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Posted on 6/14/23 at 11:54 am to RazorHawg
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WHICH QUARTERBACK DO YOU WISH HAD BEEN INVITED TO THE FINALS?
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Wiltfong: I think when we look up in a few years, KJ Jackson will be one of the top quarterbacks in the SEC. The Arkansas commit threw 42 touchdowns as a junior en route to a state championship. He completes it at a high percentage and on film he certainly shows exciting potential.
Posted on 6/14/23 at 12:08 pm to RazorHawg
What a tool
Posted on 6/15/23 at 8:00 pm to RazorHawg
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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.
This post was edited on 6/15/23 at 9:39 pm
Posted on 6/15/23 at 9:04 pm to RazorHawg
Posted on 6/17/23 at 12:24 am to RazorHawg
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Mikhail has visited Arkansas 2 or 3 times and visited for graduation of family member in May.
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–WR Courtney Crutchfield, Pine Bluff (Ark.) High, Arkansas commit: The No. 64 ranked prospect in the Top247, Crutchfield was one of the most impressive body types in attendance on Friday evening. Hovering around 6-foot-2 and 175-pounds, the Arkansas pledge flashed some excellent leaping ability and body control at the receiver position, making a beautiful contested catch in one of the last games of the day that helped solidify a strong individual performance. A two-way prospect at Pine Bluff High School, the Natural State native’s bubbling upside on the offensive side of the ball stands out immediately in-person.
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–ATH Noreel White, Ocean Springs (Miss.) St. Martin, Arkansas commit: A Top247 athlete from the Magnolia State, White joined fellow Razorbacks commit Crutchfield with a standout performance of his own. An excellent short-area mover with the ability to get in and out of brakes quickly, White found himself getting loose downfield a time or two while flashing some impressive ball skills in the process. Possessing a strong frame at a hair under 6-feet, White’s playmaking ability is evident and another prospect that should factor into Arkansas’ plans early on at the next level.
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–2025 Top247 linebacker Noah Mikhail was one of the few true linebackers on the field through the first two days as he patrolled the middle for California Power. Mikhail has a great frame and moves well laterally showing capable ability to drop in coverage.
Mikhail has visited Arkansas 2 or 3 times and visited for graduation of family member in May.
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3. ATH Courtney Crutchfield – Arkansas
Outside of Jeremiah Smith, Arkansas four-star athlete commit Courtney Crutchfield may have led the receiver group in targets, and for good reason. He was constantly stacking cornerbacks at the line of scrimmage and ran more go-routes than any receiver on the field.
His foot speed combined with his length allowed him to get up on defenders quickly and secure catches away from his frame. Crutchfield saw the endzone three times today, two of which were on long balls. 24K definitely leaned on him to be the engine of their offense and it allowed to him shine today.
This post was edited on 6/17/23 at 12:52 am
Posted on 6/17/23 at 1:06 am to RazorHawg
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Noreel White
Thought he’d be committed to ole miss by now
Posted on 6/19/23 at 11:04 am to RazorHawg
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There's a new man on top of the Arkansas state rankings. Rivals updated its state rankings on Friday, and recruits in the state of Arkansas saw some fluctuation.
The Razorbacks currently have three in-state commitments in the class of 2024, with four-star athlete Courtney Crutchfield, four-star defensive end Charleston Collins and three-star athlete CJ Brown on board so far.
Arkansas did miss out on four-star quarterback Walker White, who committed to Auburn on Feb. 3. White had been the No. 1 player in the state of Arkansas, but that is no more.
Instead, the aforementioned Collins has taken the top spot in the latest update.
The Arkansas coaching staff is also recruiting hard four-star running back Braylen Russell of from Benton. Russell was on campus for a 7-on-7 tournament last week and spent the weekend on an official visit to Arkansas.
Here's where the athletes in the state of Arkansas rank after Rivals' latest update.
