Transfer DT feels good vibes with Arkansas coaches

The College of Arkansas’ want for a run stuffer received a giant enhance when former Maryland defensive sort out Anthony “Tank” Booker Jr. pledged to the Hogs on April 12.

Booker, 6-4, 335 kilos, picked the Hogs over Texas A&M, South Carolina, Ohio State, Purdue and Louisville. He formally visited the Aggies, Gamecocks and Arkansas whereas making unofficial visits to the opposite finalists.

Coach Sam Pittman, defensive coordinator Travis Williams and line of defense coach Deke Adams helped seal the deal for the Razorbacks.

“I belief all the things they’d mentioned and simply got here with open arms and answered all of the questions,” Booker mentioned. “My mother and father and I visited these guys first. Typically you neglect the primary faculty particularly when you might have six visits, three officers. They made positive I remembered all they mentioned and we had a variety of zoom calls. They actually went out the best way to get to know me and reply all of the questions we had, in order that’s actually what led me down there.”

Booker entered the NCAA switch portal March 7 after recording 25 tackles, 2 sacks and a pair of compelled fumbles as a senior final season. He recorded 9 tackles and 1 sort out for loss in 10 video games in 2021.

He known as his vibe with Adams “particular.”

“He was one of many first ones to achieve out to me,” Booker mentioned. “I knew nothing of him. By no means got here throughout him throughout my highschool profession. We’ve been constructing a relationship that’s been fairly sturdy since I’ve been within the portal.”

Whereas he wasn’t capable of see the Hogs follow throughout his official go to, Adams’ communication about Arkansas’ scheme and his position made him really feel relaxed.

“He made positive I used to be comfy from day one with what they’re doing upfront,” Booker mentioned.

When former Cincinnati linebacker Jaheim Thomas dedicated to the Hogs on Could 1, Razorback followers have been thrilled, however so was Booker. The Cincinnati natives have recognized each other since childhood.

“We performed little league baseball collectively,” Booker mentioned. “We performed basketball collectively, soccer. We met every round 5-6 years outdated.”

Booker had a low-key method about his need for Thomas to hitch him in Fayetteville.

“When he first talked about he was going to take a go to, I didn’t need to get in his ear,” Booker mentioned. “I wished him to have his personal course of. No one was in my ear, so I used to be undercover wishing he would come.”

Booker, who dedicated to Maryland over Cincinnati, Kansas, Toledo and different faculties in 2019 out of Winton Woods Excessive College, was a consensus 3-star prospect.

With two Anthonys in his family, he acquired his nickname Tank as a child due to being a Jr.

“I carry my dad’s title with nice pleasure,” Booker mentioned. “Most individuals attempt to signify their final title however being named after my pops, simply means one thing totally different to me. Being named after him, him being my position mannequin. He put in a lot work for me to get to this stage I’m at proper now. I owe him all the things after which some extra. I really like my pop.”