FAYETTEVILLE — One would suspect that during the early signing period of December 19-21 and the national signing date of Feb. 6 there will be two Arkansas assistant coaches smiling the biggest.
That would be defensive ends coach Steve Caldwell and defensive tackles coach John Scott Jr., who now have nine highly regarded and highly recruited freshman defenders set to be on next year’s roster.
The number grew to nine Wednesday night when Mansfield (Texas) Legacy defensive end Taurean Carter (6-3, 265) publicly announced he would be a Razorback on his father’s birthday.
A teary-eyed and emotional Carter thanked everyone he could think of while announcing his decision at a local restaurant with his teammate and fellow Razorbacks defensive line pledge Enoch Jackson (6-1, 290) in attendance with family and friends.
“I set a goal for my life and I was able to accomplish it,” Carter said. “I remember getting my first offer my sophomore year and I worked so hard. … With that, I am going to further my education at the University of Arkansas.”
The Razorbacks - with defensive backs coach Mark Smith leading the charge - are also hoping to add Legacy quarterback/safety Jalen Catalon (5-11, 190), a four-star prospect who is down to Arkansas, Texas, Oklahoma and TCU.
The class is ranked 12th natinally by Rivals, 17th by 24/7 and 20th by ESPN.
“Once we get (Catalon) on board, it's game over,” Carter said.
Carter, who chose Arkansas over co-finalists Michigan State and Wisconsin as well as many others, perhaps best summed up why Razorback head coach Chad Morris and his staff have had such a great recruiting class so far.
"The coaches treat us like family," Carter said. "They take care of us and watch out for us. They actually need us, instead of just wanting us. That's a big part of it - that they need us. I want to feel like family. I want to feel like myself.”
Carter joins five other defensive end commits in Joe T. Robinson’s Zach Williams (6-4, 225), Oklahoma City (Okla.) Putnam City standout Collin Clay (6-5, 260), Memphis native and IMG Academy’s Eric Gregory (6-4, 270), Douglasville (Ga.) Douglas County star Mataio Soli (6-3, 227) and Ellenwood (Ga.) Dante Walker (6-3, 240).
The Razorbacks also have three defensive tackle pledges in Warren’s Marcus Miller (6-5, 300), Lufkin, Texas’ Carl Williams (6-4, 324) and Jackson.
“Now we can all agree that we have the best defensive line class right now,” Clay tweeted after Carter made his announcement.
Carter adds another big-time run stopper to the mix and one that has also shown a burst to the quarterback with 14 sacks as a junior and four more this season despite fighting off constant double teams.
Legacy coach Chris Melson has watched Carter grow this season in a year in which Jackson missed four games with broken hand and Catalon was lost for the year in the season opener.
“He has been great on his assignments and playing the way you are supposed to play as a senior,” Melson said. “When in the past he would look for the ball and just take off. This year, whether he is double-teamed or not, he just comes out low and hard, uses his hands, reads his blocks and what is going on and makes the play. It’s just the best he had ever played.”