Razorbacks add more depth to class, now ranked 16th nationally
Newly Committed
#312 Kenyon Brunner
DE #28 ***
6'4" 246
Gibson, Arkansas
Brunner arrives at Arkansas as a developmental pass-rushing prospect with intriguing physical upside. Standing 6'4" with long arms and solid initial burst off the edge, he gives the Razorbacks another high-effort defensive lineman to mold within their front seven.
Recruiters were drawn to Brunner’s closing speed and natural ability to disrupt plays in the backfield. While he remains somewhat raw technically, Arkansas coaches believe his combination of size, acceleration, and pursuit ability gives him significant long-term potential as an SEC edge defender.
The Razorbacks held off Texas A&M, Ole Miss, Missouri, and Auburn to land the talented Arkansas native.
#1530 Darrell Schroeder
TE #65 **
6'2" 236
Morrilton, Arkansas
Schroeder gives Arkansas a physical, blue-collar tight end prospect capable of contributing in multiple ways offensively. Built with a sturdy frame and strong hands, he projects as the type of player who can help establish the edge in the run game while also serving as a reliable underneath target in the passing attack.
Though primarily recruited as a blocking tight end, Schroeder flashed enough athleticism and ball skills during the recruiting process to suggest he could grow into a versatile offensive piece over time. Coaches reportedly admire his toughness, balance after contact, and willingness to do the dirty work in the trenches.
Arkansas beat out Louisville, Illinois, Texas Tech, and Rice to secure the in-state prospect’s commitment.
Previously Committed
#50 Bob Meeks
ATH #21 ****
6'2" 190
Mandeville, Louisiana
Meeks is viewed by many recruiting analysts as one of the most dynamic overall athletes in Louisiana. Arkansas recruited him heavily as a versatile chess piece capable of contributing on either side of the football.
At 6'2" with impressive speed and body control, Meeks could project at wide receiver, safety, or even as a hybrid offensive weapon depending on how he develops physically. Coaches reportedly love his open-field ability and competitiveness.
Arkansas fought off LSU, Ole Miss, Tulane, and Mississippi State to secure his commitment.
#76 Jeremy Dodds
WR #18 ****
6'0" 180
Jackson, Mississippi
Dodds gives Arkansas another explosive athlete at a position of need and is widely regarded as one of the smoother route runners in the region. He combines reliable hands with strong acceleration after the catch and has experience both outside and in the slot.
Arkansas coaches reportedly believe he fits perfectly into Marcus Arroyo’s offense because of his versatility and ability to create mismatches in space.
The Razorbacks beat out Pitt, Nebraska and Alabama for his signature.
#156 Joey Dowdell
ATH #33 ****
6'4" 222
Conroe, Texas
Dowdell may ultimately become the centerpiece of the class.
The four-star athlete possesses rare size and versatility, giving Arkansas multiple options for his future role. At 6'4", 222 pounds, Dowdell has the frame to develop into a linebacker, edge defender, tight end, or even a jumbo offensive weapon depending on how his body develops.
Recruiting insiders have praised his explosiveness and overall athletic ceiling, and Arkansas beat out several major SEC programs, including Alabama, Texas A&M, Georgia, and Tennessee, to secure his commitment.
The Razorbacks view him as a long-term impact player with one of the highest ceilings in the class.
#269 Demetrius Baker
OLB #15 ****
6'0" 223
Nederland, Texas
Baker is considered one of the most college-ready defenders in Arkansas’ recruiting class. The four-star linebacker brings an aggressive downhill mentality along with excellent closing speed and natural instincts against the run.
He has experience both standing up and playing on the edge, giving Porter Davis’ defensive staff flexibility in how they eventually deploy him. Coaches also believe Baker has the athleticism to develop into an every-down SEC linebacker.
Arkansas edged out UCLA, Michigan and Ole Miss in a highly competitive recruiting battle.
#374 Cory Ross
SS #5 ***
5'11" 183
Monticello, Louisiana
Ross gives Arkansas an athletic defensive back with versatility and range in the secondary. The Louisiana product plays with a physical edge despite being slightly undersized and is known for his instincts near the football. Arkansas coaches reportedly love his ability to play downhill against the run while still possessing enough athleticism to develop into a capable coverage safety.
Ross chose Arkansas over strong pushes from Tulane, Southern Miss, and Arkansas State.
