Fayetteville, Ark. – Wide receiver is a position on the Arkansas Razorback football team that has gone from talent overflowing on the depth chart to questions up and down the lineup. The arrival of promising 2012 recruit D’Arthur Cowan helps bolster an unknown commodity for head coach John L. Smith and the Hogs’ offense.
D’Arthur Cowan, (6’3”, 175 pounds) and the Arkansas Razorback staff were able to fight off pressure from within the state of Mississippi to see Cowan through to the Hogs. Cowan was one of 18 teammates at Olive Branch High School to sign a Division-I scholarship during the 2012 recruiting period on a highly recognized team state wide.
Despite the enormous amount of talent on the Conquistador’s squad on offense and defense Cowan finished his senior year with a school record 1,255 yards receiving with 15 touchdowns helping his team to a 15-0 season winning the 6-A Mississippi State High School Championship winning Region I and North Half Mississippi Titles along the way.
Cowan’s presence on the field help set a single game school record with 214 receiving yards against Columbus on nine catches helping quarterback Todd Mays set a single game school record for most yards passing in a game with 350.
The talented wide receiver also posted 149 yards receiving against Memphis University School with 10 receptions, fourth on the school’s all-time list.
With the status of sophomore Marquel Wade’s uncertain, Cowan maybe asked to provide a spark for the Hogs in their punt return game. In the playoffs against Madison High School Cowan showed his speed and field vision by returning a punt 83 yards for a touchdown.
Many high school seniors have breakout years leaving doubt about their abilities in high school translating to the collegiate level; this is not the case with Cowan. During his 2010 junior season he racked up 658 receiving yards showing a glimpse of what was to come for Olive Branch football in 2011.
When the 2012 Arkansas football recruiting class was announced a few pundits were left wondering why the Razorbacks signed four then eventually a fifth wide receiver to their class. Looking back, the over signing of players at wide receiver may have been a blessing for the Hogs with the loss of Quinta Funderburk (transfer) and potential loss of Wade and/or Maudrecus Humphrey (both arrested for theft) the Hogs will need all the able bodies on the field at wide receiver that is possible for the 2012 college football season.
Inside the Numbers
Cowan completed the 2011 season with at least one reception in all 15 games the Conquistadors played.
Cowan averaged 24.2 yards per punt return last year for a total of 242 return yards with two touchdowns.
In 2010 Cowan caught 31 passes for 658 receiving yards with 9 touchdowns.
Cowan was rated as the 8th best prospect in the state of Mississippi in 2011.
Cowan reported to Arkansas’ campus on Sunday July 1.
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