Arkansas Adds Previous Kansas 2017 DL Commit Troy James out of Louisiana
Written by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @HogManInLA
The Hogs added a physically big piece to their 2017 recruiting class on Monday when Madison Prep Academy defensive end/tackle Tory James called the Hogs. The addition to James was greeted with a warm welcome by Arkansas fans after roughly three-and-a-half months without a commitment.
James is a big part of Madison Prep Academy’s 12-0 season. Madison Prep just destroyed Delcambre 76-0 in the Louisiana 2A playoffs and are now gearing up for Mangham in the next round. James, listed at 6-4, 275, shows great strength and quickness lining up at both end and tackle and is a constant presence in the opponent’s backfield. His frame gives the Razorbacks coaching staff options should they want him as a strongside end or add a few more pounds on him lining him up at tackle against SEC competition.
The commitment video was posted on James’ Twitter account taking advantage of the latest mannequin challenge crazy. The video was a string of mannequin edits put together slowly revealing James wearing an “Arkansas Football” T-shirt for his commitment.
The Hogs fought against 24 other reported offers for his commitment. The Baton Rouge area talent initially committed to Kansas on June 28 but decommitted three days after taking an official visit to Arkansas on Oct. 11. The other Power 5 schools to offer included Oklahoma, Indiana, North Carolina State, and Wake Forest.
The Razorbacks 2017 recruiting class is ranked No. 21 in the nation by Rivals with three four-star recruits. 247Sports ranks the class No. 22 in the country, No. 10 in the SEC.
Arkansas Razorbacks 2017 Verbal Commitment List (20)
SS Montaric Brown, 6-0, 182, Ashdown HS, Ashdown, AR
SS Korey Hernandez, 6-0, 175, Cedar Grove HS, Ellenwood, GA
CB/RB Jordon Curtis, 5-11, 180, Jenks HS, Jenks, OK
CB Jarques McClellion, 6-0, 180, American Heritage, Delray Beach, FL
LB Derrick Munson, 6-0, 195, Archbishop Rummel, Metairie, LA
LB Josh Paul, 6-2, 205, De La Salle HS, New Orleans, LA
DE Ryder Anderson, 6-7, 230, Katy HS, Katy, TX
DE Troy James, 6-4, 275, Madison Prep Academy, Baton Rouge, LA
OT/DT Shane Clenin, 6-6, 285, Jefferson HS, Festus, MO
OT Kirby Adcock, 6-5, 280, Nashville HS, Nashville, AR
OT Dalton Wagner, 6-9, 312, Richmond-Burton, Richmond, IL
QB Daulton Hyatt, 6-3, 178, Etowah HS, Attalla, AL
RB Chase Hayden, 5-10, 189, St. George, Collierville, TN
RB Maleek Williams, 6-0, 215, Punta Gorda HS, Charlotte, FL
TE Jeremy Patton, 6-6, 230, Arizona Western C.C., Yuma, AZ
WR Maleek Barkley, 5-11, 185, Bishop Gorman HS, Las Vegas, NV
WR Jarrod Barnes, 5-11, 170, Cabot HS, Cabot, AR
WR Koilan Jackson, 6-3, 203, Robinson HS, Little Rock, AR
WR Jonathan Nance, 6-2, 180, Mississippi Gulf Coast C.C., Perkinston, MS
WR/ATH Devion Warren, 5-10, 170, Ouachita Parish HS, Monroe, LA
Photo credit: twitter.com; Troy James at Arkansas.