Razorbacks Flip Colorado State DE Commit David Porter and Add JUCO DT Melvin Johnson

Written by Ryan Wright

Twitter: @HogManInLA

Arkansas pushed their 2017 recruiting class to 24 commits on Sunday adding their only defensive linemen to the class in end David Porter and tackle Melvin Johnson.

Porter worked his way to nine scholarship offers during his senior season helping Robinson High School to a 12-2 finish. The 6-3, 235 pound, end had a huge season jumping his stat line from 84 tackles, 17 tackles for a loss, and eight sacks in 2015 to 105 stops, 24 tackles for a loss, and 10 sacks in 2016.

Colleges with reported offers to Porter included Baylor, Iowa State, Kansas State, Rutgers, Louisiana Tech, Tulane, Louisiana-Monroe, Tulsa, and Texas. Colorado State earned Porter’s commitment on Jan. 24, three days after an official visit with the Rams. The Hogs hosted Porter over the weekend leading to his flip. Porter posted a statement on Twitter:

Johnson was a bounce-back from UNLV playing his sophomore season with Riverside Community College. Out of Canyon Springs High School, Johnson was an undersized but hardworking tackle for his North Las Vegas squad listed at 6-3, 255, but has grown to be a powerful 6-5, 285 pound, three-star recruit. Riverside went 10-2 in 2016 with Johnson coming up with 37 tackles, nine tackles for a loss, a sack, and a fumble recovery.

Johnson had offers from Kentucky, Iowa State, and Toledo. The Hogs hosted Johnson on Dec. 2 waiting until Jan. 29 to land his commitment. Johnson also posted his commitment statement on Twitter:

Rivals rates Arkansas’ 2017 class No. 24 in the nation with four four-star players and 18 three-star prospects. 247Sports ranks the same class at No. 29, No. 11 in the SEC. Since Jan. 19, the Hogs have closed with three-star corner Kamren Curl, two-star offensive lineman Ty Clary, three-star end David Porter, and three-star tackle Melvin Johnson.

Arkansas Razorbacks 2017 Verbal Commitment List (24)

SS Montaric Brown, 6-0, 182, Ashdown HS, Ashdown, AR

SS Korey Hernandez, 6-0, 175, Cedar Grove HS, Ellenwood, GA*

CB Kamren Curl, 6-2, 180, Muskogee HS, Muskogee, OK

CB Jordon Curtis, 5-11, 180, Jenks HS, Jenks, OK

CB Jarques McClellion, 6-0, 180, American Heritage, Delray Beach, FL

LB Kyrei Fisher, 6-2, 230, Union HS, Tulsa, OK*

LB/SS Derrick Munson, 6-0, 195, Archbishop Rummel, Metairie, LA

LB Josh Paul, 6-2, 205, De La Salle HS, New Orleans, LA

DE David Porter, 6-3, 235, Robinson HS, Little Rock, AR

DT Melvin Johnson, 6-5, 285, Riverside C.C., Riverside, CA

OG Ty Clary, 6-4, 275, Fayetteville HS, Fayetteville, AR

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 Brandon Martin, 6-4, 205, Mississippi Gulf Coast C.C., Perkinston, MS*

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

*Enrolled

 

Photo credit: twitter.com; David Porter at Arkansas (Jan. 2017).