Arkansas Football 2024 Recruiting Thread **WR Zachary Taylor Commits**

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Top247 defensive lineman Kavion Henderson commits to Arkansas

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Arkansas received a much-needed morale boost on Sunday afternoon when Top247 defensive lineman Kavion Henderson of Leeds (Ala.) became the Razorbacks' first commitment of the Class of 2024.

Henderson, 6-3, 235, went public with his decision at a ceremony at approximately 3 p.m., choosing the Hogs over Alabama, Georgia, Oklahoma, Auburn, Florida State, LSU, Miami, Michigan, Notre Dame, Ole Miss, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas A&M and many others. The four-star prospect told HawgSports last week that his finalists were Arkansas, Alabama and Georgia, but he had been committed to the Razorbacks since March.

While defensive line coach Deke Adams is credited for being Henderson's lead recruiter and future position coach, Henderson said his recruitment was a staff effort that began around the first of the year.

Four-star running back Braylen Russell of Benton (Ark.) de-committed from the Razorbacks earlier this fall, which makes Henderson the Hogs' new first commitment for the Class of 2024.

According to 247Sports, Henderson is a four-star prospect, the No. 233 overall player in the nation, No. 16 among all defensive linemen, and the No. 14 overall prospect in the state of Alabama for the Class of 2024. The 247Sports Composite rankings have him listed even higher, as the No. 195 overall target in the country, No. 16 among defensive linemen and No. 12 in his home state.

Henderson's announcement is a timely one for the Razorbacks, who are still reeling after a surprising 21-19 homecoming loss to No. 23 Liberty on Saturday afternoon.

In addition to Henderson, Arkansas is also in the mix for several other notable defensive line prospects in the 2024 cycle, including homegrown products in four-star Charleston Collins of Little Rock (Ark.) Mills and three-star TJ Lindsey of Bryant (Ark.).

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Arkansas' current class of 2023 still includes 23 verbal commitments and ranks 16th nationally. The Razorbacks hosted another 2023 prospect over the weekend in West Virginia defensive line commitment Justin Benton of Covington (Ga.) Newton. Benton, 6-2, 275, arrived in Fayetteville Saturday morning and won't finish his visit until Monday morning.

Here's a look at Arkansas' current depth situation at defensive end:

2022 Scholarship Roster

3-star Dorian Gerald (6-3, 265, S-Sr.)

3-star Jordan Domineck (6-3, 253, R-Sr.)

3-star Zach Williams (6-4, 245, Sr.)

3-star Jashaud Stewart (6-2, 243, Jr.)

3-star Eric Thomas (6-3, 259, Jr.)

4-star Landon Jackson (6-7, 275, So.)

3-star JJ Hollingsworth (6-3, 249, Fr.)

3-star Nico Davillier (6-3, 275, Fr.)

2023 Edge Commitments

3-star Quincy Rhodes Jr. (6-7, 255)

3-star Kaleb James (6-4, 250)

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DL TJ Lindsey: A 2024 EDGE from Bryant High School in Arkansas, TJ Lindsey had one of the most productive days of any pass rusher in attendance on Friday. Possessing a nice combination of size and athleticism, Lindsey’s smooth moving ability and suddenness off the edge caught our attention as he was handful throughout the afternoon.

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2024 SDE TJ Lindsey 6'5" 250 Bryant, AR

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Lindsey combined his imposing physical presence with better than expected athleticism to become one of the camp's most impressive defensive players on the day. The Arkansas native impressed during drills which was shortly followed by an even more impressive performance during 1on-1's, where he proved to be nearly un-blockable.

Lindsey is pushing 20 offers including the likes of Georgia, Colorado and the home-state Arkansas Razorbacks.

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2025 RB Kiandrea Barker 6'1" 190 Beebe, AR

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Barker was a standout at the Dallas Rivals Camp Series last spring and he picked up right where he left off at today's National Combine. With offers from Florida State, Ole Miss, Penn State and others, Barker is already a borderline national recruit and will likely have offers from coast to coast by the time his recruitment is complete.

The standout 2025 prospect has a big-time frame, is extremely smooth in all of his movements and proved to be as tough of a matchup as we saw on the days during the 1-on1 portion of the combine.

