FAYETTEVILLE — The transition between football coaching staffs at Arkansas has vastly changed the look of the Razorbacks’ 2018 recruiting class.
When Arkansas let go former coach Bret Bielema on Nov. 24, there were 12 pledges in the class.
There are only three commits that remain from that list that definitely plan to sign with new Razorback head coach Chad Morris and his staff on Wednesday as the first high school early signing period opens.
Arkansas is expected to sign seven to nine players overall in the three-day period.
“Really regardless of the early signing period or whether it was just still in February only, it was all about relationships,” Morris said Monday on Sports Talk with Bo Mattingly. “I had to get into see these guys that had been previously committed to Arkansas.
“After evaluating their talent and evaluating their film…really what you are trying to do is build a two-year relationship in about a day, which is almost impossible.”
The three commits still planning to sign with Arkansas are Greenwood quarterback Connor Noland, Lucas, Texas, Lovejoy linebacker Bumper Pool and Springdale defensive end Isaiah Nichols.
Jonesboro offensive lineman Noah Gatlin will talk with his family on Tuesday night and decide whether to sign with Arkansas early.
Morris has also added four pledges that will sign on Wednesday in Ashdown cornerback LaDarrius Bishop, Fordyce defensive lineman Billy Ferrell, Magnolia, Texas, wide receiver Mike Woods and Yoakum, Texas, offensive lineman Silas Robinson.
“It is just more of getting out, getting a presence and getting our logo in every school and as many as we can possibly touch,” Morris said, “and do that as you are trying to hold on to the commits that you have and try to gather some new commitments along the way.”
The Razorbacks are also hoping to flip a pair of prospects in North Carolina defensive end commit and Tyrone, Ga., Sandy Creek star Nick Fulwider (6-7, 245) and Mississippi State safety commit and Trussville, Ala., Hewitt-Trussville standout Myles Mason (6-2, 190).
Fulwider is expected to sign in three-day early period while Mason has decided to wait until the Feb. 7 national signing date.
Pulaski Academy offensive lineman Luke Jones - who has taken official visits to Arkansas and Notre Dame - and Homerville, Ga., Clinch County defensive lineman John Mincey have also both decided to wait until Feb. 7 to sign.
Two prospects previously committed to Arkansas have decided to take other paths. Charleston wide receiver-safety Sean Michael Flanagan (Oklahoma State) and Iowa Western College offensive lineman Noah Banks (Florida) are heading elsewhere.
Morris and his staff chose not to pursue a trio of commits in DeSoto, Texas cornerback Byron Hanspard, Jr., Independence, Kan., Community College defensive tackle Emmit Gooden and Reserve, La., Riverside tailback Jeremy Gibson.
Hanspard will sign with Baylor while Tanner McAlister, who de-committed when Bielema was fired, will sign with Oklahoma State.