Hogs add 13 from portal, will continue in January window

FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas has signed 13 recruits from the transfer portal and will turn their full attention to recruiting on Jan. 1 when another visit window opens.

The Razorbacks have seemingly done well on the offensive line and gotten off to a very good start in the secondary as well as defensive line. The Hogs added their key target at running back in New Mexico State’s Mike Washington, 6-2, 228. Washington can combine with Braylen Russell to offer the Hogs a couple of bigger backs for the SEC battles in 2025. This season while splitting carries with another running back, Washington carried 157 times for 725 yards and 8 touchdowns. He also pulled in 9 passes for 74 yards and 1 touchdown.

Arkansas still have several needs including wide receiver, tight end, a defensive tackle and in the secondary. Arkansas will likely add another offensive lineman or two as well. They seem to be fine at quarterback, running back and linebacker. In the secondary, more safeties are definitely needed and maybe a cornerback.

The Hogs did well at cornerback when they landed Oklahoma’s Kani Walker, 6-2, 206, and then got the signature of Northwest Mississippi Community College’s Keshawn Davila, 6-1, 170. Davila doesn’t count in the 13 portal additions because he is from junior college. But he is another key late addition. He and Walker will certainly contend for the starting spots there.

In 2024 with the Sooners, Walker finished with 24 tackles, 18 solo, 6 pass breakups and an interception. Davila, the nation’s No. 1 JUCO cornerback, finished with 25 tackles, 20 solo, 1 for loss, 3 interceptions and 7 pass breakups.

The Hogs have also added versatile defensive back Jordan Young, 6-0, 197, from Cincinnati and Eastern Michigan safety Quintavius Scandrett, 6-2, 200. Young can and is willing to play anywhere in the secondary for Arkansas. He is capable of playing cornerback, safety and the Hog. With the Bearcats this season, Young had 35 tackles, 19 solo and 5 pass breakups. In 2024, Scandrett totaled 55 tackles, 28 solo, 1 interception, 3 pass breakups and 1 quarterback hurry.

The Hogs have seemingly done well so far on the offensive line. Oregon’s JacQawn McRoy, 6-8, 375, Georgia Tech’s Corey Robinson II, 6-5, 305, and UCF center Caden Kitler, 6-3, 295. That is a very good haul, but knowing Sam Pittman’s fondness for offensive linemen don’t be surprised if they aren’t finished.

The Hogs needed 2-3 tight ends at least and have signed Texas A&M’s Jaden Platt, 6-5, 260. He has strong ties to Morgan Turner and Bobby Petrino. He’s very athletic and will certainly upgrade the blocking there. While he didn’t catch many passes in two years with Aggies the Hogs feel he can be a strong addition in that regard.

At wide receiver, the Hogs wanted at least four going in. They have signed two so far. UAB’s Kam Shanks, 5-8, 180, is also a first-team All-America punt returner, and the Hogs got another familiar face to Petrino and Ronnie Fouch in Fresno State’s Raylen Sharpe, 5-9, 165.

Sharpe played for Petrino and Fouch at Missouri State before transferring to Fresno State for a season. In his last season at Missouri State in 2023, Sharpe caught 73 passes for 991 yards and 7 touchdowns. In his lone season at Fresno State in 2024, Sharpe caught 51 passes for 523 yards and 3 touchdowns. He has very good speed starting his career on track scholarship at Houston.

Shanks caught 62 passes for 656 yards and 6 touchdowns this season. He had a 15-yard touchdown reception against the Hogs this season. Shanks also rushed 8 times for 50 yards. He returned 16 punts for 329 yards and 2 touchdowns to lead the nation in that category. He’s a first-team All-America returning punts.

On the defensive line, Adams has added defensive ends Ken Talley, 6-3, 256, from Michigan State and Florida’s Justus Boone, 6-4, 266. Abilene Christian defensive tackle David Oke, 6-2, 295, was a big addition as the Hogs beat USC, Texas Tech, Rutgers and Bill Belichick at North Carolina to land him.

In 2024, Oke had 64 tackles, 22 solo, 2 pass breakups, 2 sacks and a forced fumble. Talley had 6 tackles, 3 solo and 1.5 sacks. Boone had 10 tackles, 2 solo, 0.5 sack and 1 pass breakup.

Among the known targets for January at this time are Missouri wide receiver Courtney Crutchfield, 6-2, 190, Virginia Union wide receiver Reginald Vick, 6-3, 185, Eastern Michigan and former Wisconsin wide receiver Markus Allen, 6-2, 212, and Auburn safety Caleb Wooden, 6-1, 192.