Bryant could ‘make Arkansas’ offense go quickly’

Former Clemson quarterback Kelly Bryant will make his second visit since leaving the Tigers when he officially visits Arkansas this weekend.

Bryant announced his departure from Clemson after losing his starting job to freshman Trevor Lawrence four games into this season after being the starter in 2017 and leading the Tigers to the Atlantic Coast Conference title and an appearance in the College Football Playoff.

National recruiting analyst Tom Lemming of CBS Sports Network recalls Bryant as one of the top recruits in the nation out of Wren High School in Calhoun Falls, S.C., in 2014.

“He was a 4-star prospect with real good size and potential,” Lemming said. “He was a real good high school quarterback. He’s got big-time ability. He always had it.”

Bryant, 6-3, 225 pounds, is expected to finish classes at Clemson and be a graduate transfer who will be able to enroll at his new school in January and be eligible to play immediately in 2019.

“He’s a guy that could really make Arkansas’ offense go quickly,” Lemming said. “He’s got the arm and the foot speed to cause a lot of damage.”

He completed 262 of 398 passes for 2,802 yards, 13 touchdowns while throwing 8 interceptions for Clemson last season. He also had 192 carries for 665 yards and 11 touchdowns, and was one of 16 semifinalists for the Davey O’Brien Award.

Lemming said he believes Bryant, who visited North Carolina last weekend, would be a good fit at Arkansas because the Hogs run a similar offense to Clemson.

“It would probably be a smart decision for him to go to the same type offense that Clemson runs because he was successful running it,” Lemming said. “He was one of the most successful quarterbacks in the country.

“It was just that Clemson recruited the No. 1 player in the country last year, and to keep him happy they had to play him also. I can understand why Kelly would be upset and want to transfer because he didn’t do anything to lose his job.”

LIKES THE HORNS

Junior college linebacker Caleb Johnson lists Texas as his leader after visiting the Longhorns over the weekend, but the University of Arkansas hopes to change that during his official visit to Fayetteville this weekend.

Prior to visiting Austin, Johnson had officially visited Iowa State and Colorado and made an unofficial visit to Alabama.

“It was a real good visit,” Johnson said of the Texas visit. “I’m not going to lie. It was probably the best visit I’ve had so far.”

Johnson, 6-1, 217, of Fullerton College in California, has scholarship offers from Arkansas, Texas, Colorado, Iowa State, Utah, Ole Miss and others.

He was able to watch Texas defeat Baylor 23-17 on his trip. He explained why the visit to Austin was successful.

“The location, the team, all their fans,” he said. “The game was just crazy. The facilities, pretty much everything. Everything I was looking for was pretty great.”

He’s expected to arrive in Fayetteville this morning.

“I’m looking forward to seeing the atmosphere at the game and meet all of the coaches and see what the vibe is like down there,” Johnson said.

Johnson said he had interest in the Razorbacks before they extended a scholarship offer in June.

“It was always a school I looked at,” Johnson said. “Then when it came it was such a surprise, and I knew I was going to visit.”

He recorded 41 tackles, 5.5 sacks, 1 forced fumble and 1 recovered fumble as a freshman. Johnson plans to graduate in December and enroll at his new school in January.

Johnson has been communicating with Arkansas defensive coordinator John Chavis and has learned about the 75 draft picks he’s produced in his career, which improves the Hogs’ chances, he said.

“Oh yeah, it definitely does,” Johnson said. “Wherever I’m going, I’m looking for someone with experience and know they can get me ready for the next level.”

HOOP VISITORS

Arkansas’ men basketball team will host three junior prospects on official visits this weekend.

ESPN 5-star guard Moses Moody, 6-5, 185, of Montverde Academy in Florida; 4-star guard Bryce Thompson, 6-5, 170, of Tulsa Washington; and Memphis Whitehaven guard Matthew Murrell, 6-3, 186, are expected to attend tonight’s Red-White game.

Moody, who played at North Little Rock as a sophomore, is ESPN’s No. 6 shooting guard and No. 20 overall prospect in the nation for the 2020 class. Thompson is the No. 12 shooting guard and No. 45 overall prospect.

Murrell has scholarship offers from Arkansas, Tennessee, Texas A&M, Florida, Memphis, Iowa State, Ole Miss and others.