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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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Posted by RazorHawg

Member since Aug 2013

24346 posts

Posted on 4/21/23 at 3:43 pm to RazorHawg

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Pine Bluff native and four-star wide receiver Courtney Crutchfield has committed to Arkansas.

Crutchfield is the Razorbacks' third four-star pledge of the day, joining cornerback Jaden Allen and defensive end Charleston Collins, who committed just moments before Crutchfield.

The No. 4 player in the state of Arkansas for the 2024 class announced his commitment via Twitter.

The recruitment was not easy for Arkansas, as it is believed Crutchfield wanted to play with fellow Collins, who is out of Little Rock Mills High School. The duo had been courted by some of the best programs in the SEC, and they even saw the LSU campus as late as Thursday, with a Friday commitment pending.

In the end, though, the Razorbacks won out for Crutchfield's commitment. He was first offered by Arkansas on Jan. 21 while visiting for one of its Prospect Days, and he then saw his recruitment skyrocket, picking up offers from Oklahoma, LSU, Tennessee, South Carolina and others. He said at the time getting the offer from the Razorbacks meant a lot.

"A couple of years ago I was wanting that offer real bad," Crutchfield told HawgBeat. "Now that my dream came true, it feels real good in the situation God put me in. And for this predicament to happen like this."

The 6-foot-3, 176-pound athlete took visits to multiple schools with Collins, including two to Arkansas in April. He told HawgBeat following his visit to Arkansas last week what stuck out to him about the Razorbacks.

“I’ve been (at Arkansas) a few times,” Crutchfield said. “It’s just all about the love they have for me and the bonding that we got.”

For Pine Bluff, Crutchfield plays on both sides of the ball at wide receiver and defensive back. Arkansas is primarily recruiting him to play wide receiver.

It's worth noting that Crutchfield also plays basketball for Pine Bluff. He earned 5A All-State honors, 5A State Tournament MVP and he led the Zebras to a 5A State Championship victory over Lake Hamilton in March.

Crutchfield is the first wide receiver commitment in the class of 2024 and he joins Collins as the first two in-state recruits to commit to the Razorbacks in the class.

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Arkansas continues its hot streak on Friday as Pine Bluff (Ark.) four-star athlete Courtney Crutchfield has announced his commitment to the Razorbacks over a handful of SEC contenders.

Crutchfield, who earned four-star status earlier this offseason, has showed potential to play at both wide receiver and safety during his high school career as Sam Pittman will have two-way flexibility as soon as the in-state athlete steps on campus.

Crutchfield took multiple visits this offseason and had SEC programs such as LSU, Ole Miss and Auburn high on his list, but the Razorbacks were able to shut the door before he took any official visits to keep him in-state.

As a junior for the Zebras, Crutchfield was a force on both sides of the ball as he hauled in 17 receptions for 517 yards and nine touchdowns (a whopping 30.4 yards per reception for the non-math nerds out there) offensively while accounting for 30 tackles, three forced fumbles and two interceptions defensively.

Crutchfield's highest ceiling is most likely seen in the secondary where he covers a big range as a safety with his quick twitch, speed and secondary IQ. However, his speed and movement could also lead him towards a bright future on the offensive side as well.

The commitment gives Arkansas its second four-star pledge of the day after this morning's commitment from four-star cornerback Jaden Allen. The Hogs have the ability to add a third later this afternoon from four-star defensive end Charleston Collins, who has been linked to Crutchfield throughout his recruitment. Collins will announce his decision at 2:45 p.m. CST on social media.

At 6-foot-3, 176 pounds, Crutchfield is ranked as the No. 4 recruit from the state of Arkansas and the No. 24 athlete prospect in the country.