Arkansas’ 2021 Recruiting Class: Offensive Line and Running Back
By Tommy Tabler
The Arkansas Razorbacks have been up to the axles in the ditch over the past ten years. Sam Pittman and his staff have done an admirable job in starting to recruit from the inside-out. The Razorbacks’ coaching staff have placed a priority on the recruiting of offensive line talent. From there Arkansas has placed a balance on the recruiting of the skill position areas as well as attempting to upgrade the talent on the defensive side of the ball.
One area that must improve for the Razorbacks is the offensive line play. An emphasis has been placed on recruiting Arkansas, Texas, and Louisiana and it is becoming evident on the offensive line talent that Arkansas is recruiting. The three commits on the offensive line Arkansas currently has are from those three states. Terry Wells is out of Wynne, Arkansas and has been committed to Arkansas since early February. Cole Carson out of Rivercrest High School in Bogata, Texas is fitting the size profile that the staff is looking for his linemen. Devon Manuel is out of Arnaudville, Louisiana attending Beau Chene High School. All three commits are over 6’3” and fit the mold that Pittman is wanting to have in the SEC.
Most fans tend to focus on the star ratings of recruiting sites and in this case the highest rated recruit that has committed to Arkansas is AJ Green out of Tulsa. Green attends Oklahoma powerhouse Union High School and he jumps out on the tape. Green has excellent burst and has SEC caliber speed. Green will likely be a running back at the college level and would give the Razorbacks a solid running back for the future.
Arkansas has two running back recruits in the 2021 class committed thus far. Carl Albert High School’s Jaivon Hunt is the second running back to get acquainted with. Hunt has flashed the ability to make a cut and leave defenders behind him. Hunt displays a good patience for allowing the hole to develop, and he allows his blockers to make the blocks and give him a lane to rush through. Hunt will be an impressive runner to watch over the next few years, he has the speed to be a dangerous player in the SEC.
The running game for Arkansas is not just important for this season, it also important over the next few years. Pittman wants more of a ground-based attack, so it will be interesting to continue to examine the talent Arkansas is bringing in. The only way of the hole the Razorbacks are in is to recruit and get players in that can change a game. To accomplish the offensive line is going to have to be solid and the rushing attack will need to perform well enough to keep other SEC teams concerned. Only time will tell.