Arkansas Football 2023 Recruiting Thread **WR Dazmin James Commits**

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Ashdown (Ark.) four-star tight end Shamar Easter has committed to the Arkansas Razorbacks. Easter, 6-5, 225, went public with his decision on Friday, becoming the Hogs’ first verbal pledge for the Class of 2023.

Easter chose the home state Razorbacks over an impressive offer list that included Auburn, Florida State, Michigan State, Ole Miss, Tennessee, and Texas A&M. He also received heavy interest from Clemson after visiting the Tigers earlier this offseason.

Easter informed Arkansas head coach Sam Pittman of his decision during a Zoom call on Friday. The tight end revealed a t-shirt he had made with Pittman's catch phrase "Yes Sirrr" printed on top of a Razorback logo.

Easter’s decision comes less than two weeks after his second unofficial visit at Arkansas this summer. The four-star target made the trip in late June, then made a quick turnaround visit for the Razorbacks’ end-of-summer cookout on July 31.

The Ashdown product was recruited by first-year tight ends coach Dowell Loggains, who received high praise from Easter following his most recent trip to the Hill.

"I'm really liking the coaches," Easter said. "The coaching staff is great. That's the main part about it, it feels like home. So, that makes it even better. That's about it. I mean, but everything else falls in place. One, the coaches, and everything feels good for you."

"Coach Loggains, great guy," Easter said. "I mean, all the things he has under his belt, he can teach me a lot. So, I need to lock in, stay focused and do what I keep doing, and hopefully I make it to where I want to be."

According to the industry-generated 247Sports Composite rankings, Easter is the No. 110 player in the country, the No. 7 tight end in the nation, and the No. 1 prospect in Arkansas for next year’s recruiting class. 247Sports gives him a similar ranking at No. 103 in the nation, No. 9 among all tight ends, and No. 1 in the Natural State.

While it's still extremely early for the 2023 cycle, Easter's commitment gives Arkansas a starting point of No. 10 in the nation and No. 5 in the SEC.

In Fayetteville, he will follow in the footsteps of another pair from Ashdown who have made names for themselves as Razorbacks in cornerbacks Montaric Brown and Ladarrius Bishop, both of whom stand a chance of starting at each corner spot for the Hogs this season.

Easter was considered a top priority at tight end for Arkansas in next year’s class. The Razorbacks have also made at least two others priority targets in Luke Hasz of Bixby (Okla.) and Jaden Hamm of Eudora (Kan.).

Hasz, who has a sister attending the UA, made two unofficial visits with the Hogs this summer while Hamm also got his first look at Fayetteville in June.

Arkansas is signing a pair of tight ends in the Class of 2022, with verbal commitments from Tyrus Washington of Leesburg (Ga.) Lee County and Dax Courtney of Clarendon (Ark.).

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Danny West @DannyWest247

June 14: @Dowell_Loggains' official start date with #Arkansas
July 7: Tyrus Washington commits
Aug. 13: Shamar Easter commits
Aug. 14: Jaden Hamm commits

Pretty good start. Easter & Hamm have #Razorbacks at No. 7 nationally early on.

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Converse (Texas) Judson wide receiver Anthony Evans has committed to the Arkansas Razorbacks. Evans, 6-0, 160, went public with his decision on Thanksgiving Day, becoming the Hogs' fourth pledge for the Class of 2023.

Evans chose the Razorbacks over Iowa State, TCU, Texas Tech, Houston, Memphis and others. He was recruited to Fayetteville by wide receivers coach Kenny Guiton.

"It feels amazing," Evans told HawgSports. "I went down there two weeks ago and it was just different than everywhere else. The atmosphere was amazing. The people down there really care for you, they showed that they really care for me. That helped me with my decision."

Evans made his first trip to Fayetteville in June and returned two weeks ago for the Razorbacks' thrilling 31-28 win over Mississippi State. He made his decision and gave Arkansas' coaching staff the good news last week.

"I had told him the news and they were playing Alabama that week," Evans said. "I told him the Friday night before they played Alabama. He was like 'Man, I was already live because we're playing Alabama, but you turned me up."

Evans is close friends with current Razorback quarterback Lucas Coley but didn't inform him of the big news.

"Nobody really knows this, but my mom, dad, Coach Guiton and Coach Pittman," he said. "Those were the only people that actually knew until just now."

