Hogs Miss Out on Diamond

Friday night 4-star offensive tackle Jordan Diamond from Chicago, IL announced he was signing with Auburn.

Among his top teams going in were listed as Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan, Notre Dame, and Arkansas.

Diamond signing with Auburn was a surprise to all recruiting gurus and those "in the know".

One time Arkansas commitment quarterback Robert Gregory and teammate of Diamond's in high school announced he was signing with Purdue.

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Arkansas Recruiting Speculations and Updates: Hogs Add Louisiana Linebacker to Class

The Times-Picayune reporter Ted Lewis is reporting that 4-star linebacker Otha Peters from Covington, LA has flipped his commitment from University of Tennessee to the Razorbacks. Peters has been a Vols verbal commitment since July 21.

Peters, 4-star, 6’1”, 221 pounds, is considered the sixth best inside linebacker in the nation per Rivals.com.

Lewis noted in his report that Covington Coach Malter Scobel was worried about the instability of the Tennessee program in the upcoming years. Scobel added that Arkansas did not have the same challenges ahead of them as Tennessee.

Arkansas head coach Bobby Petrino and new defensive coordinator Paul Haynes have been searching for top talent to replace departing seniors Jerry Franklin and Jerrico Nelson in their linebacker unit.

Early speculation centered on mid-term enrollee Austin Flynn and his ability to play linebacker for the Hogs in 2012. Flynn may still get a chance to switch from his defensive end position to linebacker for the Razorbacks but the signing of Peters should help Haynes depth at linebacker for the upcoming season.

Peters is the third linebacker verbally committed to the Hogs 2012 recruiting class joining A.J. Turner (Lepanto, Ark.) and Vin Ascolese (New Bergen, N.J.).

Razorback Recruiting Speculation

Word is 4-star junior college wide receiver Courtney Gardner may flip from Arkansas to Oklahoma due to the restrictions the SEC places on incoming JC players. Gardner would have to take extra classes if he were to enroll in any SEC school not just at Arkansas.

The Big 12 does not have the same enrollment standards as the SEC.

Recent junior college verbal commitment Demetrius Wilson is reported to not have any class restrictions delaying his ability to enroll at Arkansas once his spring semester is completed.

If Gardner de-commits the Hogs still have two possibly three scholarships remaining. Which recruits will receive the final two or three scholarships? The possibilities are debatable.

Despite the false reporting of one of the Razorbacks top recruiting prospects, Dorial Green-Beckham of Springfield, MO, committed to Missouri, the Hogs still remain in the running as his college of choice. He is still a strong possibility.

DGB is scheduled to announce his decision Wednesday morning at 9:00 a.m. EST on ESPNU.

Five-star offensive tackle Jordan Diamond is reportedly giving his private decision Tuesday night to the school of his choice but not making an official announcement until Friday, Feb. 3. The Hogs are among his favorites.

Diamond has taken official visits to Michigan, Auburn, Wisconsin, Ohio State, and Arkansas.

Bobby Petrino and staff will hold a spot for Diamond if he privately commits. If the Hogs only sign 24 players on Wednesday chances are Diamond will be a Razorback come Friday.

With the verbal commitment of Otha Peters the likelihood of linebackers Reggie Northrup (4-star, Jacksonville, FL) or Seth Jacobs (4-star, Arroyo Grandee, CA) coming to Arkansas looks slim. Jacobs played linebacker in high school but is being looked at as a safety for the Hogs.

Four-star cornerback Davont’e Neal from Scottsdale, AZ, three-star cornerback Chris Humes from Hoover, AL, or three-star cornerback Gary Simon from St. Petersburg, FL could end up taking one of the remaining scholarships. If Jacobs chooses to play safety in college he could end up back in the conversation taking one of these final scholarships.

Should DGB choose Missouri or Texas over the Hogs, speculation is 4-star wide receiver Javon Williams from Chandler, AZ or 3-star wide receiver Brad Culp from Fayetteville, AR could take that scholarship.

