Well, you got ‘em. After weeks of woe is me in the Recruiting Forum about how the Razorback commitment list was woefully short on defensive linemen, Bobby Petrino closed like the freight train that most of us expected. At the end of the day, Rivals ranks Arkansas’ DT class as #3 in the nation.
Jeremiah Jackson was the first of the group to commit back in June of 2009. Ranked the #45 DT by Rivals, Max Emfinger listed him on his top 100 list. You always lust after the four-star guys but Jackson was thought of as a solid start. Coming from Hoover (Spain Park), AL, he played in the Alabama-Mississippi All Star game and had a really good practice week, outshining some higher rated players there. Jackson had three tackles and an assist on a tackle for loss. With his performance bringing him more to the forefront, there was worry that he’d end up switching to a different SEC school. It was definitely a possibility as he had offers from Auburn, Kentucky, Mississippi, and Vanderbilt. Jeremiah stayed true to his commitment and was one of the first commits to send his LOI in.
LaCraig Brown committed on 12/18 and is an unranked three star prospect by Rivals. His senior year, he had 51 tackles, nine sacks, and twelve tackles for a loss. He has really good height for his position at 6′4″. With that height, you have to wonder if his future is at DE or DT. He’s the right size for an end, but his 40 time is 4.9, which isn’t as quick as one would want.
The “whew” moment came when four star and #19 ranked Byran Jones of Junction City. Hog fans have hoped for a long time that he would be a Razorback, but his status was uncertain until the day before signing day. Auburn fans thought he was going to be a Tiger. Jones was named to the ArkansasVarsity.com’s All Decade team for the 2000’s. He was also named the 2A state championship game MVP as a junior and a senior.
CBS’ Tom Lemmings rates him the #5 DT and the #67 player in the country regardless of position. At 6′3″ 300, he comes in with the size to play immediately. Typically I wouldn’t expect a true freshman to contribute on the defensive line, but with Zach Stadther and D.D. Jones’ performances the last two years, I don’t see why he can’t be an impact player right off the bat.
Calvin Barnett signing with Arkansas was one of Rivals.com’s top five surprises on signing day, flipping from Oklahoma State. Hog fans had hoped that Barnett would end up a Razorback and always held onto whatever they could that supported that feeling. Barnett never really seemed to waiver, but then he couldn’t make it to Stillwater on the last official visit weekend due to weather. Then word started leaking out that he was going to sign with Arkansas. He made it official on signing day.
Barnett was one of three four star recruits to sign. He’s the #1 ranked player in Oklahoma and the #13 ranked DT by Rivals. He’s even bigger than Byran Jones, coming in at 6′3″ and 330 pounds. He would be a force as an interior defensive lineman.
“He and Byran Jones could give them one of the best defensive tackle combos in the country,” Lemming said of Barnett, who played in the U.S.Army All-American Bowl in January. “Calvin really looked good for us down in San Antonio. He’s a big kid but with exceptionally quick feet.”
I’d look for at least one of these guys to contribute immediately, maybe two (guess which). There’s no question that this DT class, plus Stadther’s experience and D.D. Jones quickly becoming a vital cog in the defense, will be a strength for the Razorback defense very soon.
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Good looking group. I am, indeed, looking forward to 2010.
make no mistake: losing malcolm sheppard is big, but he is one guy. the new depth in our interior line will serve us well in our run at the sec next year