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Charleston Collins - No. 1
Walker White - No. 2
Courtney Crutchfield - No. 3
Brian Huff - No. 4
Braylen Russell - No. 5
Jalen Dupree - No. 6
Wyatt Simmons - No. 7
Joseph McVay - No. 8
CJ Brown - No. 9
Aquavious Dunbar - No. 10
Posted on 6/19/23 at 6:21 pm to RazorHawg
We need to push for white hard. Even if he flames out high school kids pay major attention to the rankings bullshite and it makes us look good if we lock down the top ranked kids from in state. Plus if he sucks we can just push him towards the portal after a year anyway
This post was edited on 6/19/23 at 6:22 pm
Posted on 6/19/23 at 8:12 pm to RazorHawg
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Also, the folks in Fayetteville should be very excited about what they are getting in both Crutchfield and White. The two Razorback pledges were able to climb the ladder at various points during the tournament and generate scores. They could unlock some things for Sam Pittman, who typically wants to grind opponents down.
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9. ATH Courtney Crutchfield — Arkansas
Courtney Crutchfield was a consistent performer over the course of the OT7 Finals. The Arkansas pledge could project on either side of the ball at the next level, but primarily worked at wide receiver at this event. Crutchfield backed up a Top Performer showing on Day 1 with an even better effort on Day 2. He was among the most targeted receivers on Friday and found the end zone for three scores. The 6-foot-0.5, 170-pounder is a long, twitchy athlete who can effectively work all portions of the field. He showed the ability to separate from the outside and win vertically. We also saw him give defenses trouble in working over the middle of the field and down the seam. He may not be as technically polished as some other receivers on hand, but the upside and pure talent were readily apparent.
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Arkansas-bound Courtney Crutchfield turned heads. Crutchfield, a rangy 6-foot-2, 180-pounder committed in-state to the Hogs, was among the most prolific vertical threats at the OT7 Finals and was electric with the ball in his hands.
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ATH Courtney Crutchfield – Arkansas
Courtney Crutchfield showed burst, athleticism and overall playmaking that was among the best at the OT7 Finals. He’s as an athlete with the capability to play on either side of the ball at the next level, but played wide receiver at OT7. Crutchfield is a long, twitchy athlete and used his burst to separate on vertical routes. We also saw him effectively work over the middle and down the seam. He may not be as polished as some other top receivers, but the upside was apparent. Crutchfield currently holds a three-star rating from On3.
This post was edited on 6/20/23 at 10:13 am
Posted on 6/26/23 at 10:50 am to RazorHawg
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Fort Smith (Ark.) Southside offensive lineman Kobe Branham has committed to Sam Pittman and the Arkansas Razorbacks, he announced at approximately 10:30 a.m. Wednesday via Twitter. Branham, 6-6, 320, chose the in-state Hogs over four other finalists in Ole Miss, Texas A&M, SMU and Oklahoma State.
The big lineman's offer list also included Arkansas State, Memphis, UNLV, Air Force, Central Arkansas and others. Branham went public with his decision less than 24 hours after wrapping up an official visit in Fayetteville.
"Coming from my hometown, I grew up a Razorback fan -- and distance," Branham said when asked why he chose the Hogs. "Coach (Sam) Pittman and Coach (Cody) Kennedy are great guys. They're both O-line guys, which helps out a lot. The facilities and the dorm -- everything here is real nice."
Branham made multiple unofficial stops in Fayetteville prior to an official visit tour that included stops at Oklahoma State, SMU and Ole Miss. The interior lineman told HawgSports that he had recently canceled a scheduled official at Texas A&M, adding that he was no longer considering the Aggies.
While Branham's decision to play for the Hogs didn't come as a surprise to most, the rising senior is still very excited to put the process behind him.
"It's real nice," Branham said. "It takes a whole bunch of pressure off my shoulders. I'll be able to actually play football, you know."
Branham, who was recruited by Arkansas offensive line coach Cody Kennedy, is glad his family will be just down the road, as well.
"It will be good on them," he said. "I think it will be a good choice."