Here’s a list of the 23 verbally committed Razorbacks recruits:

OG Cordale Boyd, 3-star, 6’3”, 290 pounds, Memphis, TN

OG Jeremy Ward, 3-star, 6’4”, 275 pounds, Pottsville, AR

WR D’Arthur Cowan, 3-star, 6’1’, 175 pounds, Olive Branch, MS

WR Keon Hatcher, 4-star, 6’1”, 195 pounds, Owasso, OK

WR Eric Hawkins, 3-star, 6’5”, 220, Longview, TX

WR #Demetrius Wilson, 3-star, 6’2”, 170 pounds, Glendale, AZ

RB Nathan Holems, 3-star, 6’1”, 180 pounds, Port Arthur, TX

RB Donovan Roberts, 3-star, 6’0”, 200 pounds, Norman, OK

TE Jeremy Sprinkle, 3-star, 6’6”, 215, White Hall, AR

RB Jonathan Williams, 4-star, 5’11”, 205 pounds, Allen, TX

WR #Courtney Gardner, 4-star, 6’3”, 215, Rocklin, CA

CB Ray Buchanan Jr., 3-star, 5’10”, 170 pounds, Suwanee, GA

CB Jared Collins, 3-star, 5’11”, 170 pounds, Tulsa, OK

DE Brandon Lewis, 3-star, 6’5”, 220 pounds, Memphis, TN

SS Defonta Lowe, 3-star, 6’2”, 180 pounds, Bearden, AR

LB A.J. Turner, 3-star, 6’3”, 200 pounds, Lepanto, AR

LB Vin Ascolese, 3-star, 6’2”, 215 pounds, New Bergen, NJ

LB Otha Peters, 4-star, 6’1”, 220 pounds, Covington, LA

DE JaMichael Winston, 3-star, 6’6”, 230 pounds, Prichard, AL

DE Deatrich Wise Jr., 4-star, 6’5”, 220, Carrolton, TX

FS Will Hines, 3-star, 6’1”, 175 pounds, Waco, TX

DE Taiwan Johnson, 4-star, 6’3”, 230 pounds, Manvel, TX

DE *#Austin Flynn, 3-star, 6’4”, 250 pounds, Los Angeles Harbor CC

*Already enrolled at University of Arkansas

# Denotes junior college player

Position by position breakdown of Arkansas 2012 verbal commitments:

Offensive line: two

Running backs: three

Wide receivers: five

Quarterbacks: none

Tight ends: one

Defensive line: five

Linebackers: three

Safeties: two

Cornerbacks: two

Kickers: none

Arkansas jumped in the recruiting rankings from No. 17 to No. 15 on Scout.com while Rivals.com moved the Hogs from No. 30 to No. 28 with the verbal commitment of Peters.

All verbal commitments are non-binding until a letter of intent is signed. 

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Arkansas Recruiting Update: Razorbacks hosted 18 Top Recruits over the Weekend

The Arkansas Razorbacks had perhaps their most impressive list of official visitors during the Bobby Petrino era when the Hogs hosted 17 top high school seniors and one junior college player over the weekend.

Springfield, Missouri wide receiver Dorial Green-Beckham and Spring, Texas running back Trey Williams were two of the four 5-star recruits among the official visitors the Hogs hosted. Green-Beckham and Williams are considered Top 15 players in the nation per Rivals.com.

Green-Beckham, widely considered the top recruit in the 2012 class, has not made a verbal committed to date. Williams is considered a solid Texas A&M commitment.

Offensive tackle Jordan Diamond from Simeon Vocational High School in Chicago was another 5-star that visited the Hill. Diamond has offers from seemingly every Division 1-A school possible including Alabama, Illinois, Oregon, Miami, Auburn, Florida State, Ohio State, and Notre Dame along with one from the Razorbacks.

Diamond has taken official visits to Auburn, Ohio State, and Michigan. He is scheduled to visit Wisconsin next weekend.

