Brown nearing arrival in Fayetteville

Montaric Brown

— Arkansas’ top in-state recruiting signee in the 2017 class is not in Fayetteville yet, but plans to on campus soon.

Ashdown safety and U.S. Army All-American Montaric Brown (6-1, 190) - ranked as the nation’s 12th best safety by ESPN - said Sunday he is finishing up an online class to fulfill his NCAA eligibility requirements.

He already has a qualifying ACT score, one he achieved in June.

“I should be up there sometime during the second (summer) session,” said Brown, who had 110 tackles and seven interceptions last season for the Panthers. “I just have to finish up an online class I am taking and when I do then I will be able to come on up.”

Brown, who had 122 tackles and five interceptions - three which he took back for touchdowns - as a junior, committed last July and signed with Arkansas in February, but also recently signed with Coffeyville, Kan., Community College.

“I just did that as a back up,” Brown said. “But I’m going to be at Arkansas. I’m excited about getting on campus. I am going to get up there with my new teammates and get to work.”

Brown, who chose Arkansas over Alabama, Auburn, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and others, also continues to try and recruit Ashdown senior cornerback LaDarius Bishop, who has the Razorbacks among his final five teams. Those teams are Arkansas, Oklahoma State, Mississippi State, Iowa State and Memphis.

“I see him a great cornerback and I am telling him to go ahead and come to Arkansas and help us out,” Brown said. “He’s a great athlete and needs to be a Razorback.”