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Location: WholeHogSports > Story     |     TAGGED:

Razorbacks ink 27 on opening day of NCAA signing period

Published: Thursday, February 08, 2007 PRINT E-MAIL

The 27 Arkansas expected Tuesday to sign indeed signed letters of intent with coach Houston Nutt’s Razorbacks at Wednesday’s outset of the national signing period.

Eventually, only 25 can be added to the scholarship roster, but Nutt said there are still three or four are still working to meet academic requirements and that some could be placed in junior college or prep school.

In the meantime, he had good things to say about all 27. Alphabetically, they include:

Defensive end Damario Ambrose of Mobile, Ala.

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• Tailback Brandon Barnett of Texarkana, transferring as a sophomore via Butler County (Kan. ) Community College

Tight end Jake Bequette, Little Rock Catholic

Linebacker Freddy Burton, Morrilton

Defensive end Adrian Campbell, Richardson, Texas

Quarterback Joe Chaisson, Beaumont, Texas

Offensive lineman Grant Cook, Jonesboro

Offensive lineman Kareem Crowell, Tallahassee, Fla., via Hargrave (Va. ) Military Academy

Linebacker Tim Dial, Jenks, Okla.

Quarterback Nathan Dick, Allen, Texas

Strong safety Jerry Franklin, Marion

Running back Juwan Franklin, Dunnellon, Fla.

Tight end / tackle Grant Freeman, Paris

Cornerback Greg Gatson, Germantown, Tenn.

Offensive lineman Wade Grayson, Harrison

Safety Bret Harris, Irving, Texas

Tailback Michael Harris, Tulsa

Defensive tackle Patrick Jones, Hampton, Ga.

Defensive tackle Brandon Lampkin, Tucker, Ga.

Strong safety Walner Leandre, Tampa, Fla.

Linebacker Jermaine Love, Garland, Texas

Cornerback Isaac Madison, Dallas

Center Seth Oxner, Monticello

Deep snapper Rhett Richardson, Rockwall, Texas

Placekicker Alex Tejada, Springdale

Wide receiver Crosby Tuck, Shiloh Christian

H-back D. J. Williams, Central Arkansas Christian

Nutt said Arkansas signed three high quality tailbacks in Michael Harris, Barnett and Juwan Franklin.

Signing all three amazes him, Nutt said, considering the Razorbacks return not only Felix Jones, but junior Darren McFadden, the All-American Doak Walker Award winner as the nation’s best running back and the national runnerup in the Heisman balloting to Ohio State Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Troy Smith.

“ With Darren McFadden and Felix Jones, ” Nutt said since the two starred as true freshmen in 2005, “ it’s been hard to sign running backs. But these three guys weren’t scared. They are differencemakers. ”

The early January move of first-year Arkansas offensive coordinator and former Springdale high school head coach Gus Malzahn to Tulsa as offensive coordinator, and the decisions of receiver Damian Williams and quarterback Mitch Mustain to leave the team created a firestorm of publicity presumed to cast a pall on Razorback recruiting.

“ We had 18 committed, ” Nutt said, “ when there was a little bit of negativity that went out. And I’m happy to say of those 18, only one, Chavis Williams, slipped off to Alabama. The other 17 stayed very firm and so committed to being an Arkansas Razorback and I want to thank them. ”

A defensive end from Dora, Ala., Williams changed his commitment just last weekend when offered a scholarship by new Alabama coach Nick Saban.

Nutt said defensive end Damario Ambrose of Mobile, Ala., also received a late Alabama offer but signed with Arkansas.

He also stressed that two from Springdale, placekicker Alex Tejada of Springdale High, and wide receiver Crosby Tuck of Shiloh Christian, held their commitments and signed with Arkansas.

“ He’s probably the No. 1 example, ” Nutt said of Tejada. “ To be able to be right in the backyard of it and not even be fazed. Crosby Tuck’s another one that easily could have been affected and he stayed very strong, and I’m very proud of that. ”

Nutt said Malzahn’s absence hurt, since he was recruiting them, with touted in-state prospects Lee Ziemba, an offensive lineman from Rogers, and Fort Smith Northside quarterback Kodi Burns. Both players signed with Auburn, but Nutt acknowledged at no time did they ever commit to Arkansas, anyway.

Regarding filling needs, Nutt said he’s pleased, down to one scholarship quarterback in junior Casey Dick, to have added Nathan Dick, Casey’s taller and reportedly stronger-armed younger brother from Allen, Texas, and scrambler Joe Chaisson from Beaumont, Texas.