Athlete Davonte Neal from Scottsdale, Arizona was another 5-star on campus. According to ESPN.com Neal is the eighth best player in the nation. Neal’s offer list is a “whose who” list of top programs. Among the schools to offer are LSU, USC, Auburn, Florida State, UCLA, and North Carolina.

Neal has taken official visits to Notre Dame and Ohio State and will receive in-home visits from both schools on Thursday. He is scheduled to take an official visit to North Carolina this weekend and Arizona on February 10, 10 days after signing day.

Will the Hogs hold a scholarship spot open for him 10 days after LOI Day?

The weekend was complete for the recruits with a visit to the Catfish Hole for dinner on Saturday night instead of the usual Friday night to accommodate for late arrivals, watching the Hogs beat No. 20 University of Michigan 66-64, and the traditional Arkansas pre-game experience for the recruits at Reynolds Razorback Stadium.

No players officially verbally committed over the weekend.

Here’s a list of the recruits that took an official visit this past weekend:

(Position, Player, Ranking, Location, Commitment)

WR Dorial Green-Beckham, 5-Star, Springfield, Missouri, not committed

RB Trey Williams, 5-Star, committed to Texas A&M

WR Davonte Neal, 5-Star, Scottsdale, Arizona, not committed

OT Jordan Diamond, 5-Star, Chicago, Illinois, not committed

OL Jeremy Ward, 4-Star, Pottsville, Arkansas, committed to Arkansas

LB A.J. Turner, 4-Star, Lepanto, Arkansas, committed to Arkansas

LB Dalton Santos, 3-Star, Van, Texas, committed to Tennessee

RB Donovan Roberts, 3-Star, Norman, Oklahoma, committed to Arkansas

LB Kenny Orjioke, 3-star, Marietta, Georgia, committed to UCLA

CB Gary Simon, 3-star, St. Petersburg, Florida, not committed

OG/TE Joey Warburg, 3-star, Louisville, Kentucky, committed to Illinois

WR *Demetrius Wilson, 3-star, Glendale, Arizona, not committed

OG Cordal Boyd, 3-star, Memphis, Tennessee, committed to Arkansas

DE Jeremy Sprinkle, 3-star, White Hall, Arkansas, committed to Arkansas

ATH Nathan Holmes, 3-star, Port Arthur, Texas, committed to Arkansas

FS Dafonta Lowe, 3-star, Bearden, Arkansas, committed to Arkansas

WR Keon Hatcher, 3-star, Owasso, Oklahoma, committed to Arkansas

WR D’Arthur Cowan, 3-star, Olive Branch, Mississippi, committed to Arkansas

*Denotes Junior College Player

Possible Official Visits that did not Visit

WR Bralon Addison, 4-star, Sugar Land, Texas, committed to Texas A&M

DE Darius English, 3-Star, Powder Springs, Georgia, committed to South Carolina

OL Germain Ifedi, 3-Star, Houston, Texas, committed to Texas A&M

DT Tyler Nero, 3-Star, Atmore, Alabama, committed to Auburn

TE Sean Price, 4-Star, Citra, Florida, committed to South Florida

Tyler Nero may visit this upcoming weekend. Nero is the son of former Arkansas Razorback player Norman Nero.

Possible Official Visits for weekend of January 27

ATH Edward Pope, 2-star, Carthage, Texas, committed to TCU

OLB Jakarri, Thomas, 2-star, Tallahassee, FL, committed to Arkansas

DB John Gibson, 3-star, Missouri City, Texas, committed to Arkansas

DE Brandon Lewis, 3-star, committed to Arkansas

CB Jared Collins, 3-star, Tulsa, Oklahoma, committed to Arkansas

Collins, Lewis, Gibson, and Thomas have all verbally committed to Arkansas but have not officially visited.

Recruiting Updates

Beau Hankins, a 3-star linebacker from Birmingham, Alabama, was offered by Penn State last week. Hankins has taken official visits to Arkansas, Florida International, and went to University of Central Florida during this past weekend with best friend Harding Harper, 3-star linebacker.

