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Gardendale (Ala.) cornerback Dallas Young has committed to the Arkansas Razorbacks. Young, 6-1, 180, went public with his decision at approximately 12 p.m. on Wednesday, becoming the Hogs’ fifth verbal commitment for the Class of 2023.

Young chose the Razorbacks over two other finalists in Penn State and Mississippi State while also holding offers from Florida State, Georgia, Ole Miss, West Virginia, Colorado, Georgia Tech, and UAB.

The Alabama native was offered by Arkansas cornerbacks coach Sam Carter on April 29 and made his first trip to Fayetteville for the Hogs’ game against Auburn on October 16. Young made a quick turnaround trip to the Hill a few weeks later when the Razorbacks beat Mississippi State. He’ll be back for a third time on Saturday, January 22, when Sam Pittman’s staff hosts its second of three junior days.

According to the 247Sports Composite rankings, Young is a three-star prospect, the No. 378 player in the nation, No. 40 among all cornerbacks, and No. 20 in his home state of Alabama. 247Sports gives him a higher ranking as a high three-star, the No. 32 cornerback in the land, and the No. 16 overall player in Alabama.

With the addition of Young, Arkansas’ 2023 class moves to No. 6 in the nation and No. 3 in the SEC. The Razorbacks have a pair of four-star tight ends committed in Shamar Easter of Ashdown (Ark.) and Jaden Hamm of Eudora (Kan.), and two other three-stars in wide receiver Anthony Evans of Converse (Texas) Judson and offensive lineman Joey Su'a of Bentonville (Ark.).

Young is Arkansas' first addition from the state of Alabama since three-star running back A'Montae Spivey signed with the Hogs out of Phenix City Central in the Class of 2019.

The Razorbacks signed one cornerback in the Class of 2022 in Jaylen Lewis of Brownsville (Tenn.) Haywood, but Carter tweeted last weekend that he's still looking at candidates to round out the class. Arkansas' 2021 class included a trio of cornerback additions in Keuan Parker of Tulsa (Okla.) Booker T. Washington, Chase Lowery of Frisco (Texas), and Penn State transfer Trent Gordon.

LINK

—The vibe to Arkansas fits 2023 4-star DB Dallas Young

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Arkansas offered Dallas Young in April. The four-star cornerback out of Gardendale, Ala. has double-digit offers, but that Razorback off is one that really sticks out.

The No. 251 prospect in the On3 Consensus has been in contact with the Arkansas staff daily since Sept. 1, and due to the connection he has built and the feeling he had on his visits to Fayetteville in the fall, he has committed to the Razorbacks.

“I have really known it was going to be Arkansas since November, but I waited to commit on Dec. 29, my grandmother’s birthday,” Young said. “I prayed about it, it felt like home, and the vibe was right for me at Arkansas.”

Young gave defensive backs coach Sam Carter the news first. They got on the phone with Sam Pittman and Barry Odom to reveal his commitment.

“On December 12, I talked to coach Carter first, then we face-timed coach Pittman and coach Odom to tell them. Everyone was excited about it.

“I had been giving coach Carter hints, so I think he had an idea, but all the coaches were happy to have me.

“Coach Pittman loves what I bring as a player and with my character. He talked to me about is what the program needs, so that felt great.”

—Sam Pittman played a big role in Young’s commitment

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In his second season, Pittman took Arkansas to an 8-4 record with a match-up against Penn State on January 1 in the Outback Bowl. The Razorback fans are excited about what he is building.

Who Pittman is as coach and person helped Arkansas land one of the top juniors in Alabama.

“Coach Pittman was one of the biggest reasons I committed to Arkansas,” Young said. “I knew I liked him right away, but I have talked to a lot of Arkansas players about him too. He is a great guy. The players love him. Coach Pittman is a player’s coach.

“Who he is, the way he does things, how he cares about his players, and how has built Arkansas so fast was big in my decision.”

Arkansas now has five commitments in the 2023 class. Young plans to be back for his third visit on January 22.