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Arkansas landed a major 2024 commitment on Saturday when Batesville (Miss.) South Panola four-star Julius Pope went public with his decision.

Pope, 6-0, 195, chose the Razorbacks over Alabama, Michigan, Oregon, Mississippi State, Louisville and others. He is Arkansas' fourth commitment for the Class of 2024.

According to 247Sports, Pope is a four-star prospect, No. 27 among all linebackers nationally, and the No. 9 player in the state of Mississippi. The industry-generated 247Sports Composite rankings have him as the No. 29 linebacker in the land and the No. 11 player in his home state.

As a junior, Pope recorded 82 tackles, 19 tackles for loss, 9 sacks and an interception while also adding 490 rushing yards and 8 scores on offense.

Pope, who was recruited by Arkansas defensive backs coach Marcus Woodson, visited the Razorbacks on March 4.

"Arkansas stands high on my chart, getting to know how their school works really helped their chances," Pope said following the visit.

Pope is Arkansas' second four-star commitment from the state of Mississippi, joining four-star athlete (defensive back) Noreel White of Ocean Springs St. James.

The Hogs also hold verbal pledges from four-star defensive lineman Kavion Henderson of Leeds (Ala.) and three-star defensive lineman Dion Stutts of Memphis (Tenn.) University.

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Rivals250 athlete Julius Pope is calling the Hogs.

The four-star out of Mississippi announced his commitment to Arkansas on Saturday evening, providing the Razorbacks with a notable recruiting win in early April. Arkansas beat out Alabama, Louisville, Michigan, Ole Miss, and Oregon for Pope's pledge.

Pope saw his stock explode in a big way this winter. Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide became the first to offer in January. The Razorbacks and Wolverines quickly followed suit, and he has made his decision just a few months later.

RAZORBACKS WIN OUT
The Arkansas staff made Pope a priority from the moment that they extended a scholarship offer to the South Panola standout. Specifically, running backs coach Jimmy Smith and co-defensive coordinator Marcus Woodson.

Those relationships paid off in a big way in the Razorbacks landing the four-star over SEC rivals and national programs.

"I made my commitment to Arkansas, because they showed me love," Pope told Rivals. "The coaches text and call me every day. I love the environment up there."

Woodson, in particular, played a major role in Pope's recruitment. Woodson has deep Mississippi ties, and the two hit it off from the start. Pope trusts that Woodson can help get him to where he wants to be.

"Coach Woodson knows how to teach young men, and he's great at what he does," said Pope.

Arkansas hosted Pope on campus in March. It was his first visit of the spring and his first look at the Razorbacks. He came away impressed with what the SEC West program had to offer.

"The first thing (that stood out) was the coaches," Pope said about his visit to Fayetteville. "They keep the main thing the main thing. Then, I like the environment. The people up there love their Hogs."

Now that his commitment is out of the way, Pope is focused helping the Razorbacks take the next step and reach the next level. He has big goals in mind once he gets up to the Natural State for his collegiate career.

"I’m bringing a team-first type of guy," Pope said. "A dog. A player that will put himself in a position that will make the team win a national championship."

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RIVALS REACTS
Juju Pope's commitment is further evidence in the hiring of Marcus Woodson paying dividends on the recruiting trail. Woodson has proven himself to be a strong recruiter, specifically in his home state of Mississippi. Sam Pittman added him to the staff earlier this offseason.

Pope saw his recruitment take off in the winter with offers flying in from major programs ranging from the Pac-12 to the SEC. In the end, his bond with multiple Razorbacks coaches won out. He is the second blue chip prospect out of Mississippi to commit to Arkansas in the 2024 cycle, joining Noreel White.

The four-star has played all over the field at a tradition-rich program in the Magnolia State. He has made a difference at running back, on defense, and even special teams. His versatility makes him an intriguing prospect, and he likely projects best on the defensive side at linebacker or in a hybrid role where he can put his instincts and range on full display.

Rivals ranks Juju Pope as the No. 215 overall recruit in the 2024 recruiting cycle. He is the No. 10 prospect in Mississippi and No. 18 athlete. Pope joins an Arkansas class that also features White, four-star defensive end Kavion Henderson, and three-star defensive tackle Dion Stutts.

