Razorbacks' Latest Recruiting Class May be Falling Apart

Multiple football commitments taking visits elsewhere while Razorback football collapses

Author:
Jacob Davis
Updated:
Nov 17, 2023 9:42 AM EST
Original:
Nov 16, 2023

In this story:

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark.— Top commits in the current 2024 recruiting class for the Arkansas are beginning to look elsewhere. Much of that has to do with the current job status of coach Sam Pittman, and some is tied to Missouri head coach Eli Drinkwitz.

Word began leaking out Thursday that multiple crystal balls had been cast for Mills University Studies 4-star defensive lineman Charleston "Charlie" Collins to flip his commitment from Arkansas to Ole Miss. As the prediction made its rounds on social media and local radio, it eventually got to Collins who made an emphatic effort to refute the predictions.

Collins reaffirming his commitment is about the only good news Pittman has received about his recruiting class as of late. According to Trey Biddy, Ashton Bethel-Roman will visit Missouri this weekend. He currently ranks as the No. 112 overall prospect in the nation according to 247sports. A top 25 wide receiver in the class, the 6-foot-2 175 pound wide receiver initially committed to the Razorbacks over Texas Tech and TCU. He possesses great speed and route running averaging 24 yards per catch as a junior at Ridge Point in Missouri City, Texas.

The Tigers may not be done poaching from the Razorbacks either. Courtney Crutchfield announced his decommitment minutes before kickoff between Arkansas and Florida. He is now predicted to land with a rival SEC school. The Pine Bluff wideout is ranked as a top-70 prospect, according to 247sports.

Missouri is off to its best start since 2014 under fourth year coach Eli Drinkwitz. At 8-2, the Tigers are ranked No. 9 in the latest College Football Playoff poll. After top priority, Ryan Wingo, brother of former Razorback Ronnie Wingo, committed to Texas in October, Drinkwitz turned his attention to flipping Crutchfield from Arkansas as his back-up plan.

Razorbacks four-star running back commit, Jadan Baugh, visited Gainesville while Arkansas was in town. The Hogs pulled off a stunning 39-36 overtime win, but the outcome didn't deter him from taking an official visit in December. Baugh received a an offer from Alabama on Nov. 3. The Decatur, Ga. native's recruitment has trended upward recently, but concerns over a decommitment aren't necessary yet.

All the uncertainty surrounding the status of Pittman's job gives other programs around the country reason to reach out and hope to flip current commits. Arkansas was on pace to have one of its more impressive recruiting classes in the modern era.

That's counting the Razorbacks missing out on three of the Top 5 prospects in the Natural State, including four-star quarterback Walker White who committed to Auburn during the summer.