Pittman meets with Morrilton QB Jacolby Criswell

Morrilton quarterback Jacolby Criswell (7) hurdles Pulaski Academy cornerback Clay James (8) during the second quarter of the Bruins' 68-41 win on Friday, Nov. 29, 2019, at Hatcher Field in Little Rock.

— Just over a week from the early national signing date, Arkansas’ football program is trying to get back in the door with the best senior quarterback from its own state.

New Razorbacks head coach Sam Pittman made a call on Monday to Morrilton standout and North Carolina pledge Jacolby Criswell (6-1, 220) and then went to see him on Tuesday along with Arkansas assistant Steve Caldwell.

The Tar Heels were also in Tuesday to see Criswell, who is regarded as a four-star prospect, the No. 11 quarterback and the 243rd-best player nationally, per ESPN.

Devil Dogs head coach Cody McNabb knows Pittman from his previous stint at Arkansas as the offensive line coach from 2013-2015 and the same position at Georgia from 2015-2019.

“I have met him and it seems like he will be a really good fit,” McNabb said. “He was a really good recruiter when he was here five years ago. I am sure they coaches he is going to hire are going to be good football coaches, good recruiters and good fit. Seems like a good fit.”

Criswell is coming off a senior campaign in which he passed for 2,869 yards and 27 touchdowns and rushed for 1,282 yards and 24 more scores for the Devil Dogs (8-5).

Morrilton’s 2019 season ended with a 62-41 loss to eventual Class 5A champion Pulaski Academy in the semifinals, a year after losing to 2018 champion Little Rock Christian 61-42 in the final four.

“He was really healthy when we needed him to be healthy,” McNabb said. “He had a really good last month, the last couple of games and then through the playoffs. That was where he was really good for us and was really able to win games with his arm and feet.

“Early he had to play through an ankle and a shoulder so we kind of had to hold him back early, but he really played well late.”

Criswell, who only played five games as a junior due to injury, passed for 5,925 yards and 58 touchdowns with 12 interceptions and rushed for 2,662 yards and 41 touchdowns.

“He had a good career here even with missing most of his junior year,” McNabb said. “Even coming back when he did and getting us back to the semifinals in back-to-back years. He just played really well for us.”

Criswell, who is scheduled to make his official visit to North Carolina this weekend, has current offers from the Tar Heels, Arkansas, Auburn and others.

The three-day early signing period begins next Wednesday while the national signing date is Feb. 5.

“I am really comfortable with the options that he has,” McNabb said.

He committed to North Carolina on June 3 after not getting enough attention from Arkansas, whose former head coach Chad Morris took a pledge from his son and Dallas (Texas) Highland Park star Chandler Morris.

“Look, I think the Arkansas coaches are all great guys and coaches and they treated me well, but they just had a guy they wanted first,” Criswell said back in July. “I grew up wanting to be Razorback, but it didn’t work out that way. I’m happy that I am going to North Carolina, which is a program on the rise.”

Former Arkansas tight ends coach Barry Lunney, Jr. was a fan of Criswell, but was caught in a strange situation with Morris and his son.

“It was a strange deal for all of us and I am sure for coach Morris, too,” McNabb said. “It put him (Lunney) in a bad situation. He and I were friends and he was in an interesting situation. I think we all were.

“It was just one of those things that when you finally have a player of that caliber, it was just strange. In fact, I wound up seeing the Arkansas coaches more when we didn’t have players than when we did have one of that caliber.

“It was a bad deal for all of us and we all handled it the best that we could. I do think coach Lunney was put in a bad situation.”

Criswell’s relationship with former Ole Miss assistant and current North Carolina offensive coordinator and quarterback coach Phil Longo was a big factor, as was the Tar Heels hiring former Texas head coach Mack Brown.

“The relationship started with coach Longo when he was at Ole Miss,” McNabb said. “Then he went to North Carolina this past year and this was the first stop that he made. You can tell Jacolby really loves being around him.

“Coach Brown was in the other day. What you saw on TV in the five years he was broadcasting is what he really is. It is just the kind of program that you want to send your kids, too, because you think they are going to be taken care of.”

Criswell was one of the top quarterbacks in the country invited to the Elite 11 at The Star in Frisco, Texas.

“I just think that those experiences really helped him,” McNabb said. “He was much more comfortable with media and that kind of thing once he came back from the Elite 11. I think they do a good job of comparing those guys for media obligations because most of them are going to top Division I schools, I thought that was very beneficial in helping him mature. That is a lot of eyeballs on you when you are that kind of recruit and a lot of pressure on you. I think he has handled all that very well.”