Arkansas planting recruiting roots across Oklahoma
Keuan Parker stays busy. The senior defensive back on Tulsa Booker T. Washington's football team juggles a full schedule with workouts and practices preparing for the season. But he has also become a recruiter of his own, trying to get more Oklahomans to join him in verbally committing to Arkansas.
Parker's hard work is paying off.
Arkansas has the most verbal commits among the state's high school football prospects. Parker was the first to commit on May 8, and he has been busy pursuing Oklahoma's top stars to join him.
“They're building something special out there,” Parker said. “It's a family atmosphere, and they want us to be a part of it. So I want others to come join and be a part of it, too.”
Last season, only one Oklahoma prospect, former Broken Arrow defensive back Myles Slusher, signed with the Razorbacks. He and Parker are close friends, so Slusher quickly started pitching Fayetteville when he arrived.
The duo talked often, and Slusher continues to tell Parker about everything Arkansas has to offer. In turn, Parker would start making his pitch to other Oklahomans.
The day aft er Parker committed, Carl Albert star running back Javion Hunt became the second. Then Tulsa Union running back AJ Green followed suit.
“Once others started getting on board, everyone started helping to recruit,” Parker said.
Vi an defensive lineman Solomon Wright was next, flipping his verbal commitment from Texas Tech. Then Southmoore's Cameron Little, arguably the nation's top kicking prospect, joined in.
On Sunday afternoon, John Marshall wide receiver Bryce Stephens became the sixth. All of the verbal commits are in The Oklahoman's Super 30, with four of them being in the top 10.
“I actually didn't realize how many people had committed to Arkansas before I did,” Stephens said. “But what the coaches are telling us and the opportunities we're going to get are too hard to pass up.”
Arkansas' emphasis on recruiting Oklahoma comes from local ties within its coaching staff.
Head coach Sam Pittman was born in El Reno and graduated f rom Grove. Defensive co or di nator Barry Odom is from Ada. Tight ends coach Jon Cooper played at OU and started his coaching career there.
Tulsa is only two hours from Fayetteville with Oklahoma City being about 3 1/2 hours away, so players can stay close to home while getting to play SEC football.
The ingredients for a pipeline are t here, and Parker says he's not done recruiting yet.
“There's more people we're going after, trying to get them to flip to Arkansas,” Parker said.