Who Are Arkansas’ Most Interesting Targets in the 2020 Recruiting Class?

With the 2019 class almost wrapped up, the focus this summer is going to quickly turn to 2020. Can Chad Morris and the staff put together multiple high quality recruiting classes? One is nice, but if you’re in the business of program building, you need multiple quality classes. So who are the main targets in this class? The in-state group is not as deep as 2019’s class, so the Hogs will need to look elsewhere, and they are starting to hit Memphis hard (more on that soon).

Here are six guys that are main targets for the Hogs, have a reasonable chance of coming here, and would be high profile gets for the team.

Shane Illingworth

PRO QB | Norco, CA | 6’6” 225 lbs.

A tall, 4-star, QB from Southern California? That doesn’t fit the profile of recruits Arkansas signs? But Illingworth visited the Hogs back in April and has said he plans to visit again in the next couple of months. He also plans to take looks at LSU and UCLA. Colorado and Washington State are in the picture as well, but Illingworth says Arkansas is the team recruiting him the hardest. His relationship with Joe Craddock has been a big factor thus far, as is the draw of playing SEC football.

This definitely isn’t the profile Arkansas has landed typically, so this could be an interesting litmus test in Arkansas’ ability to go to places outside of their footprint and get a guy they need with competition against other high profile P5 schools.

Jacolby Crisswell

DUAL QB | Morrilton, AR | 6’1” 203 lbs.

You’re going to see a theme with quarterbacks here. Until Arkansas gets that position figured out, quarterback recruiting is going to be one of the biggest questions surrounding the program. Crisswell is also the top rated player in the state of Arkansas in 2020. So far Crisswell has attended camp in the summer and made another unofficial visit in the fall. Currently a 3-star in 247Sports, he’s picking up steam from other SEC schools like Ole Miss, Mississippi State, and Georgia.

Chandler Morris

DUAL QB | Dallas, TX | 6’0” 170 lbs.

Yes, Chad Morris’ son is going to be a big talking point throughout the recruiting cycle. He also follows current quarterback John Stephen Jones as a Highland Park starting QB. Creating a pipeline from a high profile Dallas area school is never a bad thing. For example 4-star DE is a teammate and also a high profile target for the Hogs.

Chris Morris

OT | Memphis, TN | 6’4” 287 lbs.

Morris is a really important prospect for two reasons. First, Arkansas had to go the JUCO route this cycle for fixing the offensive line. That’s a fine band aid but not a long term solution. Second, the Hogs are looking to get a lot from the Memphis area and this 4-star is a major target in the area. He unofficially visited during the season, and just about half the SEC has offered him. So can Arkansas hold off a lot of elite competition for a player in a position they need, and in an area they need to be successful in?

Martavius French

ILB | Memphis, TN | 6’2” 235 lbs.

Arkansas is dangerously thin at linebacker right now, so getting another high quality Memphis target is important for this class. The good news is that French recently released his top-8 schools and Arkansas is one of six SEC schools on that list. He made several visits to SEC schools this past year and he made the trip to Fayetteville in October.

Myles Slusher

CB | Broken Arrow, OK | 6’0” 181 lbs.

The in state schools of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State are seen as the favorites for Slusher, but he has made three trips to Fayetteville in 2018, two unofficial visits and attending a camp. Arkansas has wanted to get into the Tulsa area and get some quality guys, so pulling an upset to land the third ranked player in the state and a four-star would be a huge victory for the Hogs.