Ex-Arizona State RB chooses Hogs

Former Arizona State running back Trelon Smith will transfer to the University of Arkansas after visiting the Hogs on Saturday.

Smith, 5-9, 189 pounds, played in nine games as a true freshman and had 1 carry for 4 yards along with 5 kickoff returns for 90 yards. Smith carried the ball 11 times for 56 yards with 4 catches for 22 yards in four games this past season before leaving the program.

He attended Houston Cy Ridge before signing with the Sun Devils in 2017. He was named the MVP of District 17-6A — the highest division in the state of Texas — during his junior and senior seasons while having more than 4,400 rushing yards, 500 receiving yards and 52 touchdowns.

An ESPN three-star prospect, Smith rushed for 2,270 yards and 29 touchdowns along with 23 receptions for 327 yards and 4 touchdowns as a senior.

Smith would add much-needed depth for the Hogs, who have senior Devwah Whaley, junior Chase Hayden and sophomore Jordon Curtis as scholarship running backs. The Razorbacks signed A’Montae Spivey in February, and he’s expected to report to Fayetteville this summer. Starting running back Rakeem Boyd is sidelined after having shoulder surgery.

Because he is not a graduate transfer, Smith will have to sit out the upcoming season and will be eligible to play in 2020.

In addition to hosting Smith, Arkansas entertained perhaps the most impressive list of prospects to ever visit Fayetteville in one day Saturday. About 70 recruits from the 2020, 2021 and 2020 classes were on hand.

Offensive lineman Ty’kieast Crawford, 6-7, 306 pounds, of Carthage, Texas, had the Hogs as his leader coming into the visit. The trip was his third since the fall.

His relationship with associate head coach and running backs coach Jeff Traylor, and offensive line coach Dustin Fry is a key reason for having Arkansas at the top of his list.

“Coach Traylor is a hell of coach hands down, he’s from East Texas like me, so he knows what’s up,” Crawford said.

He committed to Baylor last summer after the Bears became his first scholarship offer. Arkansas was his second offer in November, and then was followed by Missouri, Oklahoma State, Tennessee, Florida State, Southern Cal, Colorado, Alabama, Georgia, Texas A&M and others.

Four prospects from Dallas Bishop Dunne also made the trip to Fayetteville.

Running back Jaden Hullaby, linebacker Brennon Scott, tight end Elijah Yelverton and freshman athlete Landon Hullaby — the younger brother of Jaden — attended.

Hullaby, 6-2, 210, has scholarship offers from Arkansas, Florida, Baylor, Minnesota, Michigan State, Colorado, Iowa, Iowa State, TCU, Utah and numerous others.

He rushed 229 times for 1,181 yards with 11 touchdowns, and had 39 receptions for 396 yards and 5 touchdowns as a junior.

Scott, 6-2, 225, announced a top 11 of Arkansas, Auburn, Texas, Oklahoma, Florida, LSU, Nebraska, SMU, Texas A&M, Colorado and Kansas in February. ESPN rates him a four-star prospect, No. 13 outside linebacker and No. 219 overall prospect.

Yelverton, 6-5, 235, has more than 30 scholarship offers from Arkansas, LSU, Michigan, Georgia, Florida, Arizona State, Iowa, Nebraska and others. He recorded 23 receptions for 364 yards and 4 touchdowns as a junior.

Landon Hullaby, 5-11, 170, has scholarship offers from Arkansas, Baylor, Oklahoma State, Texas Tech, TCU, Vanderbilt and others. He recorded 16 tackles this past season as a defensive back.

The Hullabys’ mother has numerous family members living in Little Rock.