Published May 22, 2012 - 5:30pm
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The Arkansas Razorbacks continue to recruit, despite an uncertainty at the head coaching position. John L. Smith will be the Hogs head coach for the next 10 months, but after that, it’s anyone’s guess as to who the Head Hog will be.
But that has not stopped the Arkansas coaching staff when it comes to recruiting. Recruiting Coordinator Tim Horton and the rest of the Razorbacks staff are visiting schools and players just like nothing happened.
On Monday, it seems to have paid off in a big way.
Horton and the Razorback staff only had to go across town to Fayetteville High to pick up three new verbal commitments Monday afternoon. QB Austin Allen (6’2″ 215 lbs. 4.7), OLB Brooks Ellis (6’3″ 215 lbs. 4.6), and Safety Alex Brignoni (6’2″ 195 lbs. 4.5) all pledged to play for the Hogs, beginning in 2013.
Allen is the son of Arkansas assistant coach Bobby Allen, and the younger brother of Razorback redshirt freshman QB Brandon Allen. Austin is a four-star recruit, who chose the Hogs over offers from Notre Dame, Vandy, Ole Miss, Miss St, Tulsa, and a host of others.
Ellis is a fast and hard-hitting linebacker, who is a three-star or four-star player, depending on which recruiting service you look at. Brooks has the coverage ability to stay at OLB, but could easily bulk up and move inside. Ellis chose Arkansas over Tulsa, Ole Miss, Miss St, Vandy, Illinois, North Carolina, and others.
Brignoni is rated as a three-star prospect, who has solid tackling skills in run support, as evidence in his 130 total tackles in Fayetteville’s 2011 Class 7A State Championship season. However, it is very clear that he also is a ball-hawk, when one notices he finished last year with a whopping 10 interceptions, two of which he returned for touchdowns. Alex picked Arkansas over Ole Miss, Arkansas St, Central Arkansas, and Tulsa.
Allen, Brignoni, and Ellis bring Arkansas’ commitment total to five for the 2013 class, joining three-star TE Deandre Skinner (6’4″ 230 lbs. 4.5) of Patterson, LA. and three-star RB Kaleb Blanchard (6’1″ 215 lbs. 4.4) of Denham Springs, LA.
Verbal commits are obviously non-binding.
The bad thing about in-state recruits, is that the top player in the state has gone elsewhere each of the last four years, five if you count Altee Tenpenny. Yet, Arkansas has still managed to win 29 games in the last three seasons.
Arkansas added verbal commit #6 today, when 3-star Plantation, FL QB Tyler Cogswell (6’5″ 230 lbs. 4.8) pledged to the Hogs. I watched some video of this kid on youtube, and he is very much underrated.