Arkansas is thought to be leading for Hankins signature on National Signing Day. No word how Penn State’s offer may affect his decision.

Another Missouri Commitment De-commits then Recommits Somewhere Else

Will Hines, a 3-star cornerback from Waco, Texas verbally committed to the Hogs after his visit to Arkansas over the weekend of Jan. 13. The No. 35 ranked cornerback in the nation will join one of his best friends, running back Jonathan Williams, at Arkansas for the 2012 season. 

Hines and Williams were both previously verbally committed to Missouri.

Whatever Happened to…

Former Arkansas commitment defensive tackle Mike Pennel, 6’5”, 340 pounds, of Scottsdale Junior College took a recruiting visit to Kansas State this past weekend. He visited Hawaii the weekend of Jan. 13.

Pennel has used four of his five official visits and remains uncommitted- Arkansas, Texas A&M, Hawaii, and Kansas State.

When Just One In-Home Visit Won’t Do

Linebacker Reggie Northup had an in-home visit from defensive coordinator Paul Haynes and receivers coach Kris Cinkovich on Monday Jan. 23. He will receive another in-home visit from new linebacker’s coach Taver Johnson this week.

Northup was committed to Miami but has reopened his recruiting due to the NCAA investigation into Miami’s program. He visited Arkansas for their home game against Tennessee in November. He visited Florida State this past weekend and is scheduled to visit Ohio State this weekend.

Another Possible Verbal Commitment

3-star linebacker Vin Ascolese from North Bergen, New Jersey let it be known on Twitter that he will announce his decision publicly at his high school on Jan. 25. Ascolese visited Illinois this past weekend after visiting the Hogs the prior weekend.

Ascolese is a Parade All-American.

Still Solid?

Razorback commitment Courtney Garner, a 4-star Junior College wide receiver from Sierra Community College in California, was supposed to visit Florida State this past weekend but did not go. Garner is scheduled to visit Oklahoma this weekend.

When a commitment continues to take visits there is always a chance that recruit may flip. Razorback fans have their fingers crossed that Garner will stay a solid commitment. He is the No. 12 ranked junior college player in the nation per Rivals.com.

The 2013 Class

North Little Rock junior running back Altee Tenpenny, 5’11”, 200 pounds, was visited by Arkansas head coach Bobby Petrino and running back coach Tim Horton on Tuesday. Also visiting Tenpenny on Tuesday was the new head coach for Arkansas State, Gus Malzahn.

Tenpenny reports offers from Arkansas, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Alabama, Ole Miss, and Auburn among others.

Alabama head coach Nick Saban visited Tenpenny on Wednesday.

Remember Me before You Go

University of Missouri head coach Gary Pinkel tried to make a lasting impression on Dorial Green-Beckham before his visit to Arkansas. In an effort to one-up Bobby Petrino’s visit to DGB at school earlier in the day on Wednesday, Pinkel landed on the school’s Birmingham Field at the end of the school day to visit with the top recruit. 

Speculation has Green-Beckham’s schools narrowed down to Arkansas and Texas with an outside chance of Missouri winning his signature. DGB has not made an official announcement to date. 

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SEC Football: Arkansas Heats up the College Football Recruiting Trail

The next three weekends are important for every college football program as high school seniors and junior college recruits from across the country begin to narrow their choices of favorite schools before National Signing Day on February 1.

Of all the Division 1-A teams set to host future colligate players no university may have as much impressive talent scheduled to visit than the Arkansas Razorbacks over the next two weekends.

The Hogs host 10 recruits over the weekend of January 13, with 20 more set to visit the weekend of the 20th.

With 21 recruits currently committed to the program, what will the Razorbacks do with all of the potential talent coming to campus?