“ Offensive and defensive lines are critical, ” Nutt said, citing the Hogs signed 10 linemen “ who are not only big but can move. ”

Safeties and cornerbacks are possible “ play right away” positions with starting corners Chris Houston (declared a year early for the NFL draft ) and 2006 senior Darius Vinnett departed and starting strong safety Randy Kelly graduated and starting free safety Michael Grant coming off major knee surgery that curtailed his 2006 season.

Arkansas signed two corners and three safeties.

“ The safeties and corners, ” Nutt said, “ they have got to come in ready to play. I wish we had a couple of more corners, but we are really proud of the ones we did get. ”

Tejada might be THE most important member of this class.

Placekicking woes have so bedeviled the Hogs that Nutt asked for and received applause from fans attending the press conference as he announced he signed a kicker.

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Baseball America Poll

Updated May 20

1. UC Irvine 40-12

2. LSU 41-14

3. Arizona St 41-11

4. CS Fullerton 38-14

5. Texas 38-12

6. North Carolina 41-14

7. Ole Miss 40-15

8. Oklahoma 40-16

9. Florida 38-18

10. TCU 35-15

11. Rice 35-15

12. Florida St 40-14

13. Clemson 39-17

14. Georgia Tech 34-15

15. East Carolina 41-15

16. Virginia 39-12

17. Kansas St 39-15

18. Alabama 37-17

19. Cal Poly 35-17

20. Louisville 40-14

21. Minnesota 35-15

22. Elon 37-14

23. Miami Fl 35-18

24. Missouri 32-23

25. South Carolina 37-19

Who is the best defensive lineman in Arkansas' history?


Dave "Hawg" Hanner

Wayne Martin

Jimmy Walker

Dan Hampton

Loyd Phillips

Vote

Arkansas Razorbacks' 2009 Baseball Schedule

Feb. 20

Washington St. (DH)

W 7-5

Feb. 20

Washington St. (DH)

W 4-2

Feb. 22

Washington St.

W 4-3

Feb. 24

Kansas

L 3-9

Feb. 25

Kansas

W 9-8

Feb. 27

Western Illinois

W 8-7

Feb. 28

Western Illinois

     6:00 pm

Mar. 1

Western Illinois

     6:00 pm

Mar. 3

Valparaiso

W 7-3

Mar. 4

Valparaiso

W 9-6

Mar. 6

California

W 5-4

Mar. 7

California

L 6-12

Mar. 8

California

W 13-3

Mar. 10

@ Centenary

L 3-8

Mar. 11

@ Centenary

     6:00 pm

Mar. 13

Florida

W 11-4

Mar. 14

Florida

W 8-4

Mar. 15

Florida

W 4-2

Mar. 17

Nebraska

W 7-3

Mar. 18

Nebraska

L 4-7

Mar. 20

@ Auburn

W 3-2

Mar. 21

@ Auburn

W 10-6

Mar. 22

@ Auburn

W 12-6

Mar. 25

Missouri St.

W 10-0

Mar. 27

Mississippi St.

W 20-9

Mar. 28

Mississippi St.

W 5-1

Mar. 29

Mississippi St.

L 4-12

Mar. 31

@ Missouri St.

W 2-0

Apr. 3

@ South Carolina

W 6-4

Apr. 4

@ South Carolina

L 1-9

Apr. 5

@ South Carolina

W 7-4

Apr. 7

Arizona St.

W 7-3

Apr. 8

Arizona St.

W 8-7

Apr. 10

Vanderbilt

L 0-9

Apr. 11

Vanderbilt

L 6-13

Apr. 12

Vanderbilt

     1:05 pm

Apr. 14

La.-Monroe

L 2-3

Apr. 15

La.-Monroe

W 10-9

Apr. 17

@ Georgia

L 3-4

Apr. 18

@ Georgia

L 3-4

Apr. 19

@ Georgia

W 2-0

Apr. 21

@ Oral Roberts

W 9-6

Apr. 24

@ Tennessee

W 9-3

Apr. 25

@ Tennessee

L 4-5

Apr. 26

@ Tennessee

W 15-8

Apr. 28

Oklahoma

W 8-7

May. 1

LSU

W 11-4

May. 2

LSU

L 0-5

May. 3

LSU

L 3-4

May. 8

@ Alabama

L 1-2

May. 9

@ Alabama

L 6-8

May. 10

@ Alabama

L 5-6

May. 12

Oral Roberts

W 3-2

May. 14

Ole Miss

L 5-7

May. 15

Ole Miss

L 3-9

May. 16

Ole Miss

L 3-16