Hogs set to host pair of defensive tackles Sunday, Monday

FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas will host host former BYU and Hutchinson (Kan.) Community College’s Danny Saili and FAU’s Decarius Hawthorne on Sunday and Monday for official visits.

Hawthorne, 6-2, 295, and Saili, 6-3, 360, have the size and ability that Deke Adams and the coaching staff was looking for at that position. The Hogs currently have no defensive tackles committed in the Class of 2024.

Saili played the 2023 season at Hutchinson and is good friends with Tyrell “Tbird” Reed, the running back from there who committed to the Hogs on Friday. Like Reed, Saili is also from Topeka, Kan. At Hutchinson in 2023, Saili had 21 tackles, 11 solo, 7.5 for loss, four sacks, one forced fumble, a pass breakup and blocked a kick.

Saili transferred to BYU at midterm, but entered the transfer portal officially on May 1. He will have two years of eligibility at Arkansas or his next school.

Hawthorne saw action in 12 games for FAU this season. He had 18 tackles, nine solo, seven for loss, 4.5 sacks and four quarterback hurries. He was a senior at FAU after playing high school at Birmingham (Ala.) Center Point.

Arkansas currently has five available scholarships for the Class of 2024. The expected way they plan to fill it is one wide receiver, an offensive lineman, probably a punter (a scholarship could be given to someone on campus) and then two defensive tackles.