According to the 247Sports Composite rankings, Evans is a three-star prospect, the No. 64 wide receiver in the nation, and the No. 77 overall player in the state of Texas for next year's class. 247Sports lists him as the No. 95 receiver nationally and the No. 83 player in the Lone Star State.

Evans ran a 21.12 in the 200-meter dash as a sophomore. He also long-jumped 21-3.5 and triple-jumped 43-5.5 during his sophomore season.

As a junior this season, Evans had 35 catches for 491 yards and 3 touchdowns.

In addition to Evans, Arkansas has other 2023 commitments from four-star tight end Shamar Easter, four-star tight end Jaden Hamm, and three-star offensive lineman Joey Su'a. The Razorbacks' class currently ranks No. 9 in the nation and No. 4 in the SEC.

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Mansfield (Texas) defensive lineman Kaleb James has committed to the Arkansas Razorbacks. James, 6-4, 250, went public with his college choice on Tuesday, his birthday, to become the Hogs’ sixth commitment for the Class of 2023.

James chose Sam Pittman’s program over five other finalists in Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Baylor, Texas Tech, and SMU. He also held offers from Arizona State, Cincinnati, Colorado, Kansas State, Maryland, Michigan State, Minnesota, Utah, and many others.

James, who transferred to Mansfield from Fort Worth Nolan Catholic during the Christmas break, has actually been on Arkansas’ commit list for several weeks.

"I told Coach Pittman before the Missouri game,” James said. “I know it was his birthday weekend, but he was very excited. He was pushing me to commit in the weeks before that. I just felt right at the time when I was on campus, so I just went with it.

“I asked my dad, I was like 'I think this is the place for me. If you're ok with me committing then I'm going to do it.' My dad was like 'It's all up to you, I'm going to support you in whatever you do.' I just went with it."

The Texas native was offered by the Razorbacks after a camp last June and made multiple trips to Fayetteville throughout the rest of the 2021 calendar year. James and his father returned again last Saturday to shoot video for his commitment announcement, and they’ll be back again this Saturday for more one-on-one time with the staff.

"It feels great,” James said. “There were a lot of factors going into it. One being the SEC, I've always wanted to play in the SEC since I was a little kid. Two, I just think that Coach Pittman is building a really great program there.

“I really believe in Coach Pittman and what he has to offer, and the type of person he is. All of the love that the staff has shown me so far, and then the academics."

According to the 247Sports Composite rankings, James is a three-star prospect, the No. 51 defensive lineman in the nation, and the No. 54 overall target in the state of Texas for the Class of 2023. 247Sports gives James a similar ranking, listing him as the No. 53 defensive lineman in the land and the No. 63 player in the Lone Star State.

James was recruited to Fayetteville by second-year defensive line coach Jermial Ashley. James’ commitment pushes Arkansas’ 2023 class past Texas A&M and USC to No. 4 in the nation and No. 2 in the SEC for the Class of 2023.

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Kaleb James took that one last visit to Arkansas over the weekend, but it wasn’t really needed.

The 6-foot-4, 250-pound EDGE out of Mansfield (Texas) first visited Arkansas in June. James camped there, earned the offer, and he left Fayetteville seven months ago feeling good about the Razorbacks.

“I don’t know what it was, but I left that camp just having that feeling about Arkansas,” James told On3. “I just felt something that day. It was different.”

James went on to pile up over 20 offers, take visits, and establish relationships with coaches, but he kept coming back to Arkansas.

When he visited Fayetteville for the Missouri game (the second game of the season James attended) on Nov. 26, he let Sam Pittman know of his decision.

“It was actually coach Pittman’s birthday and before the game, in his office, I committed to him. I think he knew I liked Arkansas a lot, but he was surprised at the timing of my commitment.

“He was super-excited.”

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It was not easy for James to hold that commitment in for a month and a half. He was down to six schools; Arkansas, Baylor, LSU, Oklahoma, SMU, and Texas Tech. Four of those had head coaching changes since the start of the 2021 football season.

The stability at Arkansas pushed the Razorbacks to the top.

“Coach Pittman is different. He was very influential in my decision. He is such a high character person and who he is, is a big part of why I picked Arkansas.

“Coach Pittman is not selling you on Arkansas as a school, but the program he is building. He can do that because he is not going anywhere. He is building something special at Arkansas.

“Some commit to brands and logos, but that is not me. I am committing to Arkansas and coach Pittman. I believe in him and what he is building.”

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Since earning that offer over the summer, James has visited Arkansas four times. He has camped, attended a junior day, and taken in two Razorback games.