According to 247Sports, Branham is a three-star prospect, the No. 73 interior offensive lineman in the nation, and the No. 12 overall player in the Natural State's 2024 crop. The 247Sports Composite rankings have Branham as the 66th interior lineman nationally and the ninth-best prospect in Arkansas.
Branham is Arkansas' first pick-up at Southside High in 20 years, as Derek Moore inked with the Hogs in the Class of 2003.
Posted on 6/26/23 at 10:52 am to RazorHawg
Branham was originally looking to go elsewhere right?
Posted on 6/27/23 at 4:21 pm to RazorHawg
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Lexington (Ky.) Frederick Douglass offensive lineman Zuri Madison has committed to the Arkansas Razorbacks. Madison, 6-4, 305, went public with his decision at 3:45 p.m. central on Tuesday, becoming the Hogs' 13th verbal pledge for the Class of 2024. He is the second offensive line commitment in the class for the Razorbacks.
"I chose them mainly because it was where I fit in," Madison said. "I love what they're building and I want to be a part of that."
Madison, 6-4, 315, was just offered by the Hogs in late May and has quickly been impressed by the recruiting efforts of head coach Sam Pittman and offensive line coach Cody Kennedy.
"I loved the visit," Madison said following his official visit. "I got a couple of good things and a lot of information to make a decision. I like the coaches, Coach Pittman and Coach Kennedy. They know what they're doing, and going through my recruitment I don't take that lightly."
According to 247Sports, Madison is a three-star interior offensive lineman who ranks 32nd nationally at his position and second overall in Kentucky for the Class of 2024.
The Razorbacks' 2024 offensive class also includes four-star quarterback KJ Jackson of Montgomery (Ala.) St. James, three-star athlete Jadan Baugh of Decatur (Ga.) Columbia, four-star wide receiver Courtney Crutchfield of Pine Bluff (Ark.), three-star wide receiver CJ Brown of Bentonville (Ark.), and three-star offensive lineman Kobe Branham of Fort Smith (Ark.) Southside.
The defensive pledges include 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), three-star athlete/cornerback Ahkhari Johnson of Texarkana (Texas) Pleasant Grove, and three-star cornerback TJ Metcalf of Birmingham (Ala.) Parker.
Posted on 6/30/23 at 12:57 am to RazorHawg
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KJ Jackson, Montgomery (Ala.) St. James, Arkansas commit
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What seems to be one of the least-talked-about four-star arms in the country, the Razorbacks pledge is certainly a name to know this upcoming fall.
A big framed lefty with a quick release, Jackson's combination of experience as a three-year starter at St. James and untapped potential at the position should have Arkansas fans excited. Over the past two seasons, Jackson has completed roughly 65% of his passing attempts with a touchdown-to-interception ratio of 70:10 during that span.
A multi-sport athlete in baseball and basketball, Jackson fits the mold of what Sam Pittman typically seeks at the quarterback position and should develop nicely in Fayetteville under the tutelage of Dan Enos.
Posted on 7/3/23 at 12:09 pm to RazorHawg
From June 16:
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Now today:
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3:52 p.m. PT: “Arkansas four-star defensive lineman commit Charleston Collins is out here watching his cousin, Courtney Crutchfield. He said Ohio State has been coming on strong and he plans to take an OV there. He has been in contact weekly with Larry Johnson.” — Chad Simmons, On3 Director of Recruiting
Now today:
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LB Xavier Atkins (LSU Commit)
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Atkins committed to LSU last July, but that has not stopped other programs from recruiting him. The Louisiana native moved into the Greater Houston Area last offseason, and Texas A&M has especially used that to its advantage. The Aggies have been pushing hard for the Rivals250 linebacker, and Atkins appears to be listening to the pitch coming out of College Station. Arkansas is another program worth watching, as the Razorbacks have also caught his eye. Either way, Atkins' future in Baton Rouge does not look to be all set in stone just yet.
