The Arkansas Razorbacks' 2015 signing class was heavy on instate athletes, and it got a little heavier Thursday.
Coach Bret Bielema announced Thursday that four athletes, including two from Arkansas, will join the Razorbacks as preferred walk-ons.
North Little Rock linebacker Tyler Phillips, Camden Fairview cornerback Byron Keaton, long snapper George Madden IV of Blanchard, Okla., and safety Reid Miller of Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy have signed letters of admissions with the university.
Phillips, 6-2, 220 pounds, 4.63 seconds in the 40-yard dash, turned down scholarship offers from Air Force, Campbell and Ouachita Baptist University to walk on at Arkansas. He was committed to OBU before the switch.
"It's always been a dream of mine to go to a big university and play at the highest level of college football," Phillips said. "There's no higher level than the SEC West.
"I want to compete on the highest level. Always have."
Phillips, who also received an invite from Oregon to be a preferred walk-on, scored a national leading 141.36 SPARQ rating at the Dallas Nike Combine last May and received an invite to The Opening, a prestigious summer event held at Nike Headquarters that features 162 of the top prospects in the nation.
He finished third at the SPARQ National Championship with a rating of 143.00. He was electronically timed at 4.63 seconds in the 40-yard dash, 3.97 in the shuttle, turned in a 42.3-inch vertical leap and had a power ball toss of 43 feet.
Phillips said Arkansas plans to play him at outside linebacker.
"I think I'll be able to come in and be the size and athlete ability they're looking for," Phillips said. "I'm looking to compete on Day 1."
Phillips weighed 208 at The Opening but has added 12 pounds to his frame since then. He also will compete this spring for North Little Rock's track and field team. Phillips plans to run the 200 and 400 meters and compete in the long jump, triple jump and high jump.
"I think I have a good chance of winning the decathlon," Phillips said.
His mother is supportive of his decision to walk on at Arkansas.
"She's excited now," Phillips said. "I'm happy about my decision. I won't ever regret this decision, I know that for a fact."
Keaton, 5-10 1/2, 174, 4.53, chose Arkansas over scholarship offers from Eastern Illinois, Ouachita Baptist and Arkansas Tech. He also received interest from the University of Central Arkansas, Cornell and Oregon, which also invited him to walk on.
"I wanted to play in my home state at the highest level," Keaton said. "I'm confident in my ability that I can do it at the University of Arkansas."
Kent State came in late and wanted Keaton to make an official visit last weekend, but he declined.
Keaton had 55 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, 4 interceptions, 9 pass breakups, 2 forced fumbles and 1 recovered fumble as a senior. He also completed 24 of 47 passes for 292 yards and 3 touchdowns while rushing 41 times for 312 yards and 4 touchdowns.
Keaton scored points with the Razorbacks coaching staff during a summer camp last year when he went 1-on-1 against Smackover receiver Jordan Jones, a member of the 2016 class who is orally committed to Arkansas. Keaton was the only defensive back who had any success against Jones.
"I was trying to put myself out there basically, it being my first year-and-a-half at corner," Keaton said. "I was trying to show people that I can play against a Division I player."
Keaton said a big factor in his decision to walk on at Arkansas was the chance to play for defensive coordinator Robb Smith and defensive backs coach Clay Jennings.
"I really wanted to play for Coach Jennings and Coach Smith after watching the football season," Keaton said. "I really liked how they let the corners play a lot of man coverage."
Madden, 6-2, 240, was a four-year letterman as a starting defensive end, right guard and deep snapper and helped Blanchard win the 2013 Oklahoma 3A state championship as a junior.
Miller, 5-9, 182, enrolled at Arkansas in January. He had 83 tackles, 2 interceptions, broke up 7 passes and forced 3 fumbles his senior season.
Corning offensive lineman Klint Harvey, 6-7, 320, also has accepted an invitation to be a preferred walk-on. He impressed offensive line coach Sam Pittman during several Arkansas camps.
E-mail Richard Davenport at
rdavenport@arkansasonline.com
Sports on 02/06/2015