Oklahoma DB, top JUCO TE commit to Hogs

Arkansas coach Bret Bielema directs his players Thursday, March 31, 2016, during practice at the university's practice field on campus in Fayetteville.

Arkansas received the oral commitment of Jenks (Okla.) cornerback Jordon Curtis during an unofficial visit to Fayetteville on Friday.

Curtis, 6-2, 185, 4.42 seconds in the 40-yard dash, chose the Hogs over scholarship offers from Illinois, Kansas State, Iowa State, Texas Tech, Purdue, Rice and others.

“I think as a defensive back the first thing that stands out is his length,” said Jenks special teams and recruiting coordinator Carl Johnson. “He’s tall for a defensive back and I think defensive coordinators like Robb Smith is really going to like that because that allows for a better matchup on some of the taller receivers. Then you bring into play his athletic ability and his ball skills and that makes him even a better fit for playing the defensive back position.”

Curtis recorded 24 tackles and 2 interceptions as a junior and helped lead the Trojans to their fourth consecutive Class 6A-I state title this past season. He also rushed 87 times for 781 yards and 12 touchdowns while catching 14 passes for 308 yards and 2 touchdowns.

Curtis helped Jenks to No. 24 in the final MaxPreps national high school computer rankings.

Arkansas also landed an oral commitment from highly recruited junior-college tight end Jeremy Patton during his official visit to Fayetteville.

Patton, 6-6, 243, 4.59 of Arizona Western College, had offers from 27 schools, including Alabama, Auburn, Louisville, Nebraska, Oklahoma State, Arizona and Arizona State.

“Everything from the community to the facilities, players was just great,” said Patton, ranked as the No. 1 tight end and No. 10 junior-college prospect by JUCO Football Frenzy. “They run a prefect scheme for me and they have the major I’m looking for. Everything is perfect. It feels like home and I’m glad to get the decision out of the way.”

Patton, who has a 3.1 grade-point average, said he plans to study meteorology and realized shortly after his visit began that he wanted to be a Hog.

“Once I figured out they had the major I was looking for,” Patton said. “That was the only thing I was really worried about.”

He told Coach Bret Bielema and tight ends coach Barry Lunney Jr. about his decision while visiting Bielema’s home in the late afternoon.

Patton, who caught 17 passes for 316 yards and 4 touchdowns as a freshman, attended Lawrence Central High School in Indianapolis before making his way to Arizona.

He’s expected to graduate in December and enroll at Arkansas in January.

Curtis and Patton became Arkansas' 11th and 12th commitments for the 2017 class. Oral commitments are nonbinding.