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Julius Pope (Arkansas Commit)
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Pope saw his recruiting stock heat up in a major way after his junior season at Mississippi powerhouse South Panola. Alabama was first to offer and many quickly followed suit. Pope committed to Arkansas in the spring, giving the Razorbacks a key out-of-state win. But Mississippi State and others have ramped up its efforts to flip the four-star prospect. His recruitment is one to watch as the process plays out, especially with the low profile that he keeps.
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DL Charleston Collins (Arkansas Commit)
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Collins earned an invitation to the Rivals Camp Series last year after turning heads in the combine setting. Since then, he has emerged as one of the premier defenders in the region. Committed to Arkansas, Collins has major programs on his offer sheet. Ohio State is one team to watch out for if the four-star defensive end does opt to re-open things, as the Buckeyes have created a little bit of buzz behind the scenes. Arkansas looks to be in a good spot to survive those kinds of pushes as it stands right now.
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ATH Noreel White (Arkansas Commit)
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Another Arkansas pledge, White is a coveted prospect with multiple programs in his ear. Most notably, both Mississippi State and Ole Miss are vying to keep the two-way standout in the Magnolia State. There was buzz that he could flip to the Rebels in the spring, but that never came to fruition. Since then, the Bulldogs have gained some ground with its in-state momentum on the trail. It will be an SEC West battle to the finish line.
Posted on 7/4/23 at 4:34 pm to RazorHawg
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Missouri City (Texas) Ridge Point wide receiver and Top100 target Ashton Bethel-Roman has committed to the Arkansas Razorbacks. Bethel-Roman, 6-0, 165, went public with his decision at approximately 4 p.m. on July 4, becoming the Hogs’ 14th verbal commitment for the Class of 2024.
Bethel-Roman, who ranks 92nd nationally according to 247Sports, chose Arkansas over Texas Tech and Oregon while also holding scholarship offers from Baylor, TCU, Ole Miss, Nebraska, Purdue, Kansas State and several others. Per the 247Sports Composite rankings, Bethel-Roman is now the Razorbacks’ second-highest-rated commitment for the 2024 cycle.
The wide receiver made official visits at Texas Tech (June 16) and Oregon (June 20) prior to visiting the Hogs on the final open recruiting weekend in June. He was recruited to Fayetteville by Arkansas wide receivers coach Kenny Guiton, who has now helped the Razorbacks land six four-star wide receivers out of the high school ranks in the last three recruiting cycles combined.
Bethel-Roman, the son of former LSU and NFL safety Mark Roman, is Arkansas’ third wide receiver commitment in the class, joining four-star Courtney Crutchfield of Pine Bluff (Ark.) and three-star CJ Brown of Bentonville (Ark.).
According to 247Sports, Bethel-Roman is the No. 18 wide receiver in the nation and the No. 16 overall prospect in the state of Texas for the Class of 2024. The Composite rankings have him slightly lower, as the 124th overall target in the country, 19th among all wide receivers, and No. 24 in the Lone Star State’s Class of 2024.
Bethel-Roman made a drastic jump in the rankings this spring following a junior season that included 37 grabs for 892 yards and 8 touchdowns. In track and field, the athletic receiver has a 23-3 long jump and a verified 21.51 in the 200-meter dash. Here’s more on Bethel-Roman from 247Sports scout Gabe Brooks:
“Also competes in track and field. Recorded several sub-22.00 200-meter times as a junior, including 21.51 and 21.60, in Spring 2023. Also posted long jumps of 23-3 and 22-10. Capped junior track and field campaign as a member of Ridge Point's 4x100 and 4x200 relay teams, which won bronze and silver in Texas Class 6A, respectively. Ran sophomore 200-meter times of 22.40 and 22.87 in Spring 2022. High jumped 6-0 and long jumped 22-10.
2022: Finished breakout junior season with 37-892-8 receiving (24.1 avg). Helped Ridge Point to a 10-3 record and a Texas 6A D-I third-round playoff appearance.”
