Arkansas Lands State's Top Grid Prospect

FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas coaches already felt really good about their 2017 recruiting class, but were all smiles after adding the state’s top player to the mix on Thursday.

Ashdown safety Montaric Brown (6-1, 180, 4.4), a four-star prospect per ESPN.com and Hawg Illustrated’s top in-state prospect in this class, committed to the Razorbacks on Thursday after his unofficial visit.

Brown, who chose Arkansas over Alabama, Auburn, LSU, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Baylor and others, brought his mom and grandma along for the trip to Fayetteville and become’s the 18th pledge in the class.

“It felt like home and it will be a lot easier for my family to come see me play,” Brown said. “It just felt like I should be there and I can make a big impact.”

Brown, who took unofficial visits to all of his aforementioned schools, had visited Oklahoma State on Tuesday.

While he had plans to take more before Thursday and also to take his five official visits this fall, Brown says he will not be traveling anywhere else now.

“No sir,” Brown said. “I am done with this process.”

Brown had 122 tackles and 5 interceptions last season - the first three of which he took back for touchdowns.

He also had 18 passes broken up during the year and got a chance to work with Arkansas secondary coach Paul Rhoads at the All-Arkansas Camp in Little Rock on June 6.

“A strong connection,” Brown said of he and Rhoads. “I was thinking before I committed that I had to have that type of connection. I couldn’t commit there and not have a bond with him.”

Brown also said Razorback head coach Bret Bielema and tight ends coach Barry Lunney, Jr., - the program’s chief in-state recruiter - were big in his decision.

“He (Bielema) talked about life after school,” Brown said.