive Bash on Beale Pep Rally. Both the parade and the pep rally were sponsored by the Beale Street Merchants Association.
— Story and photos by Cary Jenkins
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Maddie Hayley, Kim Hayley, Spphie Haley, Layne Haley, Toomy Haley, orey Hale and Abbie Hayley on 12/26/2024 on Beale Street, Memphis, Liberty Bowl Parade. (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Cary Jenkins)
Caden, Colton, Amber and Drew Cates, all of Little Rock, on 12/26/2024 on Beale Street, Memphis, Liberty Bowl Parade. (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Cary Jenkins)
D.J. Stutts, Shante Stutts and DAnte Stutts of Batesville, mother and siblings of the late Razorback football team member Dion Stutts on 12/26/2024 on Beale Street, Memphis, Liberty Bowl Parade. (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Cary Jenkins)
Aspen Coad, Mattie Grace Fortenberry, Aylin Coad, Milli Fortenberry and Mac Fortenberry on 12/26/2024 on Beale Street, Memphis, Liberty Bowl Parade. (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Cary Jenkins)
Aspen Coad, Mattie Grace Fortenberry, Aylin Coad, Milli Fortenberry and Mac Fortenberry on 12/26/2024 on Beale Street, Memphis, Liberty Bowl Parade. (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Cary Jenkins)
Rhett, Dana Asher and Cooper Daniel of Rogers on 12/26/2024 on Beale Street, Memphis, Liberty Bowl Parade. (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Cary Jenkins)
Jeff Box of Memphis on 12/26/2024 on Beale Street, Memphis, Liberty Bowl Parade. (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Cary Jenkins)
on 12/26/2024 on Beale Street, Memphis, Liberty Bowl Parade. (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Cary Jenkins)
Elivs Moya, Jennifer and Hunter Yurachek on 12/26/2024 on Beale Street, Memphis, Liberty Bowl Parade. (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Cary Jenkins)
on 12/26/2024 on Beale Street, Memphis, Liberty Bowl Parade. (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Cary Jenkins)
on 12/26/2024 on Beale Street, Memphis, Liberty Bowl Parade. (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Cary Jenkins)
on 12/26/2024 on Beale Street, Memphis, Liberty Bowl Parade. (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Cary Jenkins)
on 12/26/2024 on Beale Street, Memphis, Liberty Bowl Parade. (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Cary Jenkins)
Sue E. Pig on 12/26/2024 on Beale Street, Memphis, Liberty Bowl Parade. (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Cary Jenkins)
Sue E. Pig on 12/26/2024 on Beale Street, Memphis, Liberty Bowl Parade. (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Cary Jenkins)
on 12/26/2024 on Beale Street, Memphis, Liberty Bowl Parade. (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Cary Jenkins)
on 12/26/2024 on Beale Street, Memphis, Liberty Bowl Parade. (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Cary Jenkins)
on 12/26/2024 on Beale Street, Memphis, Liberty Bowl Parade. (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Cary Jenkins)
on 12/26/2024 on Beale Street, Memphis, Liberty Bowl Parade. (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Cary Jenkins)
on 12/26/2024 on Beale Street, Memphis, Liberty Bowl Parade. (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Cary Jenkins)
on 12/26/2024 on Beale Street, Memphis, Liberty Bowl Parade. (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Cary Jenkins)
on 12/26/2024 on Beale Street, Memphis, Liberty Bowl Parade. (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Cary Jenkins)
Jonathan and Brittany Hays with Paxton and Brooke Kellett, all of Jonesboro. on 12/26/2024 on Beale Street, Memphis, Liberty Bowl Parade. (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Cary Jenkins)
Watch the postgame press conference from Arkansas head coach John Calipari and center Jonas Aidoo after the 71-63 loss to Florida on Saturday afternoon at Bud Walton Arena in Fayetteville.
Visit our homepage for complete coverage of Arkansas basketball, including everything you need to know from the Hoop Hogs’ game.