Austin Pay makes trip from Utah to see Razorbacks

FAYETTEVILLE — American Fork (Utah) Lone Peak Class of 2025 offensive tackle Austin Pay was among the 13 official visitors at Arkansas this weekend and he left very impressed.

Pay, 6-7, 290, didn’t know what to expect when he visited Arkansas and talked about how it went for him. Eric Mateos is his lead recruiter.

“I have really enjoyed it,” Pay said. “It was a lot of fun. I have known Coach Mateos since he was at BYU and then Baylor and now offered me here. I think he’s a really great coach. I love his scheme and his coaching style. I really love what Arkansas has to offer.”

Was Arkansas probably better than you expected?

“A little bit,” Pay said. “I really love the environment you have here. It’s really beautiful. You have a lot of trees around. When you think of the south you think of flat, but it’s a really cool environment here. I came from the mountains so it’s a little lower than Utah, but I love it here.”

While Arkansas doesn’t sign many recruits from Utah, the offensive tackle talked about the distance from his home to Fayetteville and if it’s an issue.

“No, I’m looking at everywhere,” Pay said. “I’m going to NC State in two weeks and that’s really far from Utah. That’s not a really big issue.”

Who are you considering other than Arkansas and NC State and any timeline for a decision?

“Oregon and Texas A&M,” Pay said. “Probably during or after the season.”

If Arkansas is fortunate enough to land Pay then Mateos and Sam Pittman deserve the credit.

“Him and Pittman for sure,” Pay said of Mateos. “Coach Pittman has been known as one of the greatest O-line coaches for some time. Mateos is a little bit younger, but has done some great things at some other places. So that’s a really big draw.”

Pay has around 18 offers. He’s a four-star recruit with Rivals.com and a three-star with 247Sports, ESPN and On3. Rivals rates him the No. 2 prospect in Utah in 2025 while both On3 and 247Sports rated him the nation’s No. 35 offensive tackle.

Click here for his highlights.