The Choices Are Many, The Committed Are Few

By December 4, 2012

Fayetteville High quarterback Austin Allen as verbally committed to the Razorbacks and has shown no interest in other programs even though he has received other offers. (Photo by Andy Shupe: Courtesy of NWA Newspapers)

Among 12 verbally-committed recruits, Arkansas has one four-star, eight three-star and three two-star athletes coming in with verbal agreements, according to Scout.com.

After a long season, Razorback players and fans alike are not only looking forward to discovering who the new head football coach will be, but who the incoming recruits are.

Austin Allen, ranked No. 32 as a four-star quarterback in Scout.com’s poll, expressed no interest in any institution other than Arkansas, and has verbally committed. Allen led the Fayetteville High School Bulldogs to a second consecutive state title and won the Gatorade Arkansas Football Player of the Year award.

Allen is the younger brother of redshirt freshman quarterback Brandon Allen.

Directly following Allen in the rankings is Marcus Robinson, an outside linebacker from  Memphis, Tenn. Robinson is rated three-stars and committed to Arkansas, with no interest expressed in other schools, although he has received other offers.

Not too far down the line at No. 42 is Arkansas-commit safety Khari Harding from Edmond, Okla. Harding received offers from schools like Arkansas State, Kansas State and Indiana, but verbally committed to Arkansas.

The highest nationally-ranked player that has expressed any interest in Arkansas is wide receiver James Quick from Louisville, Ky. Quick is also interested in quite a few other Southeastern Conference schools, including Kentucky, Alabama, Missouri and Auburn, which have also made offers.

Hunter Henry, from Pulaski Academy in Little Rock, is ranked as a No. 3 tight end nationally and has made a soft verbal commitment to Arkansas. However, Henry is also considering Arkansas State and various SEC schools, with some interest in Notre Dame and Oklahoma as well.

Alabama and Georgia made offers to Henry, and are the only other two schools Henry has expressed medium interest in. Henry went for an official visit to Alabama in early November and is waiting until a new head coach is hired at Arkansas to make an official commitment.

No. 6-ranked cornerback Mackensie Alexander, from Immokalee High School in Florida, has expressed medium interest in seven SEC schools including Arkansas, all of which have made offers.

Arkansas’ recruiting class is the not the best in the SEC, where Alabama still reigns supreme, in terms of the game and the recruits. Arkansas falls among Kentucky and Missouri in the number and ranking of committed recruits, according to Bleacher Report.

In the nation, Arkansas ranks 38th in recruiting classes on ESPN.com. Florida, USC and Alabama round out the top three in national recruiting classes. More than 10 of the top-40 recruiting classes belong to the SEC.

  • Marty_carroll01

    We have 17 commits, not 12. Perhaps you should do a better job counting or investigating before writing an article. We can only take 25, so we are 8 away.

  • Ttumliso

    I appreciate your comment. I cited my sources, and the sources state that we have 12 with verbal commitments, and the rest with soft verbal. So you are likely correct, but my statement still stands correct as well. Thank you for your feedback, it’s the readers like you who keep us on our toes!