The star out of Texas has a good feel for Fayetteville.

“It honestly feels like a home away from home,” James said. “At Arkansas I feel safe, secure, and at home. Coach Pittman is leading a great program and it is a great place without many distractions.

“The people are super-nice, the energy is great, and the fans are all fired up about Arkansas football. They live for Razorback football and I am excited to be part of that.”

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Arkansas has landed a verbal commitment from 2023 four-star tight end Luke Hasz of Bixby (Okla.). Hasz, 6-3, 220, went public with his decision on Saturday after he made a return trip to Fayetteville for the Razorbacks’ second prospect day of the month. Hasz and his brother, Dylan, were also in town last Saturday.

Hasz, the nation’s No. 59 overall prospect according to the 247Sports Composite rankings, had been committed to Oklahoma from August 6 to December 4 of last year. In addition to the Hogs and Sooners, his offer list also includes Alabama, Baylor, Florida State, LSU, Ohio State, Ole Miss, Oregon, Penn State, TCU, Tennessee, Texas, Texas A&M, USC and many others.

After helping lead Bixby High to another state championship in 2021, Hasz was named a second-team All-American by MaxPreps with 33 receptions for 436 yards and 2 touchdowns through 12 games. As a sophomore, he had 32 catches for 703 yards and 9 touchdowns. Bixby has won an Oklahoma high school football record 49 straight games with three consecutive state championships.

Hasz was recruited to Arkansas by second-year tight ends coach Dowell Loggains, who has two other 2023 four-star tight end commitments in Shamar Easter of Ashdown (Ark.) and Jaden Hamm of Eudora (Kan.). The Razorbacks signed a pair of tight ends in the Class of 2022 in three-star Tyrus Washington of Leesburg (Ga.) Lee County and three-star Dax Courtney of Clarendon (Ark.). Both Washington and Courtney are expected to enroll at the UA on Monday.

According to the Composite rankings, Has is the nation’s No. 2 tight end and the No. 1 player in the state of Oklahoma for the Class of 2023. 247Sports has him as the No. 73 overall prospect in the nation, No. 4 among all tight ends, and No. 2 in the state of Oklahoma.

Hasz, who has a sister attending the UA, has made numerous trips to Fayetteville as a recruited prospect since receiving an offer from the Hogs in March of 2021.

With the addition of Hasz, Arkansas’ class now ranks third in the nation and second in the SEC.

Assuming his current ranking holds throughout the next 13 months, Hasz will become Arkansas’ tenth-highest commitment from the high school and junior college ranks in the modern rankings era with a Composite grade of .9739.

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Sam Pittman and the Arkansas Razorbacks are off to a great start in 2023. Don’t look now, but the Razorbacks already have seven commitments with the latest coming from four-star tight end Luke Hasz.

The 6-foot-2, 211-pound junior out of Bixby, Okl. is the No. 94 prospect in the On3 Consensus and the top prospect in Oklahoma.

Bixby wants to be a part of what Pittman is building in Fayetteville.

“The love from coach Pittman, coach Loggains, and the Arkansas coaches is insane,” Hasz told On3. “I was at Arkansas last weekend and I knew it. After seeing coach Pittman again, talking with him and the coaches there, I knew it was Arkansas.

“The culture at Arkansas is right for me. Coach Pittman and coach Loggains care about their players. The players want to play for coach Pittman.

“Who coach Pittman is, what he is doing at Arkansas, and how the staff has recruited me led me to Arkansas.”

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After Lincoln Riley left Oklahoma for USC, Hasz, like numerous 2023 prospects that were committed to the Sooners, backed off his pledge.

The opened the door for other schools.

Arkansas was one, but the Razorbacks never slowed their recruitment down, and that pushed the SEC program up his list quickly.

“Arkansas never stopped recruiting me and that made an impact for sure,” Hosz said. “Coach Loggains came in last year and has been recruiting me hard since he got to Arkansas.

“The relationships I have built with the coaches, the feeling I have when there, and what the program is doing makes my commitment so strong.

“This commitment is different. Arkansas is the best place for me. I am 110% committed to Arkansas.”

Hosz’ sister attended Arkansas. He has taken numerous visits to Fayetteville as a recruit. The elite tight end knows a lot about Arkansas and he is excited about his future.

“Arkansas has everything I want. The coaches, the fans, the facilities, the living spaces, the love – it has it all.

