The Recruiting Guy

Hog commit thrilled with visit

Jim, Hayden and Leah Johnson enjoyed their time in Fayetteville during the Mississippi State game weekend.

Arkansas fullback commitment Hayden Johnson made his way to Fayetteville for the third time over the weekend for an official visit.

The latest trip allowed him a chance to meet his future teammates.

“I got to meet the players which was huge for me,” Johnson said. “I got to meet them and see what life is like being a student -athlete down there.”

Johnson, 6-3, 245, 4.8 seconds in the 40 yard dash. of Columbia, (Mo.) Rock Bridge has a 3.92 grade point average and plans to study pre-med. If he wishes, he could enroll in January or wait until the summer session.

“It was just a neat experience for me to do that prior to me coming down there whether it’s January or summer,” Johnson said.

He picked the Hogs over more than 20 scholarship offers in June. He’s also added scholarship offers from Florida State and Nebraska since his pledge. He was able to get familiar with his player-host, redshirt freshman tight end Austin Cantrell and several other players, including redshirt freshman quarterback Ricky Town.

“I got to know them,” said Johnson, who was accompanied by his parents, Jim and Leah. “Some of them will be my future teammates when I’m on the team. It’s great to know them and be able to make that connection early.”

One of Johnson’s top priorities of the trip was to tour the new Jerry and Gene Jones Family Student Athlete Success Center.

“It’s amazing, they have so many new tools you’re able to use,” Johnson said. “It’s going to be very beneficial when I get down there. It’s such a nice center and I’m very blessed.”

Another part of the trip that impressed was Arkansas’ unique tradition of engraving graduates into the sidewalks around campus.

“Thats an awesome tradition,” he said.

Johnson, who recorded 74 tackles, 9 tackles for loss, 11 sacks, 7 quarterback hurries this season while playing defensive end, was also able to talk football with the coaches.

“We got to talk about the fullback position and what they have now and what they’re looking for in the future and how they’re going to utilize me,” Johnson said.

He and 12 family members will be attending the Missouri game Friday.

“It’s going to be awesome me and my family are coming down for the game,” Johnson said. “I’m extremely excited about that and watching the Hogs beat Mizzou.”

Johnson was pumped after learning fellow official visitor and highly recruited running back Devwah Whaley named the Razorbacks his leader.

“We’re going to lose a lot of running backs so it’s going to be huge for us to be able to get a prospect like him,” Johnson said. “It was great getting to know him. I think he’s a great fit for Arkansas. I would love to be able play with him while we’re down there and hopefully block for him in the future.”