After losing both 2013 pledges in the immediate aftermath of the Bobby Petrino scandal, the Razorbacks have slowly regained their footing, landing two commitments since, but seriously bolstered their efforts by landing a trio of local products of Monday -- quarterback Austin Allen, linebacker Brooks Ellis, and athlete Alex Brignoni, all from Fayetteville High School.
Arkansas Recruiting 2013: Hogs Land Local Trio
John L. Smith picked up some needed momentum by securing three local products on Monday.
The former two had been favoring Arkansas for some time ($), according to a report from HawgSports.com, while Brignoni received his Razorback offer last week, ensuring that all three would stay in their hometown to play college football.
A 6-2, 217-pound pro-style quarterback prospect rated by 247Sports and Scout as a four-star recruit (and a three-star by Rivals), Allen chose Arkansas over offers from Arizona State, Ole Miss, North Carolina, Notre Dame, Oklahoma State, and others.
The beneficiary of a spread offense in high school that allows him to use his compact delivery to get rid of the ball quickly, Allen lacks superior arm strength, but can maximize his velocity when necessary, as well as use his touch to get vertical in the passing game.
Ranked as a consensus three-star prospect, the 6-2, 215-pound Ellis held offers from Arizona St, Illinois, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Notre Dame, Purdue, South Florida, Texas Tech, and others.
Projected as an outside linebacker, Ellis is known as a tough customer with solid athleticism that allows him to cover the necessary ground for a player at his position, showing a diverse skillset that allows him to be equally successful defending the run or the pass, as well as threaten off the edge.
Listed variously as an athlete or a safety, Brignoni is generally considered a three-star prospect and had the option of playing at Arkansas State, Central Arkansas, or Kent State before receiving his Razorback offer.
At 6-2 and 195 pounds, Brignoni has ideal size for the position and had an extremely productive junior season that saw him record well over 100 tackles and come down with 10 interceptions, the latter an impressive number for any high school player. Blessed with only solid speed, the Fayetteville product shows the awareness to come off of his coverage assignment to make plays.
While securing the top in-state talent won’t be enough to keep Arkansas among the ranks of the best-performing programs in the country, ensuring that those players become Razorbacks is certainly a step in the right direction.
For more on Hogs football, visit Arkansas blog Arkansas Expats, plus SEC blog Team Speed Kills.
