Auburn FS Caleb Wooden chooses Arkansas

FAYETTEVILLE — Former Auburn safety Caleb Wooden has signed with Arkansas.

Wooden, 6-1, 192, had 17 tackles, 12 solo, 1 pass breakup and an interception in 2024. Against the Razorbacks in a 24-14 loss on Saturday, Sept. 21, Wooden had three tackles. He told Hogville why he chose the Hogs including praise for Travis Williams and Marcus Woodson.

“Familiarity with the staff,” Wooden said. “They’re family to us. That is big for me. I want to have that relationship with my coaches especially in this day and age of NIL and portal. A lot of stuff is not real and the relationship I have with Coach Woodson and T-Will is real.”

The visit helped sway him to the Hogs. Wooden provided feedback on it.

“It was good,” Wooden said. “I enjoyed myself. It was good seeing Coach T-Will and Woodson again and everything we talked about.”

Was the visit what you expected or better?

“It exceeded my expectations,” Wooden said. “I had something in mind that I thought it was going to be, but it exceeded my expectations.”

Wooden was disappointed the Razorbacks beat his Tigers when they met this season, but a Razorback caught his attention.

“Absolutely,” Wooden said. “No. 18, I think his name was (TJ) Metcalf, was the SEC Defensive Player of the Week. He plays the same position I play so that right there stood out to me. A safety who makes plays.”

Wooden only took two official visits before arriving at his decision to become a Razorback.

“I visited Middle Tennessee with Coach (Derek) Mason and his staff,” Wooden said. “I’m real cool with them.”

Arkansas’ portal additions

Mike Washington, RB, 6-2, 228, New Mexico State
Raylen Sharpe, WR, 5-9, 165, Fresno State
Kam Shanks, WR, 5-8, 180, UAB
O’Mega Blake, WR, 6-2, 180, Charlotte
Courtney Crutchfield, WR, 6-2, 190, Missouri
Ismael Cisse, WR, 6-0, 180, Stanford
Jaden Platt, TE, 6-5, 260, Texas A&M
Kavion Broussard, OL, 6-6, 300, Ole Miss
JacQawn McRoy, OT, 6-8, 375, Oregon
Corey Robinson, OT, 6-5, 305, Georgia Tech
Caden Kitler, C, 6-3, 295, UCF
Marcus Dumervil, OL, 6-5, 305, Maryland
Ken Talley, DE, 6-3, 256, Michigan State
Justus Boone, DE, 6-4, 266, Florida
David Oke, DT, 6-2, 295, Abilene Christian
Kani Walker, CB, 6-2, 206, Oklahoma
Quentavius Scandrett, S, 6-2, 200, Eastern Michigan
Jordan Young, DB, 6-0, 197, Cincinnati
Caleb Wooden, S, 6-1, 192, Auburn