“When I told coach Pittman about my decision a week ago, he burst into joy in his office. That is how much he cares. That is the culture at Arkansas.

“The future there is bright. That has me excited. What coach Pittman is building is going to be special.”

Hasz said he picked Arkansas over Alabama, Ohio State, and Oklahoma.

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Four-star tight end Luke Hasz of Bixby (Okla.) has committed to Arkansas— choosing the Razorbacks over Oklahoma, Ohio State, and Alabama.

The 6-foot-4, 230 pounder was formerly committed to Oklahoma, but backed off of his pledge on December 4th.

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“The love from the coaching staff is crazy,” Hasz said. “They are so real and that’s how they are every day, nothing changes. I really want to help Coach Pittman do what he’s been doing and keep turning the program around.”

“Coach Loggains coaching in the league for a bunch of years is a plus,” Hasz said. “Also, they recruited me even when I was committed to Oklahoma, so it just showed me how much they really wanted me.”

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“The facilities are the best of the best and I believe that because I’ve seen a bunch of places,” Hasz said. “Also just the college town is awesome. There’s only one college team in Arkansas, and they have shown me a bunch of love on social media and in public. My sister and aunt went to Arkansas as well.”

Hasz is ranked as the No. 94 player in the class of 2023 On3 Consensus Rankings, an equally-weighted industry generated average that accounts for all four major recruiting services. He also ranks as the 8th best tight end and the top player in Oklahoma.

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Arkansas still has a pair of commitments in the 2023 Rivals250, which was updated Tuesday.

Two of the Razorbacks’ three tight end pledges - Luke Hasz and Shamar Easter - are not only on the list, but in the upper half of Rivals’ ranking of the top 250 players in the country for their class.

Hasz, a former Oklahoma commitment who committed to Arkansas last month, moved down three spots to No. 72, but the Bixby, Okla., product is still the third-highest ranked tight end.

Previously the lone in-state prospect in the Rivals250, Easter - who is a standout at Ashdown - slid down 14 spots to No. 114. He is now the seventh-highest ranked tight end, as Ohio State commit Ty Lockwood moved ahead of him.

Joining Easter in the Rivals250 this update is Newport wide receiver Isiah Kendall, who debuts at No. 179. That makes him the eighth-highest ranked player who wasn’t already inside the top 250.

Arkansas has not offered Kendall, but he does have a pair of Power Five offers from Kansas and Pitt, as well as Middle Tennessee State and Florida Atlantic.

A couple of other notable targets in the Rivals250 include Platte County, Mo., defensive end Chandavian Bradley, who made the seventh-largest jump by moving up 61 spots to No. 27, as well as linebacker Karmelo Overton and quarterback Avery Johnson debuting at No. 198 and No. 235, respectively.

Here is a look at several of Arkansas’ other top targets on the list. These are players who have either visited Fayetteville or otherwise expressed interest in the Razorbacks…

No. 27 - DE Chandavian Bradley (+61) - Platte County (Mo.)

No. 37 - DE Kelby Collins (-7) - Gardendale (Ala.)

No. 41 - LB Tackett Curtis (-3) - Many (La.)

No. 86 - RB Trey Holly (+38) - Farmerville (La.) Union Parish

No. 87 - ATH Mikal Harrison-Pilot (-7) - Temple (Texas)

No. 88 - RB Treyaun Webb (-7) - Jacksonville (Fla.) Trinity Christian

No. 90 - RB Cedric Baxter (-7) - Orlando (Fla.) Edgewater

No. 118 - OL Charles Jagusah (+33) - Rock Island (Ill.) Alleman

No. 138 - CB Braxton Myers (-4) - Coppell (Texas)

No. 192 - CB Jamel Johnson (-9) - Arlington (Texas) Seguin - Texas commit

No. 198 - LB Karmelo Overton (NEW) - Ozark (Ala.) Carroll

No. 201 - DE Trey Wilson (-8) - Garland (Texas) Lakeview Centennial

No. 205 - DT Markis Deal (-8) - Garland (Texas) Naaman Forest

No. 216 - ATH Micah Tease (-7) - Tulsa (Okla.) Booker T. Washington

No. 234 - DT Edric Hill (NEW) - North Kansas City (Mo.)

No. 235 - QB Avery Johnson (NEW) - Maize (Kan.)

No. 246 - OL Connor Stroh (-12) - Frisco (Texas) Wakeland

No. 249 - DE Bai Jobe (NEW) - Norman (Okla.) Community Christian

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