Texas State RB Mahdi talks Hogs after official visit

FAYETTEVILLE — Former Texas State running back Ismail Mahdi was impressed with what he saw at Arkansas during his official visit.

Mahdi, 5-9, 180, rushed 183 times for 991 yards and 4 touchdowns in 2024. He also caught 24 passes for 195 yards and 2 touchdowns. He reflected back on the visit.

“Man I like it, it’s going good,” Mahdi said. “The coaching staff is great. The running backs coach, Kolby Smith, is a good coach. Very intelligent and I can tell that he’s going to coach me hard. He’s a great coach.”

Mahdi then talked about what Smith did to impress him.

“Just the way he goes about, the way he carries himself,” Mahdi said. “He expects excellence, I can tell that already. He expects players to come in and know what they’re doing. He expects good things from players.”

Smith played and coached in the NFL. That hasn’t escaped Mahdi’s attention.

“Exactly, I can already see he’s going to teach me that and get me ready for the next level,” Mahdi said. “He’s been in the NFL running back rooms, he’s coached running backs and he’s going to prepare me real well, I can already see that.”

Mahdi has other options in addition to the Razorbacks he’s looking at.

“This is my first visit,” Mahdi said. “I’ve got a couple schools after that, I don’t want to name them.”

Mahdi talked about what else impressed him with the Hogs.

“Yeah, the whole coaching staff,” Mahdi said. “The whole coaching staff and the players, too. I met some of the O-linemen and stuff like that.”

Did this visit to Arkansas make it hard for you to say no to them in then end?

“It does something,” Mahdi said. “I like it, getting out here to see the coaches’ faces.”

Arkansas is in need of a running back or two from the portal. Ja’Quinden Jackson is headed to the NFL. Braylon Russell opted for the transfer portal.

The scholarship returning backs are Rodney Hill and Tyrell Reed. The Razorbacks also signed Cameron Settles and Markeylin Batton in the early signing period.