State sports briefs

FOOTBALL

UA commitment reopens recruitment

Deondre Skinner, a tight end from Patterson, La., who committed to Arkansas last May, said he is reopening his recruiting.

Skinner, 6-4, 225 pounds, 4.59 seconds in the 40-yard dash, said he has not talked with new Arkansas Coach Bret Bielema and doesn’t believe he is wanted in Fayetteville. Skinner was the second player to orally commit to the Razorbacks following the firing of Bobby Petrino. Oral commitments are nonbinding. “I just felt like that was what I had to do,” Skinner said. “I didn’t feel like I was important anymore. I felt like I didn’t fit. I see [Bielema] hitting up other recruits from other states and Arkansas and I felt like I’m the one that hasn’t gotten a call.”

Skinner said he is looking hard at Houston now that Arkansas isn’t an option.

“I’ll open up my recruiting up and see what else is out there,” Skinner said.

The Hogs have an oral commitment from Pulaski Academy tight end Hunter Henry, and tight end Brandon Vandenburg, 6-6, 260, 4.7 of College of the Desert in Palm Desert, Calif., said he will take an official visit to Arkansas on Jan. 25.

Arkansas, which signed five junior-college recruits in December, has nine oral commitments. With the five signees and nine commitments, the Hogs can sign 11 more prospects for their allotted 25 limit.