#411 Reggie Parrish
FS #6 ***
6'3" 207
Madison, Mississippi
Parrish gives Arkansas an experienced junior college defensive back with rare physical tools and immediate-impact potential. At 6'3" and over 200 pounds, he brings ideal SEC size to the secondary while also possessing impressive straight-line speed and range for a player of his frame.
Arkansas coaches were especially drawn to his downhill physicality and ability to close on ball carriers in space. Parrish projects as a hard-hitting safety capable of helping against the run immediately while still offering enough athleticism to develop into a strong coverage defender on the back end.
The Razorbacks beat out Southern Miss, Mississippi State, Alabama, and Tennessee to land one of the more sought-after JUCO defensive backs in the region.
#495 J.J. Nixon
CB #27 ***
6'1" 188
Bella Vista, Arkansas
Nixon stayed home to give Arkansas a long, athletic cornerback with excellent instincts in coverage. The in-state prospect impressed recruiters with his combination of acceleration, physical press ability, and awareness in the secondary.
At 6'1", Nixon has the size coaches covet on the outside and plays with confidence at the line of scrimmage. Arkansas staff members reportedly believe his best football is still ahead of him thanks to his natural movement skills and feel for the position.
The Razorbacks successfully held off Baylor, Vanderbilt, Mississippi State, and Missouri to keep one of the state's top defensive backs home.
#558 Josh Turner
ATH #55 ***
5'10" 220
Gardere, Louisiana
Turner is one of the more intriguing athletes in the class because of his versatility and physical running style. At 220 pounds, he already possesses SEC-ready size and could project at multiple positions.
Some schools viewed him as a running back, others as a linebacker or hybrid defensive player. Arkansas appears willing to let him develop naturally after arriving on campus, valuing his toughness and explosiveness above all else.
The Razorbacks beat out TCU, LSU, Tulane, and Mississippi State for his commitment.
#624 Grant White
OLB #39 ***
6'2" 227
Columbia, Mississippi
White brings size and physicality to the linebacker room. A true run-stopper type prospect, White plays with heavy hands and flashes strong instincts attacking downhill. Arkansas defensive coaches reportedly see him as a natural fit for SEC football due to his toughness and willingness to take on blockers.
His recruitment turned into a tight battle with Auburn, Georgia, Ole Miss, and Florida State before Arkansas ultimately pulled ahead.
#993 Jeffrey Christensen
OLB #68 ***
6'0" 215
Fort Bliss, Texas
Christensen projects as a high-motor linebacker capable of fitting into multiple defensive looks. Though still somewhat raw technically, he brings toughness and explosiveness off the edge. Arkansas sees him as a developmental player who could eventually carve out a role as either a hybrid outside linebacker or situational pass rusher.
His commitment represented a significant recruiting win over Texas A&M, Auburn, and Syracuse.
#1124 Jeremy Collins
WR #167 ***
5'11" 181
West University, Texas
Collins adds speed and versatility to Arkansas’ offensive recruiting haul. Though not the biggest receiver in the class, he brings strong hands, open-field quickness, and the ability to create yards after the catch.
Arkansas coaches see Collins as a potential slot receiver and return specialist thanks to his acceleration and natural ball-carrying ability. He also flashed reliable hands throughout the recruiting process and showed the ability to make defenders miss in space.
The Razorbacks pulled Collins away from Missouri, Texas Tech, TCU, and Ole Miss after a strong late recruiting push.
#1603 Kyle Mack
CB #134 **
5'10" 162
Allen, Texas
Mack may be lightly recruited compared to some others in the class, but Arkansas coaches see upside in his speed and coverage instincts. Though undersized, he plays aggressively and shows good fluidity changing direction in man coverage.
With Arkansas lacking depth in the secondary, Mack could eventually compete for playing time after adding strength and refining his technique.
The Razorbacks beat out interest from BYU, Minnesota, and Louisiana Tech to land the Texas defensive back.
#1719 Tyler Jones
C #51 **
6'0" 309
River Ridge, Louisiana
Jones may not carry the flashy recruiting ranking of some others in the class, but Arkansas coaches believe he fills an important need in the trenches.
The powerful interior lineman is viewed as a developmental center with strong run-blocking ability and a sturdy frame. Coaches have praised his work ethic and physicality, and he could become an important depth piece as he develops within the Razorbacks’ offensive system.
Arkansas held off Vanderbilt, Mississippi State, Texas A&M, and Ole Miss to land his commitment.
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