FAYETTEVILLE — Before the 2017 recruiting haul was put to bed Wednesday, Arkansas coach Bret Bielema and his staff were already making a move toward filling its 2018 class.
“I think we have got a great jump on ’18,” Bielema said. “Obviously you guys know that we can’t comment (on specific players), but I couldn’t be happier with the start that we have had with some of our guys.
“Today I think I have talked to over 30 juniors and a couple of sophomores that we have offered. There for about two hours today...it was just a non-stop, walk into my office with a phone and hand me a sheet of paper with who I was talking to.
“The response has been really, really overwhelming.”
The Razorbacks already have two 4-star 2018 commits in Greenwood quarterback Connor Noland (6-1, 180 pounds) and Lucas, Texas, Lovejoy linebacker Bumper Pool (6-2, 220). Noland also is committed as a right-handed pitcher for the Arkansas baseball team.
Arkansas also has offered Earle junior quarterback/athlete Gerry Bohanon (6-4, 215) and issued several other offers Wednesday, Bielema said.
Those included St. Louis Chaminade defensive tackle Trevor Trout (6-3, 295); Tulsa Union defensive back Patrick Fields (6-1, 190); Palmetto, Fla., tailback DeMarcus Townsend (5-11, 192); and Arp, Texas, safety DeMarion Overshown (6-4, 196).
“We are starting to have a brand out there, especially offensively and now with the 3-4 defense that I think kids can gravitate to and have a little bit of a response to," Bielema said.
Arkansas also announced three 2017 blue shirts who will enroll in classes this summer and go through practices, but won't play until they go on scholarship the following year.
Those are Fayetteville offensive lineman Ty Clary (6-4, 275), Pulaski Academy linebacker/safety Hayden Henry (6-3, 215) and Hutchinson, Kan., Community College defensive end Gabe Richardson (6-4, 245).
Bielema said these were prospects he would have offered if he had enough scholarships. He said he views them as players who can help after one year in the system.
“I think we've got a pretty small class next year in the state," Bielema said, "and we do have a small class for us in general in Arkansas, just the number of graduating guys we have.
“So I look at those guys as an opportunity to make our class a little bit larger through the class we have now and if we had more scholarships they would have been worthy for sure.”