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Aledo (Texas) Class of 2024 cornerback Jaden Allen has committed to the Arkansas Razorbacks.

Allen, 5-11, 160, went public with his decision on Friday, choosing the Hogs over co-finalists Tennessee and Alabama, as well as previous offers from Texas, LSU, USC, Michigan State, Mississippi State and others.

Allen initially committed to Texas, where his older brother B.J. Allen currently plays defensive back, on December 29, 2021. He de-committed from the Horns on February 25, 2023 and was offered by Arkansas’ staff on March 4 following his first unofficial visit on The Hill.

The junior cornerback returned to Fayetteville last week for the Hogs’ spring game and plans to be back again for an official visit on the weekend of June 16.

Allen was recruited to Arkansas by first-year defensive backs coach Deron Wilson, who is also trying to land Allen's teammate in 2024 cornerback Chris Johnson II. The Razorbacks have hosted Johnson twice so far this spring and are expected to get him back on campus for an official visit, as well.

According to 247Sports, Allen is a three-star prospect, No. 44 among all cornerbacks across the country, and No. 82 overall in the Lone Star State. The industry-generated 247Sports Composite rankings have Allen as the 29th cornerback in the land and No. 61 in the state of Texas for the Class of 2024.

With the addition of Allen, Arkansas' 2024 class moves from 25th to 22nd nationally, and from 8th to 7th in the SEC.

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Rivals' No. 17 cornerback in the nation for the 2024 class has called the Hogs.

Jaden Allen, a four-star cornerback from Aledo, Texas, announced his commitment to Arkansas on Friday via his Instagram account. He chose the Razorbacks over Tennessee and Alabama.

Allen received an offer from Sam Pittman's program on March 4 while on his first visit to Fayetteville.

Since then, he took another visit to Arkansas to see the football team scrimmage in the Red-White showcase last Saturday and that seemed to seal the deal.

The Aledo native is the second-highest ranked recruit to commit to the Razorbacks in the 2024 class, ranked behind defensive end Kavion Henderson, who is currently the No. 101 player in the nation, according to Rivals.

The 6-foot, 170-pound defender was committed to Texas — where his brother BJ Allen is a redshirt freshman safety — from Dec. 29, 2021, to Feb. 25, 2023.

For Aledo last season, Allen racked up 48 total tackles and three interceptions, one of which was returned for a touchdown. He helped lead Aledo to a Texas state championship with a 52-14 win over College Station.

Allen's teammate and fellow 2024 cornerback Chris Johnson also visited Arkansas in March and he holds an offer from the Razorbacks.

With Allen's commitment, Arkansas now has six total commitments in the class of 2024, with five of those coming since March 11 of this year.

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Aledo (Texas) four-star cornerback Jaden Allen has announced his commitment to Arkansas as the Razorbacks add their first pledge of what is expected to be a huge day for Sam Pittman and his staff.

Allen, who decommitted from Texas in February, said that Arkansas was the first program to reach out following his decision to re-open his recruitment.

Following that, Allen took an unofficial visit to Fayetteville in late March which helped give the Hogs positioning that would eventually lead to him making his commitment on Friday morning.

The brother of Texas sophomore safety Bryan Allen Jr., Jaden Allen committed to Texas just days after his older sibling signed with the Longhorns in Dec. 2021, but he re-opened his recruitment after a pledge of over 14 months.

The 6-foot-0, 170-pound cornerback has starred for a stellar Aledo secondary that already has two state championships to its name during Allen's career, as he has helped the defense in multiple spots in the secondary at corner, nickel and safety, while also dabbling in some offensive work at receiver.

His highest ceiling is seen at corner although his speed and twitch has seen him show some flashes at wide receiver as well. However, his cover skills and fluid movement help make him a potential draft pick in the secondary.

Some improvements could be made to Allen's physical stature as the Arkansas weight and strength program will need to bulk him up to get him ready for SEC play, but once he can compete physically on the field, he will be a dangerous force for what is shaping up to be an improved secondary for the Razorbacks in future years.

At 6-foot-0, 170 pounds, Allen is ranked as the No. 132 recruit in the country for the class of 2024, according to Rivals. He is the No. 22 recruit from the state of Texas and the No. 17 cornerback recruit in the country.

