Signee Montaric Brown sends needed paperwork to NCAA

Montaric Brown

— Arkansas 2017 safety signee and U.S. Army All-American Montaric Brown confirmed Monday he is getting close to finally being on campus.

Brow (6-0, 175) - the state’s top prospect last season and a four-star prospect per ESPN.com — chose the Razorbacks over Alabama, LSU, Auburn, Oklahoma and others, but had to finish up some academic work before arriving on campus.

“I am finished,” Brown said Tuesday afternoon. I have sent what was needed to the NCAA and Arkansas. I am ready to be up there to Fayetteville with my new teammates.”

Brown had hoped to be on campus for the first summer semester at the end of the May, but the process didn't work out that way.

He will now just wait for the NCAA Clearing House to acknowledge he is eligible with classes starting at Arkansas next Monday.

“It was very tough, to not be up there,” Brown said. “I have to thank (Ashdown head) Coach (Matt) Richardson and (assistant) Coach Chris McFadden for motivating me to complete what I needed to do with my classes. Also my uncles, my family members and friends and my mom really supported me, too.”

Brown proved himself to be quite the playmaker on the field the last two seasons with 122 tackles and 5 interceptions - three returned for touchdowns - as a junior and then 110 stops and 2 more picks as a senior.

Although he knows he is way behind his new teammates because of missing the summer and the first three weeks of fall camp, Brown still hopes to play as a freshman.

“I am just ready to get there, learn what I need to as soon as I can and play some SEC football,” Brown said. “I will just be as ready as I can be once I get on campus and try to improve my game every day and every practice.

“I have been working out every day. I’m ready.”

He played for the East team in the U.S. Army All-America Game and had three tackles in the West’s 27-17 win.

Arkansas head coach Bret Bielema recently spoke about Brown.

“He has done a tremendous job of working very hard,” Bielema said. “Obviously we would have loved to have had him here two months ago, but sometimes it doesn’t turn out the way you want. The kid has never lost sight of that and I am excited about it in that regard.”