Recruits Visiting January 13

WR Eric Hawkins, Longview, Texas, 5’11”, 172 pounds, 4.5 40 yard dash, 3-Stars

CB Will Hines, Waco, Texas, 6’1”, 175 pounds, 4.5 40 yard dash, 3-Stars

DE JaMichael Winston, Prichard, Alabama, 6’5”, 226 pounds, N/A 40 yard dash, 3-Star

MLB Beau Hankins, Birmingham, Alabama, 6’2”, 226 pounds, 4.6 40 yard dash, 3-Star

OLB Harding Harper, Montgomery, Alabama, 6’2”, 212 pounds, 4.6 40 yard dash, 3-Star

CB Chris Humes, Hoover, Alabama, 6’1”, 195, N/A 40 yard dash, 3-Star

DE Deatrich Wise, Carlton, Texas, 6’5”, 235 pounds, 4.7 40 yard dash, 3-Star

OT Evan Goodman, Lakeland, Florida, 6’4”, 290 pounds, N/A 40 yard dash, 4-Star

LB Vin Ascolese, North Bergen, New Jersey, 6’2”, 215 pounds, 4.5 40 yard dash, 2-Star

LB Kenny Orjioke, Marietta, Georgia, 6’3”, 215 pounds, N/A 40 yard dash, 3-Star

*All rankings are per Rivals.com

Eric Hawkins committed to the Razorbacks on July 16.

Will Hines is ranked the No. 35 cornerback in the nation. He is currently committed to Missouri.

JaMichael Winston committed to Arkansas on October 11. He has visits scheduled to Michigan State and Clemson upcoming.

Beau Hankins has been offered by Stanford, Purdue, Iowa State, Wake Forest, and Arkansas.

Harding Harper is listed as the 55th best linebacker in this year’s senior class. He has been offered by Arkansas, Vanderbilt, Tennessee, and Illinois among other schools.

Chris Humes has been reportedly offered by Arkansas, Auburn, Cincinnati, Kentucky, Mississippi State, and Louisville.

Deatrich Wise committed to Arkansas on August 6.

Evan Goodman, ranked No. 36 in the nation as an offensive tackle, committed to Arizona State on August 1. Goodman committed while Dennis Erickson was still the head coach at ASU. Erickson was fired November 28.

Vin Ascolese has been offered by Illinois, Cincinnati, and reports an offer from Michigan State. He has not been offered by the Razorbacks to date. Ascolese played in the Semper Fidelis All-American Game in Phoenix, Arizona January 3. He was one of 100 players selected for the game.

Kenny Orjioke committed to UCLA December 19. He reports offers from Arkansas, Ole Miss, UCLA, North Carolina, and Arizona State.

All 10 recruits made the trip to Arkansas for their official visit.

Recruits Visiting January 20

WR Dorial Green-Beckham, 5-Star, not committed, possible delayed arrival

RB Trey Williams, 5-Star, committed to Texas A&M

OL Germain Ifedi, 3-Star, committed to Texas A&M

DT Tyler Nero, 3-Star, committed to Auburn

WR Davonte Neal, 4-Star, not committed

OT Jordan Diamond, 4-Star, not committed

LB Dalton Santos, 3-Star, committed to Tennessee

DE Darius English, 3-Star, committed to South Carolina

TE Sean Price, 4-Star, committed to South Florida

OL Jeremy Ward, 4-Star, committed to Arkansas

LB A.J. Turner, 4-Star, committed to Arkansas

RB Donovan Roberts, 3-Star, committed to Arkansas

Arkansas is currently ranked No. 29 by Rivals.com, No. 18 by Scout.com, and is not ranked by ESPN.com at this time.

The Razorbacks recruiting coordinator is running back coach Tim Horton.

Dann Kabala is Arkansas’ eligibility coordinator and director of on-campus recruiting.

Recruiting Updates

Jalen Cobb of Warren, Arkansas is no longer committed to the Razorbacks due to possible academic problems. Cobb is listed as a 4-star receiver and ranked the No. 43 high school wide receiver in the nation.

Cobb has not committed to another team since de-committing from the Razorbacks.

Norman, Oklahoma running back Donovan Roberts was recently offered by hometown heavy University of Oklahoma. Roberts has maintained his commitment to the Hogs and remains a solid verbal commitment. 

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