Biggest Needs remaining in recruiting

FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas has signed 24 recruits so far and now will turn their attention to the transfer portal.

There’s still some high school and junior college targets the Hogs are recruiting, but with the transfer portal opening on Monday, Dec. 9, that is where a lot of attention has to be.

The early signing period brought the Razorbacks two quarterbacks, two running backs, three wide receivers, one tight end and four offensive linemen. On the other side of the ball there’s five defensive linemen, two linebackers and three defensive backs. The Hogs also added a kicker and punter.

That brings the question what are the biggest remaining needs? To answer that completely one would have to know who is entering the portal from the current team. Some have already announced their intentions to leave Arkansas.

But it’s known that Arkansas needs to add some wide receivers, tight end or two, defensive backs and linemen on both sides of the ball from the transfer portal. Those are known facts. Some targets have already been identified.

Arkansas will host the nation’s top junior college cornerback prospect when Northwest Mississippi Community College four-star cornerback Keshawn Davila, 6-1, 165, arrives in Fayetteville on Monday for an official visit. His team will face No. 1 Iowa Western on Friday night at 7 p.m. in the NJCAA Division 1 playoffs. He has also visited Iowa, Boise State, Virginia Tech and Michigan State. He said his decision will come soon after the trip to Arkansas. So far this season, Davila has 23 tackles, 18 solo, 1 for loss, 3 interceptions and 6 pass breakups.

Northwest Missouri State tight end Zach Atkins, 6-3, 240, has entered the transfer portal. Ole Miss, Kentucky and LSU are other SEC schools who have offered. He visited Ole Miss. Atkins will be at Arkansas Dec. 11-12 for an official visit. Cal, Pitt, Duke and Houston are among his other offers. This season, Atkins caught 18 passes for 179 yards and 3 touchdowns.

Both those would be nice additions and fill a need. It’s a must the Razorbacks upgrade the talent at cornerback. They need some safeties as well, but cornerbacks have to be a priority.

With Andrew Armstrong, Isaac TeSlaa and Tyrone Broden out of eligibility wide receiver is a must area too. In addition, Isaiah Sategna and Davion Dozier have both already announced they too plan to enter the transfer portal on Monday when it officially opens.

No team can ever have enough quality depth on the line on either side of the ball in the SEC. The Hogs signed nine linemen as noted above, but probably will try to sign six or more from the transfer portal. Sam Pittman had stated confidence that offensive guard Patrick Kutas was returning, but it appears instead he’s headed to the transfer portal complete with a redshirt year.

Landon Jackson, Eric Gregory and some others will be missed on the defensive line as they are out of eligibility.

Arkansas will learn Sunday which bowl game they are going to with most of the speculation on either the AutoZone Liberty Bowl or Birmingham Bowl.