FAYETTEVILLE -- Arkansas added a consensus top 25 football class Wednesday during a national signing day that was short on late drama and long on in-state talent.
The Razorbacks secured their 24-man class, including 10 from the state of Arkansas, well before Coach Bret Bielema's 2 p.m. news conference with only a couple of wrinkles in the final 24 hours.
"We signed 24 guys I feel really good about," Bielema said. "If I could give this class an overall feeling, I would say we built it on the offensive and defensive lines up front."
The Razorbacks have space for one more signee, for which director of recruiting E.K. Franks advised "stay tuned" because the football office phone has been jumping. The class was ranked No. 22 by ESPN.com and Scout.com and No. 25 by Rivals.com as of Wednesday evening.
Arkansas coaches were in agreement the class should have an impact across all units of the team in the coming years.
"We met every need that we needed to meet with superb players that fit what we do that are uncommon men," Franks said. "I think we accomplished that all the way across the board."
Arkansas managed to flip safety Willie Sykes of Houston, Texas, away from Nebraska at the 11th hour and added linebacker Kendrick Jackson of Haynesville, La., on the eve of signing day. North Little Rock receiver K.J. Hill opted to sign with Ohio State on Wednesday, but the Razorbacks landed a final-day bonus when Camden native and junior college receiver Dominique Reed, a 6-4, 180-pounder, sent in his letter of intent.
"He was the No. 1 guy on our board for a reason," Bielema said. "We really felt he was the one guy in all our evaluations that could stretch the field for us vertically ... can change the game for us instantly."
Receivers coach Michael Smith, who said he "very recently" signed his contract to remain on the staff for a third season, was jubilant after adding Reed, La'Michael Pettway of Nashville and Deon Stewart of Highland.
"I'm excited about it," Smith said. "I've known Deon and La'Michael for a long time ... and to add Dominique, I think it just kind of puts icing on the cake."
New offensive coordinator Dan Enos also was pleased with the receivers.
"I think it's an A-plus with the wideouts we signed. An A-plus plus," he said. "They all could potentially have an immediate impact on our football team."
Eight of the signees -- quarterback Ty Storey, tight end Will Gragg, offensive linemen Josh Allen, Zach Rogers and Jalen Merrick, and defensive linemen Daytrieon Dean, Hjalte Froholdt and Jeremiah Ledbetter -- are already enrolled and on campus.
The class of three tight ends -- Gragg, Fayetteville High's CJ O'Grady and Austin Cantrell of Roland, Okla. -- is considered the No. 1 group in the nation by ESPN.com, with all three ranking among their top 10 at the position nationally.
"I want them to be able to say that two years down the line from now," tight ends coach Barry Lunney Jr. said. "But obviously those are three guys that were recruited by a lot of people and we're very thankful that they decided to come here."
Rawleigh Williams III, a 5-10, 205-pounder who rushed for 5,023 yards at Dallas' Bishop Lynch High, is the only running back in the class, which features 12 offensive players and 11 defensive players. Punter Blake Johnson of Los Alamitos, Calif., is the lone special teams signee and is expected to compete immediately for a starting job.
Bielema said Williams compares favorably to Montee Ball, his former tailback at Wisconsin who won the Doak Walker Award.
"Coach Bielema has been around great runners, but we didn't offer him to be somebody else," running backs coach Joel Thomas said. "It's a nice compliment to have, but we want him to be the first Rawleigh Williams, not somebody else."
The Razorbacks stayed busy in Florida and Texas, two key states in their recruiting plans, by landing five players from Florida and four from Texas. Defensive backs coach Clay Jennings stayed with Sykes to the very end.
"I would have to attribute that to the league and the school," Jennings said. "The University of Arkansas and having the opportunity to play in the SEC. One thing Willie told me, he said, 'Coach, to be the best you have to play against the best.' I think having an opportunity to play in the SEC West, that'd be great for any kid."
Three of the four offensive line signees are on campus -- Conway High's Colton Jackson has yet to arrive -- which makes line coach Sam Pittman happy.
"That puts us at 12 players for the spring, so that'll let us function ... and that'll also let us toy with some positions, which you guys know I like to do, in the spring," Pittman said.
The defensive line needed numbers after the departure of end Trey Flowers and tackle Darius Philon as an underclassman, so the class includes five players on that unit -- Junction City's Jamario Bell, Dean, Froholdt, Ledbetter and T.J. Smith of Colquitt County, Ga.
"We got five guys and went after the best players possible," defensive line coach Rory Segrest said. "They all play on the edge, but some of them are big enough to play inside so we're going to get out there and see who can fill the needs we're looking for."
The group of defensive backs includes 6-3 Nate Dalton, and 6-footers Sykes, Ryan Pulley and Fayetteville's Dre Greenlaw, who could wind up at weak side linebacker.
"We want to play a certain brand of football, and we want to be physical and we want to play press coverage and we want to disrupt receivers on the outside," defensive coordinator Robb Smith said. "The longer and stronger that you can be is an advantage in that situation. ... But there are going to be shorter guys that can do it, too.
"We just try to find indicators that we feel are going to help them fit the pieces of the puzzle that we're looking for."
Sports on 02/05/2015