Hooten’s football magazine a July staple

There are many reasons I love the month of July, beginning with celebrating our nation’s birthday.

That’s also the month I usually take a couple weeks of my vacation time and get to relax without worrying about who is committing when and to what team.

July also brings Hooten’s Arkansas Football magazine, now in its 25th year.

It’s always welcomed and used to brush up on high school teams and plan my fall Friday nights watching high school prospects committed to the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, or being recruited by the Razorbacks.

Warren wide receiver Treylon Burks (6-3, 215) is one of four 2019 prospects already offered by Arkansas. He may be the best recruit in the state in the next two classes. He gets his season started early on Aug. 29 when the Lumberjacks face Little Rock Christian.

Burks, an all-state football, basketball and baseball player as a sophomore, has Arkansas and Auburn among his several offers. He had 1,385 yards receiving and 18 touchdowns last season.

Charleston standout Sean Michael Flanagan is a Razorback safety commit and also begins his season that same day when his team plays at Dardanelle, followed by a home game against Episcopal (Sept. 8) and a road game Sept. 15 at Ozark.

Greenwood quarterback and Arkansas pledge Connor Noland (6-2, 185) will start his season by taking on Fort Smith Northside on Sept. 1 and Fort Smith Southside on Sept. 8.

Earle quarterback Gerry Bohannon, who has Arkansas among his multiple offers, gets his season going Sept. 1 by hosting Helena with a Nov. 2 home game with East Poinsett County closing out the regular-season slate.

A must-watch is the Jonesboro offensive line duo of senior Arkansas commit Paul Gatlin (6-7, 300) and highly recruited Darius Thomas (6-6, 330). The Golden Hurricane opens the regular season Aug. 31 against Batesville at Arkansas State University and closes at Marion on Nov. 2. Games at Conway (Sept. 8) and home against Little Rock Catholic (Sept. 15) look enticing.

I’ll only have to drive a couple of miles to knock out two prospects as Springdale defensive lineman Isaiah Nichols (6-3, 260) and his team host Bentonville West and junior wide receiver and Razorback target Jadon Jackson on Oct. 6.

Ashdown cornerback LaDarius Bishop (6-0, 175) is one of Arkansas’ recruiting targets and will be closest when his team plays at Mena on Sept. 22.

One would expect Pulaski Academy offensive lineman Luke Jones to be in the fold soon, and the Razorbacks have also offered junior tight end Hudson Henry. The Bruins don’t shy away from competition and open the season by playing at Sand Springs, Oka. (Sept. 1), and hosting Memphis Ridgeway (Sept. 8) and Bossier City, La., Parkway (Sept. 15).