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Pine Bluff (Ark.) Composite four-star wide receiver Courtney Crutchfield has committed to the Arkansas Razorbacks.

Crutchfield, 6-2, 175, went public with his decision on Friday afternoon via a commitment video, choosing the home state Razorbacks over LSU, Auburn, Tennessee, Texas A&M, Ole Miss, Oklahoma and several others.

Crutchfield is Arkansas’ eighth verbal commitment for the Class of 2024 and its third of the day, joining 247Sports Composite four-star cornerback Jaden Allen of Aledo (Texas) and Top247 defensive lineman Charleston Collins of Pine Bluff (Ark.). Crutchfield was recruited to Fayetteville by third-year wide receivers coach Kenny Guiton, though several schools recruited him as an athlete who could play offense or defensive back at the next level.

Six of Arkansas' first seven commitments are four-stars according to the 247Sports Composite rankings, which already almost matches the eight that Arkansas landed last year in a class of 20 signees.

According to 247Sports, Crutchfield is a highly-graded three-star prospect coming in at No. 52 nationally at the wide receiver position, and No. 4 overall in the Natural State. The industry-generated 247Sports Composite rankings have Crutchfield as a four-star prospect, No. 394 overall, No. 56 among all wide receivers, and No. 5 in the state of Arkansas.

With the additions of Crutchfield and Collins, Arkansas’ 2024 class goes from from 22nd to 14th nationally, and from 7th in the SEC to No. 6, just ahead of Alabama’s five total commitments.

In addition to the new in-state pledges, the Razorbacks’ other commitments include Birmingham (Ala.) St. Martin four-star quarterback KJ Jackson, Leeds (Ala.) four-star defensive lineman Kavion Henderson, Ocean Springs (Miss.) St. Martin four-star athlete Noreel White, Batesville (Miss.) South Panola four-star athlete Julius Pope, four-star cornerback Jaden Allen of Aledo (Texas), and three-star defensive lineman Dion Stutts of Memphis (Tenn.) University School.

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Around a month ago, Pine Bluff (Ark.) four-star athlete Courtney Crutchfield got on the phone with Arkansas wide receivers coach Kenny Guiton. The first thing Guiton asked him about was how his family was doing.

That moment helped elevate the Razorbacks to the top of Crutchfield’s list. On Friday, he announced his commitment to Arkansas.

“The bond with them is different,” Crutchfield told On3. “They stay on me, they stayed hitting me up like every other day. The bond that I have with coach Kenny Guiton, he just set the tone.”

Crutchfield has been to Fayetteville around three times. While on campus, he got a firsthand look at the culture of Arkansas, who finished 7-6 last season with a victory in the Liberty Bowl.

The 6-foot-0.5, 170-pound athlete could quickly sense a brotherhood within the program and felt appreciated by not only the Razorbacks’ coaches, but also their players. Eventually, he figured out that Arkansas would be the best fit for his college football career.

“It was pretty easy because of the bond I had with them and how much they stayed attached to me,” said Crutchfield, the No. 371 overall prospect and No. 18 athlete in the 2024 On3 Industry Ranking. “They showed me it’s the place for me to be and I’m there with somebody that really cares about me.”

Crutchfield believes in Sam Pittman and Arkansas’ staff

According to Crutchfield, he first met Guiton in ninth grade. In addition to their longtime relationship, he likes how the Arkansas assistant works with the Razorbacks’ wide receivers.

Overall, Crutchfield was impressed with how Arkansas’ offensive staff operated. He trusts in the vision that head coach Sam Pittman is implementing for the future.

“He’s building a legacy,” Crutchfield said. “He really doesn’t want in-state kids to leave. He’s gonna get it on the right track.”

With his commitment, Crutchfield became the first in-state pledge in Arkansas’ 2024 recruiting class. He joins multiple offensive playmakers, including Ocean Springs (Miss.) St. Martin four-star wide receiver Noreel White and Montgomery (Ala.) St. James School four-star quarterback KJ Jackson.

Crutchfield knew he was pledging to the Razorbacks a little less than two weeks ago. So, he called Pittman on Easter to share the good news.

“He was surprised,” Crutchfield said. “…He’s a good man. He’s gonna look out for you, he’s gonna do what he’s got to do to put you in the right position to be successful.”

