The Recruiting Guy

Highly recruited Texas DB commits to Hogs

tanner mccalister

Arkansas Razorback defensive back target Tanner McCalister has committed to the Hogs after visiting Fayetteville on Friday and Saturday.

McCalister, 6-0, 185, of Rockwall (Texas) Rockwall-Heath, picked the Hogs over scholarship offers from Mississippi State, Missouri, Virginia, Oklahoma State, TCU, Washington State and others. He sat down with his parents and made the decision.

"I just really love the environment up there and the resources the football players have and the life after football the University of Arkansas can provide me, because football will come to an end some day," McCalister said. "Playing in the SEC is a great opportunity to be seen, and I just think the Razorbacks fit my style of play.”

He called his lead recruiter and running backs coach Reggie Mitchell on Sunday to tell him and Coach Bret Bielema of his pledge.

"I called Coach Mitchell and told him about it, and he immediately ran up to the school and got Coach B on the phone, and we were all talking on a three-way, and I was telling them that’s where I want to be," McCalister said. "They were excited. They were like, 'We’re going to reserve No. 2 for you.'”

He's the third visitor from the weekend to pledge to the Hogs. Charleston athlete Sean Michael Flanagan and running back Jeremy Gibson of Reserve (La.) Riverside Academy committed Saturday and Sunday, respectively.

McCalister ran a 4.45-second 40-yard dash at a TCU camp last summer. He runs legs on three of his school's relay teams: the 4x100, 4x200 and 4x400. He has a best of 22 feet, 4 inches in the long jump.

His mother was won over by the Jerry and Gene Jones academic center and the opportunities after football.

"That’s really important to my mom," he said. "She just loves how that building was built and how it can benefit the kids in the classroom."

McCalister recorded 55 tackles, 6 tackles for loss, an interception, 3 forced fumbles, 2 recovered fumble and a a pass breakup as a junior as a cornerback but will play safety for the Hawks this fall. Bielema told him he could play both spots in the secondary.

"He was saying he could see me playing safety as well as corner," McCalister said.

Razorback linebacker commitment Bumper Pool of Lucas (Texas) Lovejoy was visiting at the same time as McCalister and spoke well of the Hogs. Pool's sister Maddie attends the university and works in the recruiting office.

"I was talking to Bumper Pool a little bit, and he was talking about how great it is, and his sister goes to school there. And she was actually my tour guide, and she was telling me about Arkansas," McCalister said.

He also spoke to freshman cornerback Chevin Calloway.

"He was telling me why he chose to go up there," McCalister said.

McCalister credited Mitchell's hard work for much of his interest and his desire to visit Fayetteville.

"He basically kept in touch with me, and we talked almost every other day," he said. "He was constantly filling me in with details about the school and the program. Anytime I had a question, he had an answer for it."

McCalister becomes the Hogs' No. 7 commitment for the 2018 class.