Arkansas has six other commitments on the offensive side of the ball in four-star quarterback KJ Jackson of Montgomery (Ala.) St. James, three-star athlete/running back Jadan Baugh of Decatur (Ga.) Columbia, four-star wide receiver Courtney Crutchfield of Pine Bluff (Ark.), three-star wide receiver CJ Brown of Bentonville (Ark.), three-star offensive lineman Kobe Branham of Fort Smith (Ark.) Southside, and three-star offensive lineman Zuri Madison of Lexington (Ky.) Frederick Douglass.
The Razorbacks have seven defensive commitments in 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), three-star athlete Ahkhari Johnson of Texarkana (Texas) Pleasant Grove, and three-star defensive back Tevis Metcalf of Pinson (Ala.) Clay-Chalkville.
Arkansas lost one of its verbal commitments in June when three-star defensive lineman Dion Stutts of Memphis (Tenn.) MUS was tragically killed in an ATV accident.
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Some major Fourth of July fireworks on the recruiting trail for Arkansas head coach Sam Pittman and his staff as Missouri City (Texas) Ridge Point Top247 receiver Ashton Bethel-Roman announced his commitment to the Razorbacks, choosing to play his college football in Fayetteville over Texas Tech and Oregon among many others.
The 6-foot 1/2, 165-pound Bethel-Roman becomes commit No. 14 for Pittman and company in the 2024 cycle.
“What made them the place for me was them feeling like family,” Bethel-Roman said.
“I feel like Arkansas is only going up from here and Sam Pittman is definitely a character. He lightens up the room as soon as he walks in.”
Arkansas checked the boxes Bethel-Roman was looking for.
“The city, the fans that rally behind the school, playing in the SEC,” he said.
247Sports ranks Bethel-Roman as the nation’s No. 18 receiver and No. 92 prospect overall. As a junior he turned 38 receptions into 892 yards and eight touchdowns. He’s an NFL legacy recruit as his father Mark played 10 years on Sundays after hearing his name called in the 2000 NFL Draft out of LSU.
247Sports National Analyst and Lone Star State native Gabe Brooks likes this pickup for Arkansas.
“High-level receiver prospect who's shown productivity to all levels with big-play athleticism and underneath know-how,” Brooks wrote in his scouting report. “Lean, sinewy athlete with good length and broader shoulders for listed size.
“Easy long-strider who generates sneaky top-end speed that reflects track prowess. Exceptionally smooth in movement patterns with an ease of motion that belies quick-twitch redirecting ability and acceleration. Dangerous in space thanks to combination of close-quarters agility and sudden linear explosion. Elite combine tester in agility categories (short shuttle, 3-cone).
“Erases off-coverage cushions in a hurry. Shows capability to get late separation to increase catch windows. Flashes impressive body control and adjustment acumen when needed. Spatially aware and knows how to win with subtle angles and IQ to leak to space, including when coming back to his QB when the play breaks down.
“Outstanding multi-sport profile thanks to track and field accomplishments. Owner of long jumps beyond 23 feet and 21.5 200-meter speed. Also possesses an excellent football pedigree as the son of a 10-year NFL veteran with 100-plus starts in the secondary.
“Wins contested throws, including red-zone targets, but can more consistently meet the ball as an apex high-pointer. Similarly can show more hands-catching acumen in the short-to-intermediate range. Adding some mass and gaining strength will make him that much more dangerous a 1-on-1 matchup.
“Junior year revealed immense progress as a receiver, along with encouraging athletic context via combine testing and track and field environments. One of the top receivers in Texas and potentially the country entering his senior campaign. Projects as a high-major prospect with the potential to become an impact weapon and NFL Draft early-round candidate.”
Posted on 7/4/23 at 4:35 pm to RazorHawg
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Four-star Texas-based speedster WR Ashton Bethel-Roman has deep SEC ties and will continue that tradition on Saturdays.
