Arkansas Football: Inside Look at Incoming Freshman Keon Hatcher
By Ryan Wright
Fayetteville, Ark. – In the Arkansas Razorback offensive system there is always room for talented wide receivers with great hands, play making ability, and sharp route running skills; Razorback Nation say hello to 4-star recruit Keon Hatcher.
Hatcher, 6’2”, 205 pounds let it be known early in his recruiting process that he was high on the Oklahoma State Cowboys.
In April of 2011 Hatcher placed OSU at the top of his recruiting list and attended OSU’s camp in June of 2011. After Hatcher’s showing at OSU’s and Arkansas’ camp the Razorbacks offered the No. 5 rated player in the state of Oklahoma (Rivals.com) a scholarship. By August 1, Hatcher had verbally committed to the Razorbacks.
OSU finally came around to offering Hatcher in November and the Cowboys coaching staff was able to get the talented in-state player on campus for an official recruiting trip the weekend of January 13, 2012. Despite OSU’s concentrated albeit late efforts the Razorbacks’ coaching staff was able to sign Hatcher on National Signing Day.
Hatcher already has the frame of a SEC wide receiver and speed (4.5 forty-yard dash) to be a possession receiver in Arkansas’ intricate offense. He lists his bench press at 300 pounds with a max squat of 405, all signs of a dedicated athlete ready to take his skills to the next level.
With Hatcher’s strength, size, and speed he is ideal for Arkansas’ pass route patterns across the middle of the field. Matching Hatcher one on one with a safety or linebacker in a zone defense smart money is on a player like Hatcher to win those battles.
During his 2010 junior season for Owasso High School Hatcher put up impressive receiving numbers posting 75 catches for 1,075 yards with 9 touchdowns. In 2011 Hatcher not only led the Rams with 100 receptions with 1,610 receiving yards and 20 touchdowns but also led the state of Oklahoma in each category.
Inside the Numbers
Football fans within the state of Arkansas may know Trey Shoate III. Shoate was an Owasso High School alum and a signee at Ouachita Baptist University.
Arkansas was able to sign three of the top 12 players in the state of Oklahoma- No. 5 Hatcher, No. 6 RB Donovan Roberts, and No. 12 CB Jared Collins.
Hatcher was named First Team All-State by The Daily Oklahoman newspaper.
Rivals.com rated Hatcher as the 59th best wide receiver in the nation. Scout.com ranked Hatcher the No. 46 best wide receiver in the 2012 recruiting class.
Arkansas Razorback Recruits 2012
OG Cordale Boyd, 3-star, 6’3”, 290 pounds, Memphis, TN
OG Jeremy Ward, 3-star, 6’4”, 275 pounds, Pottsville, AR
WR D’Arthur Cowan, 3-star, 6’1’, 175 pounds, Olive Branch, MS
WR Keon Hatcher, 4-star, 6’1”, 195 pounds, Owasso, OK
WR Eric Hawkins, 3-star, 6’5”, 220, Longview, TX
WR #Demetrius Wilson, 3-star, 6’2”, 170 pounds, Glendale, AZ
WR McKale McKay, 3-star, 6’6”, 192 pounds, Louisville, KY
RB Nathan Holmes, 3-star, 6’1”, 180 pounds, Port Arthur, TX
RB Donovan Roberts, 3-star, 6’0”, 200 pounds, Norman, OK
RB Jonathan Williams, 4-star, 5’11”, 205 pounds, Allen, TX
TE/DE Jeremy Sprinkle, 3-star, 6’6”, 215, White Hall, AR
TE *Demetrius Dean, 3-star, 6’3”, 250 pounds, Fayetteville, AR
CB Ray Buchanan Jr., 3-star, 5’10”, 170 pounds, Suwanee, GA
CB Jared Collins, 3-star, 5’11”, 170 pounds, Tulsa, OK
FS Will Hines, 3-star, 6’1”, 175 pounds, Waco, TX
SS Defonta Lowe, 3-star, 6’2”, 180 pounds, Bearden, AR
LB A.J. Turner, 3-star, 6’3”, 200 pounds, Lepanto, AR
LB Vin Ascolese, 3-star, 6’2”, 215 pounds, New Bergen, NJ
LB Otha Peters, 4-star, 6’1”, 220 pounds, Covington, LA
DE Brandon Lewis, 3-star, 6’5”, 220 pounds, Memphis, TN
DE JaMichael Winston, 3-star, 6’6”, 230 pounds, Prichard, AL
DE Darius Philon, 3-star, 6’1”, 282 pounds, Prichard, AL
DE Deatrich Wise Jr., 4-star, 6’5”, 220 pounds, Carrolton, TX
DE Taiwan Johnson, 3-star, 6’3”, 240 pounds, Manvel, TX
DE *#Austin Flynn, 3-star, 6’4”, 250 pounds, Los Angeles Harbor CC
*Early enrollee at University of Arkansas
# Denotes junior college player
Position by position breakdown of Arkansas 2012 verbal commitments:
Offensive line: two
Running backs: three
Wide receivers: five
Quarterbacks: none
Tight ends: two
Defensive line: six
Linebackers: three
Safeties: two
Cornerbacks: two
Kickers: none