FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas is looking to add a few more offensive linemen to its 2020 recruiting class and put its foot forward this weekend with Jalen St. John of Trinity Catholic in St. Louis.
St. John (6-5, 320 pounds), a 3-star recruit who was previously committed to Missouri, visited Arkansas this weekend due in large part to his existing relationship with new Razorback coach Sam Pittman and Brad Davis, the Arkansas offensive line coach who previously had the same job at Missouri.
"Yes, because Coach Pittman, all of the coaches, it's a great staff,” St. John said. “Then it was great to meet a couple of players.”
St. John was able to check out the Razorback football program and see the fan support both at the Arkansas-Kentucky basketball game and the Catfish Hole restaurant.
"It was crazy, the Kentucky game and the Catfish Hole,” St. John said. “A lot of people and the fan support, like they love football. I could see myself here."
Arkansas stressed to St. John how valued he is when it comes to this recruiting class.
"They told me I'm very important,” St. John said. “So, I'm just waiting. I'll go see Florida State (Jan. 31-Feb. 2) and go from there.”
Arkansas running back Rakeem Boyd was St. John’s official host.
“He's a real cool dude,” St. John said. “He's just telling me that I'm a big factor and stuff like that."
The Razorback staff is also recruiting Georgia 5-star commit Broderick Jones, who will finish his official visit to Fayetteville on Monday, and Conway 4-star offensive lineman Robert Scott, who is scheduled to visit Arkansas on Jan. 24-26.
St. John is not sure if he will take a visit anywhere next weekend.
"I haven't made my mind up yet,” St. John said.
The visit helped Arkansas’ chances.
"Right now, I'm just weighing it out,” St. John said. “They're big on my board."