On July 4, the On300 wide receiver from Missouri City (Texas) Ridge Point High School just outside of Houston committed to Arkansas. Oregon, Texas Tech, TCU, Kansas State and Houston were also in the mix with Bethel-Roman, whose father Mark Roman was a star for the LSU Tigers and then the New Orleans Saints.
Bethel-Roman, the nation’s No. 12-ranked wide receiver in the 2024 class, viewed the Razorbacks in a different light after a series of summer official visits, which provided clarity in his decision. Wide receivers coach and Houston ace Kenny Guiton and Head Hog Sam Pittman were the catalysts.
“One of the biggest reasons why was because it felt like home,” Bethel-Roman told On3. “Coach Kenny and Coach Pitt were the biggest factors in that. I’d think of Coach Pitt like a grandpa and Coach Kenny as that loud uncle … they just felt like family … not to mention the rest of the staff and even the community around Fayetteville that all tied into that.”
“They had those family features about them and honestly talking with coach Pitt is mind-boggling,” the No. 83-ranked player in the On300 for 2024 continued. “You look and think he’s some mean guy, but in all honesty, he’s the funniest guy in the room and he always shoots you straight. Coach Kenny feels like he’s been my coach for years so that just goes to show how our connection is.”
Those connections ultimately loomed large and proved to be the difference as the four-star speedster and his family navigated through official visits in June.
Bethel-Roman made official visits to Arkansas (June 9-11), Texas Tech (June 16-18) and then Oregon (June 23-25).
In a very tight race, the SEC legacy followed the atmosphere he was most familiar with.
“Some of these other schools had that same exact feeling, so what it came down to was the competition … There is no doubt that the SEC has the most competition, and that’s what I wanted to play in,” Bethel-Roman explained.
“This whole process definitely wasn’t easy. I think my parents knew at the end of the day that it was my decision and they agreed with it 100 percent. They could tell that the staff at Arkansas knew I was a priority, so Coach Pittman and Coach Kenny would come and sit down with them and just (discuss) the little things to show that this was the right place for me.”
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Arkansas pulled in a major talent out of the Lone Star State, setting off fireworks in Fayetteville. Four-star wide receiver Ashton Bethel-Roman announced his pledge to the Razorbacks on Tuesday.
A Rivals250 prospect, Bethel-Roman was a coveted recruit on the trail before he chose the Razorbacks. Texas Tech and Oregon were among the other programs heavily involved, but it was Sam Pittman and staff that won out in the sweepstakes after prioritizing the Houston-area pass catcher.
"Me being a priority, not just a player, was the biggest thing," Bethel-Roman told Rivals.com about what stood out about the pitch coming from the Razorbacks.
The four-star playmaker officially visited Lubbock and Eugene in addition to Fayetteville before making a decision. In the end, he felt most comfortable spending his collegiate career in the Natural State.
"At first, the process was fun. Towards the end, I was wanting this to be over with," Bethel-Roman said. "And I think what most helped me narrow everything down was whatever school felt the most like home."
Bethel-Roman enjoyed a breakout junior campaign that saw him turn 37 receptions into 892 yards and eight touchdowns in 2022, showcasing his track speed as a vertical threat. Arkansas provides an opportunity for him to demonstrate those abilities early.
"I can come in my freshman year and have a chance to earn some playing time," Bethel-Roman told Rivals.
While he is still developing his route tree, Bethel-Roman consistently creates separation down the field and tracks the ball very well in the air. He is capable of taking the top off the defense and scoring from nearly anywhere on the field, which is why he is such a big win for offensive coordinator Dan Enos and wide receivers coach Kenny Guiton.
"Everything," Bethel-Roman said of what he is bringing to Arkansas. "Whatever the coach needs from me. My speed, my ability to stretch the field, my hands."
He will be best suited in an offense that will push the ball down the field and maximize his deep threat abilities. Rivals ranks the newest Arkansas commitment as the No. 233 overall prospect No. 43 recruit in Texas and the No. 32 wide receiver nationally in the 2024 recruiting cycle.
This post was edited on 7/4/23 at 5:04 pm
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