Greenwood's Connor Noland Pledges To Arkansas

FAYETTEVILLE — The state’s best two-sport standout in the 2018 class announced Wednesday on his birthday that he has plans to be a Razorback.

Greenwood four-star junior quarterback/pitcher Connor Noland (6-1, 180) committed to Arkansas to play both football and baseball.

"I think the coaching staff of both programs was the biggest thing for me overall," Noland said. "I feel very comfortable with both staffs. The addition of Coach (Wes) Johnson to the baseball staff was obviously a big thing for me since that is who I am going to be working with while (Arkansas football offensive coordinator) Coach (Dan) Enos is a great offensive mind and I look forward to learning from him."

It certainly didn't hurt that Noland was born in Arkansas and has looked up to former Greenwood and Arkansas quarterback Tyler Wilson.

"I have lived a couple of places, but I was born in Arkansas and grew up loving the Razorbacks and watching guys like Tyler Wilson, who is from Greenwood," Noland said. "I look forward to getting up there and being a part of a successful program like he was."

Noland is regarded as the state’s top 2018 football and baseball prospect and becomes the first 2018 football pledge for the Razorbacks.

He split time at quarterback last season and completed 73 of 103 passes for 872 yards and nine touchdowns with just two interceptions while also rushing 61 times for 431 and four more scores.

Noland has also touched 91 miles per hour with his fastball.

He has football offers Arkansas, Arkansas State, UCLA, Kentucky, Memphis, Missouri, Ole Miss, North Carolina, Penn State, Texas A&M and Utah State.

Noland has also taken unofficial visits to Arkansas, Notre Dame, Florida, Tennessee, Duke and Vanderbilt.

"I believe definitely that I got to see a lot of programs and feel like Arkansas is the best of those for me," Noland said. "I very happy to be a Razorback and I look forward to helping recruit more players to come join us."

Noland has two full years of high school left.

"I think with football I want to get better on the mental side of things and with baseball I want to get better command of my fastball and really work on my pitches to keep the hitters off-balance."