Arkansas Sports 360 - ArkansasSports360.com

1/19/2012 at 9:00am

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Arkansas hosts 12 prospects rated four or five stars by 247sports.com. Included is No. 1 wide receiver Dorial Green-Beckham.

Arkansas will bring in 20 recruits this weekend after hosting nine last week.

Another group will visit on Jan. 27 as the Razorbacks look to fill some needs, but without a lot of available scholarships to fill them. However, one thing Arkansas isn't lacking is the prospects to fill however many voids they have left in the Class of 2012.

Arkansas is wanting to sign an older wide receiver in this class. Gone are seniors Jarius Wright, Greg Childs and Joe Adams who all played their last game in the Cotton Bowl on Jan. 6 against Kansas State.

The Razorbacks have a verbal commitment from Rocklin (Calif.) Sierra College Courtney Gardner (6-3, 215) but Gardner may take an official visit to Oklahoma. It was thought Gardner would visit Florida State last weekend and Florida this weekend, but neither visit happened. Gardner could move his OU visit up to this weekend, wait until next weekend to take it or simply cancel it and stay firm to the Razorbacks. Gardner is rated a 4-star recruit by 247Sports. Gardner visited Arkansas during the Dec. 9 weekend.

“I'm going to sign with Arkansas,” Gardner said. “I'm committed to them.”

Arkansas will bring in Glendale (Ariz.) Community College 3-star wide receiver Demetrius Wilson (6-3, 180) this weekend. Wilson was at Tennessee last weekend and hopes to visit Arizona next weekend. Wilson has said it would be good to play in the SEC.

“Arkansas is a great program,” Wilson said. “It's an honor for Arkansas just to want me to come visit their program.”

Arkansas is also hoping to add an offensive tackle to this class. Arkansas has a commitment from two offensive guards, but has yet to add a tackle. Pottsville 4-star Jeremy Ward (6-4 ½, 285), and Memphis (Tenn.) Ridgeway 3-star Cordale Boyd (6-3, 303) have both committed to the Razorbacks and will officially visit this weekend.

Arkansas brought in Lakeland (Fla.) 4-star offensive tackle Evan Goodman (6-4, 290) last weekend. Goodman said following his visit that Arkansas leads Arizona State and Nebraska. That's interesting since he was committed to the Sun Devils prior to his visit. He will announce his decision on Feb. 1.

“I plan to bring out three caps and pick from them... one from Arkansas, Nebraska and Arizona State,” Goodman said.

This weekend, Arkansas will bring in Chicago (Ill.) Simeon 4-star Jordan Diamond (6-6, 290) and Louisville (Ky.) Trinity 3-star Joe Warburg (6-4, 285). Diamond has his decision down to Arkansas, Auburn, Wisconsin, Ohio State and Michigan. Warburg was committed to Paul Petrino at Illinois, but is now considering the Razorbacks as well. Some feel Warburg is more suited for guard than tackle in college.

Arkansas has two linebackers committed, but is definitely looking to add at least one more in the Class of 2012. East Poinsett County 4-star A.J. Turner (6-3, 208) is committed to the Razorbacks and will visit this weekend. Rumors ran rampant this past Saturday and Sunday that Turner was going to Arkansas State instead of Arkansas, but he said those rumors were false and he will be a Razorback.

Arkansas has a commitment from Tallahassee (Fla.) Godby linebacker Jakarri Thomas (6-2, 200) and he will be in Fayetteville on Jan. 27 for his official visit. Thomas is rated a 2-star recruit by 247Sports.

Arkansas has several talented linebackers left on their list of recruits still pondering an offer. One of the top targets is Jacksonville (Fla.) First Coast's Reggie Northrup (6-2, 210). Northrup is a 4-star recruit who is committed to Miami (Fla.), but is keeping his options open. Miami and the Razorbacks are only two of the many schools in hot pursuit of him.

Last weekend, North Bergen (N.J.) linebacker Vin Ascolese (6-2, 225) who is a Parade All-American, visited Arkansas and left impressed. He has a trip scheduled to Illinois this weekend.

“I will announce my decision on Jan. 27,” Ascolese said. “I didn't commit to Arkansas, but man I love that place.”

Ascolese hasn't picked Arkansas yet, but very well could on Jan. 27. New Arkansas defensive coordinator Paul Haynes did an in-home visit with Ascolese on Monday night.

Arkansas also brought in Birmingham (Ala.) Jackson-Olin middle linebacker Beau Hankins (6-2, 235) and Montgomery (Ala.) Carver outside linebacker Harding Harper (6-2, 210) last weekend. Hankins and Harding were both offered by Penn State on Sunday night. They have other offers as well.

This weekend, Van (Texas) 4-star middle linebacker Dalton Santos (6-3, 250) will visit the Razorbacks. Santos is committed to Tennessee, but is still considering Arkansas, Texas A&M, TCU, Georgia, Ohio State and possibly others.

Quick Hits

• It appears Arkansas may very well not sign a quarterback in this class. If they fail to add one, it will be the first time since Petrino became head coach his school didn't sign a quarterback.

• Owasso (Okla.) 4-star wide receiver Keon Hatcher (6-3, 200) has been committed to Arkansas since Aug. 1, but he visited Oklahoma State last weekend. OSU is now a definite threat to Arkansas and the visit to Fayetteville this weekend could be the deciding factor for him.

• St. John's point guard Nurideen Lindsey who said last Friday he was transferring to Arkansas has instead decided to attend Rider College closer to his home in Philadelphia.

• The visit to Fayetteville this weekend will be Springfield (Mo.) Hillcrest 5-star wide receiver Dorial Green-Beckham's second official visit. The 6-6, 220-pound Green-Beckham visited Texas earlier. Some reports still have Oklahoma and Missouri in it as well for Green-Beckham, but it's obvious Arkansas and Texas are going to be big factors in his decision.

Arkansas Razorbacks Jan. 20 Official Visit List:

Tagged: Dorial Green-Beckham, Hawgs247.com, Jordan Diamond, Courtney Gardner, Otis Kirk, Arkansas Razorbacks