The Recruiting Guy

Hog commit enjoys visit, backs Bielema

Jeremy Gibson

Arkansas running back commitment Jeremy Gibson made an official visit for the Hogs’ game against Auburn over the weekend and has plans to return soon.

“It was nice; it was like peaceful,” Gibson said. “I feel by going up there I’m going to get away from a lot of stuff and I’ll be in a great environment. It’s like a second home.”

Gibson, 5-11, 200 pounds, of Reserve (La.) Riverside Academy, chose the Hogs over scholarship offers from Arizona State, Missouri, Colorado State, Texas Tech, Utah, Purdue and several others in early June.

He feels comfortable in Fayetteville.

“The people around there, the environment, the fans and how much love they show,” Gibson said. “It’s a good environment to better yourself.

“I like being up there. I’m coming back for the Mizzou game.”

Gibson rushed 204 times for 1,319 yards and 20 touchdowns while also having 16 receptions for 225 yards and a touchdown as a junior in 2016. His mother was able to see Fayetteville for the first time on the trip and could even see herself moving there at some point.

“She didn't think Fayetteville was like that,” he said. “She was thinking it was country, country until she got there, and she really liked the place. She thinks it’s beautiful.”

The Jerry and Gene Jones academic center impressed his mother.

“She liked the support system, and she liked the professors and how they told her they would be on us and help us get our degree,” Gibson said. “That’s their main goal. Make sure we graduate.”

Gibson has been hampered by a bone spur in his left knee since the spring and is expected to have surgery this week. He could be back in action in a month. He fought through the discomfort and still rushed 46 times for 281 yards and 4 touchdowns along with 10 receptions for 51 yards.

He knows Arkansas' season hasn’t gone as planned but said he is in Coach Bret Bielema’s corner.

“Coach Bielema is my coach, not at the moment, but will be my coach, and I’m behind him no matter what,” Gibson said.

Greenwood quarterback and Razorback pledge Connor Noland recently said he and the other commitments believe their class will help change the program. Gibson echoed Noland’s thinking.

“Me and the other commitments believe once we get there everything will change around,” Gibson said.