Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

LOUISIANA LINEBACKER commits to Arkansas.

- —Richard Davenport

Arkansas received an oral commitment Tuesday afternoon from Haynesvill­e, La., linebacker Kendrick Jackson, one of the Razorbacks’ top remaining targets.

Jackson took an official visit to Fayettevil­le over the weekend with his mother, which led to his decision to decommit from Arizona.

“The facilities, the coaches, the fan base and all of that,” Jackson said of the factors that swayed him to commit to the Razorbacks.

Jackson, 6-0, 240 pounds, 4.8 seconds in the 40-yard dash, said he couldn’t pick out the most significan­t highlight of the visit.

“Everything, honestly,” Jackson said. “The fan base, probably. They’re crazy. They already knew me when I came. I felt special about that.”

Jackson also had scholarshi­p offers from Louisville, Tulsa, Memphis, Louisiana Tech, Hawaii and others. He recorded 118 tackles and 34 tackles for losses as a senior after racking up 121 tackles, including 27 for losses, as a junior.

“I would love to come play as a freshman in the SEC,” Jackson said.

Receivers coach Michael Smith was Arkansas’ lead recruiter on Jackson. Smith also was the lead recruiter for all four of the Louisiana prospects the Razorbacks signed in 2014.

“He’s real cool,” Jackson said of Smith. “Ever since Day 1, he’s been there.”

Jackson said he is familiar with Arkansas linebacker­s coach Vernon Hargreaves

“He was recruiting me when he was at Houston, so I kind of knew him already,” Jackson said.

The Razorbacks also have a commitment from linebacker Derrick Graham. Dre Greenlaw of Fayettevil­le is another commitment who could play linebacker or safety.

Jackson is the 14th oral commitment for Arkansas’ 2015 class. The Hogs signed eight prospects who enrolled in January. Oral commitment­s are nonbinding.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United States