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Columbia (Ga.) Decatur athlete Jadan Baugh has committed to the Arkansas Razorbacks.

Baugh, 6-0, 214, went public with his decision on Friday afternoon during his team's spring game, choosing the Hogs over five other finalists in Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, Georgia Tech and Louisville. His offer list also included Miami, Michigan, Tennessee, Texas, Mississippi State, Virginia Tech and others.

Baugh was recruited to Arkansas by running backs coach Jimmy Smith and is expected to join Smith's room in 2024. Baugh made an unofficial visit in Fayetteville on April 4-5.

According to 247Sports, Baugh is a three-star prospect, the No. 41 athlete in the nation and the No. 49 overall target in the state of Georgia for the Class of 2024. The industry-generated 247Sports Composite rankings are similar, listing Baugh at No. 42 among all 'athletes' and No. 56 in the Peach State.

With the addition of Baugh, Arkansas' 2024 class moves from 16th to 15th nationally while holding steady at sixth in the SEC.

Arkansas' offensive commitment list includes Baugh, Birmingham (Ala.) St. Martin four-star quarterback KJ Jackson, Pine Bluff (Ark.) three-star wide receiver Courtney Crutchfield, while the defensive class includes Leeds (Ala.) four-star defensive lineman Kavion Henderson, Little Rock (Ark.) Mills four-star defensive lineman Charleston Collins, three-star defensive lineman Dion Stutts of Memphis (Tenn.) University School, Ocean Springs (Miss.) St. Martin four-star athlete Noreel White, Batesville (Miss.) South Panola four-star athlete Julius Pope, and three-star safety Tevis Metcalf of Birmingham (Ala.) Parker.

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Decatur (Ga.) Columbia 2024 athlete Jadan Baugh has committed to Arkansas over Florida, Georgia, Georgia Tech South Carolina and Louisville. Baugh pushed his commitment back nearly five months later than it was originally planned.

Baugh announce back in October of last year that he’d commit on Nov. 4, 2022. He felt uneasy things, so he pushed it back.

Baugh went through the process and found a home in Arkansas. He feels it this time around. Baugh feels he landed in a good spot.

“I’m relieved,” Baugh told On3. “That’s how I feel. I know where I want to be. I know where I’m wanted. I’m really excited.”

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Jadan Baugh driven by relationships

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Baugh feels he had a strong bond with the coaching staff. That was one of the main selling points for Arkansas. He connected with the coaching staff on a deep level.

“It was my relationship with the coaches,” Baugh said. “The bond was there and it felt really strong. When I got up there to see the school, it was like I can feel I can be there. They wanted me there. It wasn’t like I was just there and they just recruiting me. You can feel that sometimes when you get to certain schools. When I was there, I was like ‘they really want me’. I feel like I’ll do good there and I’ll be developed very well.”

Baugh knew once he got home from his latest visit. He talked with his parents and got their thoughts. Everyone was on the same page and felt the same things about the upside to making his decision.

“As soon as I got home from my visit, I talked it over with my parents and they thought it was the best decision for me and best place for me,” Baugh said. “I felt the same way about it.”

Baugh has high hopes for the future at Arkansas. He expects to play on the offensive side of the football.

“I feel like I can accomplish a lot just being there,” Baugh said. “I want to do all four years of school and graduate and I know I can do that there.

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The stable of running backs for Arkansas has been stocked full the last few years, and one more running back announced his plans to join the Razorback program on Friday.

Jadan Baugh, a 2024 four-star athlete from Decatur, Georgia, made his commitment to the Hogs to his during his high school spring football game.

Listed as an athlete according to Rivals, Baugh was recruited to other programs to play linebacker, but he is expected to be part of a deep running back room at Arkansas.

Baugh chose the Hogs over the likes of Louisville, Georgia, Florida and others. He was recruited by running backs coach Jimmy Smith, which makes sense given the position he’ll play at Arkansas, as well as Smith’s reputation in the state of Georgia.

The 6-foot-2, 197-pound athlete took a couple visits to Arkansas, most recently on April 3 for an unofficial visit. He was supposed to come to campus for the Red-White game, but had to reschedule.

