FAYETTEVILLE -- Arkansas landed two oral commitments from the six official visitors Saturday, and both are on the defensive side of the ball.
Safety Micahh Smith arrived in Fayetteville around noon Friday, received a scholarship offer from Arkansas Coach Bret Bielema a couple hours later and committed to the Razorbacks on Saturday afternoon.
"He believed in me above all of the other safeties they have chosen," Smith said of Bielema. "They gave me a lot of good feedback to give to my mom and [said] I could be a huge player for Arkansas."
Smith, 6-0, 196 pounds, 4.54 in the 40-yard dash, of Marshall, Texas, chose the Razorbacks over scholarship offers from Northwestern (La.) State, Lamar, Texas State, Sam Houston State and Stephen F. Austin.
"He wants me to play for him and believes I am more explosive than some of the players he has recently recruited and believes I can make a big impact for the Hogs," Smith said of Bielema.
As a senior, Smith had 120 tackles, 3 for loss, 3 interceptions, 7 pass breakups, a forced fumble and 2 fumble recoveries.
Arkansas has one Moultrie (Ga.) Colquitt County product on the roster and has two commitments from the school after linebacker Dee Walker committed Saturday and joined athlete Kiel Pollard, who committed to the Hogs on Sept. 25. Pollard received a late offer from South Carolina and could change his commitment today.
Colquitt County defensive lineman T.J. Smith signed with the Hogs in 2015.
Walker, 6-3, 210, 4.50, picked the Hogs over scholarship offers from Indiana, Colorado, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisville, Nebraska and others. He arrived in Fayetteville on Friday with his father and will leave today.
Walker recorded 96 tackles, 9 tackles for loss, 5 sacks and 8 quarterback hurries, 2 pass breakups and a forced fumble last season while helping Colquitt County to the Class 6A state title.
Walker officially visited Indiana on Jan. 15 and Florida, which hasn't made an offer yet, a week later.
He said he thinks Pollard will remain with Arkansas
.
Smith and Walker are Arkansas' No. 18 and No. 19 commitments for the 2016 class. Oral commitments are nonbinding.
McDonald's selectee
Arkansas women's signee Aaliyah Wilson of Muskogee, Okla., has been picked to play in the McDonald's All-American Game on March 30, making her the second Arkansas signee to be selected for the game.
Osceola center Ruby Vaden played in the game in 2002 and forward Lauren Ervin, who transferred to Arkansas, was selected to the game in 2003.
Wilson, 5-10, signed with the Razorbacks after receiving more than 20 scholarship offers, including ones from Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Baylor, LSU, Rutgers and Kansas. ESPN rates her as a 5-star recruit, and the No. 5 guard and No. 30 overall prospect in the nation.
"I was most definitely speechless," Wilson said of her selection. "Of course, watching the selection show, I didn't really know what to expect knowing how much politics are involved."
She averaged 19.8 points, 9.1 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 2.9 steals per game as a junior, and was named the Oklahoma Gatorade Girls Basketball Player of the Year.
The game will be televised on ESPN2.
Wilson has been to about five Arkansas home games and watched others on television.
"I've been tuned in, " Wilson said. "We [she and Arkansas Coach Jimmy Dykes] have talked about rebuilding being a process. Of course we knew in the beginning it was going to be a little bumpy."
The Razorbacks started slow in December and ended the month 5-8, but defeated top 25 teams Texas A&M, Tennessee and Missouri in a 10-day period this month.
She likes the progress the team has made lately.
"They had the losses and learned from them and being able to bounce back and see where they are now it's great," Wilson said. "I most definitely get excited when I'm watching them especially those last three home games with A&M, Tennessee and Mizzou. I know the atmosphere had to be crazy. I was really hyped up here at home. It really gives me a lot to look forward to though."
Email Richard Davenport at rdavenport@arkansasonline.com
Sports on 01/31/2016