By Otis Kirk

Arkansas has 25 public verbal commitments at this time and has plans to sign 29. 

The Hogs also have two private commitments, but disregarding them to respect their right to announce a decision when they choose, this will be a general look where the remaining scholarships will go to. 

With the news of sophomore linebacker Dee Walker being arrested for drug and gun charges Wednesday afternoon it’s obvious linebacker remains a key need in this class. At this time, Arkansas has a commitment from Richmond (Texas) Fort Bend Travis linebacker Zach Zimos, 6-4, 215. While he’s very talented it’s likely the Hogs add at least one more to go with him.

To varying degrees, the Hogs have been linked to four other linebacker recruits. Dodge City (Kan.) Community College’s Lakia Henry, 6-1, 225, East Mississippi Community College’s Sci Martin, 6-4, 230, Fullerton (Calif.) College’s Caleb Johnson and Dyersburg (Tenn.) High School’s Chris Russell, 6-2, 220, are all known to be on Arkansas’ radar this fall. Henry, Johnson and Martin have all officially visited the Razorbacks. Russell is expected to possibly visit the Hogs in January.

Henry is committed to Tennessee, but Arkansas has made a strong impression on him. The Vols have since offered Russell and started recruiting other linebackers hard. Rumors have Vols worried that Henry may flip to the Hogs. Henry won’t sign until February.

Martin visited this past weekend. He is also looking at Kansas and Oklahoma. Johnson is making a commitment on Dec. 17 between Texas, Oregon, Colorado and Arkansas. Russell is someone who continues to attract offers following a strong senior season. 

The returning scholarship linebackers at Arkansas are senior De’Jon Harris, junior Deon Edwards, junior Hayden Henry, junior Giovanni LaFrance, junior D’Vone McClure, junior Grant Morgan, redshirt freshman Andrew Parker and sophomore Bumper Pool. 

In addition to linebacker, Arkansas still has a need in the secondary and possibly an older quarterback. In the secondary, Arkansas has commitments from New Orleans (La.) Edna Karr cornerback Devin Bush, 6-1, 190, Rison cornerback Malik Chavis, 6-2, 175, Murfreesboro (Tenn.) Blackman cornerback Adonis Otey, 5-11, 180, and Pflugerville (Texas) Hendrickson safety Myles Brooks, 6-2, 190. Bush, Otey and Chavis will all sign in December while Brooks is slated for February. Bush will enroll at Arkansas at midterm.

A couple of prospects still on their radar are Mansfield (Texas) Legacy safety Jalen Catalon, 5-9, 180, and Harvey (La.) West Jefferson cornerback Gregory Brooks Jr., 5-10, 178. Catalon is down to Arkansas, Texas, Oklahoma and TCU, Brooks has committed to Mississippi State, but still has Hogs on his list. Brooks is slated to announce his final decision on Dec. 19, the first day of the early signing period. Catalon has said he will make his decision known in January.

At quarterback, Arkansas continues to monitor the graduate transfer market. SMU’s Ben Hicks, 6-2, 220, announced on Wednesday his intentions to leave SMU and play elsewhere as a senior. Obviously with ties to Chad Morris, Joe Craddock and others at Arkansas the Razorbacks are considered a possibility. It remains how hard the Hogs will pursue him.

Hicks was at SMU for four seasons including his redshirt year in 2015. He completed 718 of 1,266 passes for 9,081 yards, 71 touchdowns and 34 interceptions. He rushed 140 times for minus-104 yards and three touchdowns. He played at Waco (Texas) Midway in high school.

Another quarterback who has come onto the grad transfer market recently is Ball State’s Riley Neal, 6-6, 225. The former Yorktown (Ind.) High School standout has played in 34 games at Ball State. He has completed 731 of 1,219 passes for 7,393 yards, 46 touchdowns and 25 interceptions. In addition, he has rushed 325 times for 1,363 yards and 15 touchdowns. 

In a narrow 24-16 loss to Notre Dame on Sept. 8 this season, Neal completed 23 of 50 passes for 180  yards, a touchdown and two interceptions. He also rushed seven time for 35 yards in the game. ‘

He averaged 40.3 yards on three punts this season as well. Arkansas has a commitment from Sardis (Miss.) North Panola quarterback KJ Jefferson, 6-3, 215, in the Class of 2019. 

Arkansas will likely continue to monitor the quarterback market until after the bowl games when some new quarterbacks are almost certain to be added. 

The early signing period is Dec. 19-21 and then the late one begins Feb. 6.