The commitment pushes Arkansas’ total commitments to 10 for the 2024 class, and Baugh is the first commitment in the state of Georgia for the class.

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Class of 2024 wide receiver CJ Brown of Bentonville (Ark.) has verbally committed to the Arkansas Razorbacks.

Brown, 6-0, 185, went public with his college decision at approximately 7 p.m. on Thursday, becoming the Hogs' eleventh commitment for the Class of 2024 and their second in as many days.

Brown chose the nearby Razorbacks over other finalists in Oklahoma State, Minnesota, Tennessee, Louisville and Vanderbilt. He also held scholarship offers from Kansas State, Purdue, UNLV, Colorado State and Arkansas State.

In addition to several unofficial trips to Fayetteville, the Northwest Arkansas product made official visit stops at Arkansas (June 2), Vanderbilt (June 9) and Minnesota (June 12) prior to reaching his decision. Brown is the second wide receiver to choose the Hogs in this year's recruiting cycle, joining Top100 target Courtney Crutchfield of Pine Bluff (Ark.).

Both Brown and Crutchfield were recruited to Arkansas by third-year wide receivers coach Kenny Guiton.

According to 247Sports, Brown is a three-star prospect who ranks 74th nationally among all wide receiver targets, and fifth overall in the Natural State's 2024 class. The industry-generated 247Sports Composite rankings have Brown as the No. 90 wide receiver in the country and the No. 6 prospect in Arkansas.

Brown is the eleventh verbal pledge for Arkansas in this year's cycle and the second in two days as Texarkana (Texas) Pleasant Grove athlete Ahkhari Johnson pulled the trigger Wednesday morning, three days after wrapping up his official visit in Fayetteville.

The Razorbacks' class also includes four-star quarterback KJ Jackson of Montgomery (Ala.) St. James, three-star athlete Jadan Baugh of Decatur (Ga.) Columbia, four-star defensive lineman Charleston Collins of Little Rock (Ark.) Mills, four-star defensive lineman Kavion Henderson of Leeds (Ala.), four-star athlete Noreel White of Ocean Springs (Miss.) St. Martin, four-star athlete Julius Pope of Batesville (Miss.) South Panola, three-star cornerback Jaden Allen of Aledo (Texas), and three-star cornerback TJ Metcalf of Birmingham (Ala.) Parker.

Arkansas lost one of its commitments earlier this week with the tragic passing of defensive lineman Dion Stutts of Memphis (Tenn.) Memphis University School.

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Three-star athlete CJ Brown from Bentonville will be attending college just down the road as he announced his commitment to Arkansas football Thursday.

Brown recently took an official visit to Arkansas the weekend of June 2. He is the third in-state recruit to join the 2024 recruiting class for head coach Sam Pittman and company.

The talented wide receiver made the announcement at a ceremony at Bentonville High School.

The ninth-ranked player in the state of Arkansas has taken multiple visits to Fayetteville this year, and his latest on June 2 was the final of his uncommitted recruitment.

He chose the Hogs over Tennessee, Oklahoma State, Vanderbilt and Minnesota. He had initially tabbed June 30 as the day for him to announce his decision, but announced Tuesday he was pushing his commitment up.

Brown will join the program as a wide receiver. He told HawgBeat on March 7 he had been playing on both sides of the ball as a receiver and defensive back, but is now focusing solely on receiver.

Arkansas offered Brown during one of its Prospect Days on Jan. 21. He told HawgBeat at the time being close to home would be a good thing at the next level.

"Originally, I'm from Cleveland, but I moved here when I was young," Brown said on Jan. 27. "But I've lived here all my life. As you can assume, it means the world to me that my team that lives 20 minutes down the road from me offers me to come play at their school where I can stay close. It means a lot to me and my family.”

Last season for Bentonville, Brown was electric as he was targeted often, racking up 1,284 yards on 75 receptions, and finding the end zone 16 times. He earned a 7A-West All-State selection for his efforts during the 2022 season.

Brown is the 12th commit in the class of 2024 and the second wide receiver to hop on board for the Razorbacks, joining four-star Courtney Crutchfield. One of the 12 commitments was three-star defensive tackle Dion Stutts, who died Tuesday in what has been reported as an ATV accident.

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