Top Uncommitted 2016 Recruits in the State of Arkansas

Written by Ryan Wright

Twitter: @HogManInLA

The amount of highs school football talent in the state of Arkansas for the 2016 recruiting class is pretty amazing from top to bottom. The state is highlighted with 5-star defensive end recruit McTelvin Agim, an Arkansas Razorback commit from Hope, and continues on with next level 4-star difference makers like Boise Star running back commit Damarea Crockett (Little Rock Christian), Robinson High School running back T.J. Hammonds, another Arkansas commit, and Star City defensive tackle Austin Capps, yet another Arkansas commit.

A lot of the talent within the state of Arkansas has committed outside the Natural State with Texarkana defensive tackle Nick McCann heading to Texas Tech, Bryant defensive tackle Cameron Murray off to Oklahoma State, Parkview defensive tackle Kenyon Jackson committed to Illinois, Little Rock Catholic quarterback Andre Sale heading to University of Tennessee-Martin, Fort Smith Northside cornerback Kiondre Thomas sided with Minnesota, and another Parkview defensive tackle, Markell Utsey, going to Arizona.

As National Signing Day approaches, several of the in-state kids will see their recruiting stock soar as next level coaches search the ranks for playmakers that can make a difference at the next level. The Natural State has a lot of talent to offer. With about eight weeks left, the race to the finish line for college coaches wrapping up talent will be fast and furious. Seeing where the different Arkansas talents land will be fun to watch.

Top Uncommitted 2016 Recruits from the State of Arkansas

DL John Tate – Pine Bluff High School, Pine Bluff

6’5”, 255 pounds

Offers: Arizona State, Arkansas State, Boise State, Cal, Houston, Louisiana Tech, Louisiana-Monroe, Mississippi, Purdue, South Alabama

Interest: Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, LSU, Mississippi State, Missouri, North Carolina, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas

CB Tyrone Mahone – Bentonville High School, Bentonville

6’0”, 175 pounds – 40: 4.3

2014 stats: 41 tackles, two interceptions, and one forced fumble.

Interest: Arkansas State, Central Arkansas, and Massachusetts

OLB Si Kilinc – Southside High School, Fort Smith

6’0”, 195 pounds

163 tackles, 32 tackles for loss, 4 sacks, 6 pass break ups, 2 Forced Fumbles, 2 Fumbles Recovered, 1 interception.

Awards so far: Named first team 7A West All-Conference and first team All-Area

Offers: Northeastern State University and Saint Francis University

OC Noah Johnson – Fayetteville High School, Fayetteville

6’4”, 285 pounds

Offers: Air Force and Idaho

Interest: Arkansas, TCU, Mississippi State, Cornell, Vanderbilt, Michigan

LB/RB Deontre Hardwick – Fort Smith Northside High School, Fort Smith

6’0”, 235 pounds

Offers: Arkansas State, Louisiana Tech, Memphis

Interest: Arkansas

OL Dylan Soeher – Prairie Grove High School, Prairie Grove

6’6”, 280 pounds

Offers: Arkansas State, Missouri State, Memphis Louisiana Tech, Illinois, Central Arkansas

Interest: Arkansas, Louisville, Auburn

RB Cleo Floyd – Hot Springs High School, Hot Spring

6’1”, 190 pounds

Offers: Arkansas State, Memphis

2014: 203 carries, 2,060 yards rushing, 20 touchdowns

QB Jordan Barlow – Van Buren High School

6’1”, 195 pounds

School record holder single-season and career in yards, completions, and touchdown passes.

2014 stats: 2,500 yards 22 touchdowns.

Interest: Louisville, Memphis, Penn, Princeton, Stetson, Marshall, Davidson, and Bucknell

SS Logan Darby – Bentonville High School, Bentonville

5’11”, 180 pounds

Two-year starter for the Tigers.

2015 stats: 97 tackles, 11 pass breakups, one forced fumble, and three picks.

RB Kawon Love – El Dorado High School, El Dorado

6’1”, 225 pounds

2015 stats: 1,103 rushing yards, 12 touchdowns

WR Zach Kelley – Pulaski Academy, Little Rock

5’6”, 150 pounds

Stats: 1,573 yards, 86 receptions, 23 touchdowns

WR Ryan Padilla Greenwood High School, Greenwood

6’2”, 180 pounds

Stats: 1,263, 91 receptions, eight touchdowns

LB Andre Clark

DE Eli Hale – Fayetteville High School, Fayetteville

6’5”, 240 pounds

2015 stats: 61 tackles, seven tackles for a loss, team-high eight sacks, 22 QB hurries, three forced fumbles, one pass breakup, and one blocked field goal.

Offers: Cal, Air Force, and West Point.

Interest: Arkansas

All-Injured Team

WR Tobias Enlow – North Little Rock, AR

6’1”, 185 pounds

Offers: Central Arkansas, Louisiana-Monroe, Missouri State, Southeast Missouri State

Interest: Arkansas, Louisiana Tech, Mississippi State, Missouri, Oklahoma

OLB Andrew Clark – Southside High School, Fort Smith – Committed to Northeastern State University on Dec. 15

6’2″, 205 pounds

2014 stats: 62 tackles, 14 tackles for a loss, 5 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, and 3 fumble recoveries

Players to Watch

WR Joe Hampton, 6’1”, 185 pounds – Little Rock Christian Academy

Offers: Arkansas Tech, Army, Southeast Missouri State, Harding, Fordham, Missouri State, Central Arkansas

LB Grant Morgan, 5’11”, 225 pounds, Greenwood High School, Greenwood – 149 total tackles

LB Jon Johnson, 6’1”, 200 pounds, Harmony Grove High School, Benton

LB Bryce Williams, 5’8”, 200 pounds, Jonesboro High School, Jonesboro – 217 total tackles

Offers: Austin Peay and Henderson State (unconfirmed)

*Updated Players

OL William Clements, 6’2″, 314 pounds, Northside High School, Fort Smith – Committed to Northeastern State University on Dec. 15

FS Austin Henderson, 6’2″, 190, Har-Ber High School, Springdale

2015 stats: 52 tackles, three tackles for a loss, two interceptions, eight pass breakups, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, and one blocked field goal.

DE Peyton Noland, 6’2″, 220 pounds, Greenwood High School, Greenwood

2015 stats: 76 tackles, 17 tackles for a loss, 8 sacks, four pass deflections, one forced fumble, and 34 quarterback hurries.

Committed but Not Committed

QB Kasey Ford – Bentonville High School, Bentonville

Committed to Kansas State to play baseball at the next level; not pursing football but very easily could have been a top recruit if wanted.

Who did we miss?!?! Let us know! Add a comment with the players you feel are deserving.

*Some interest and offers maybe an incomplete list.

Photo credit: swtimes.com; No. 8 Deontre Hardwick gets a tackle against Pine Bluff.