Arkansas recruiting is picking up steam, as the Razorbacks picked up four big commitments from high school recruits over the weekend culminating with Tevis Metcalf, the younger brother of 2023 Hogs commit TJ Metcalf. That was the day after back-back-to-back announcements that included a commitment from four-star Charleston Collins.
The defensive end out of Little Rock Mills declared he was University of Arkansas bound moments before his former high school teammate, Pine Bluff wide receiver Courtney Crutchfield, also revealed his commitment. Only a few hours before that, Aledo, Texas cornerback Jaden Allen did the same.
Collins, ranked as high as No. 124 overall and No. 1 in the Natural State in the 2024 class by On3, chose the home state Razorbacks over a slew of offers, including Alabama, Georgia, LSU, Michigan Ole Miss and Texas.
It is believed to be just the second time in at least the past decade that Arkansas landed three players of remotely the same caliber on the same day.
The other time was on National Signing Day 2020, when quarterback Malik Hornsby and offensive linemen Marcus Henderson and Jalen St. John went public with their decisions. Hornsby and Henderson were four-star prospects in the 247Sports Composite, while St. John was a four-star recruit on Rivals.
Collins is almost a unanimous four-star recruit, with only ESPN giving him a high three-star rating. In addition to On3, he is ranked No. 179 overall by 247Sports and checks in at No. 221 overall in the 247Sports Composite, which combines all of the major recruiting services.
Friday’s three commitments give the Razorbacks eight total in the 2024 class and all but one is a four-star recruit. Defensive tackle Dion Stutts from Memphis is a high three-star, while Collins, Crutchfield, Allen, defensive end Kavion Henderson, quarterback KJ Jackson and athletes Noreel White and Julius Pope have all received a fourth star.
The Recruitment of Charleston Collins
Unlike his former and future teammate Courtney Crutchfield, who only recently exploded onto the national scene, Charleston Collins has been well known on the recruiting trail for well over a year.
He picked up his first offer when he was still a sophomore, with Arkansas State pulling the trigger last January. Three months later, the Razorbacks did the same and were quickly followed by Ole Miss.
Things went crazy over the summer. Within the span of one week, he picked up offers from SEC powerhouses LSU, Alabama and Georgia. Programs like Texas A&M, Penn State, Oregon, Tennessee and others eventually entered the mix, as well.
Including Florida, which offered him earlier this week, Collins has been offered by all but three SEC schools, with Kentucky, Mississippi State and South Carolina being the holdouts. Future SEC schools Oklahoma and Texas have also offered.
Playing alongside Anton Pierce, a 2023 preferred walk-on commit who originally committed to Army, Collins enjoyed a very productive junior season at Little Rock Mills. He made 101 tackles, including eight sacks, plus forced five fumbles and intercepted a pass.
What it Means for Arkansas Football
The Razorbacks were already off to a solid start in their 2024 class before Friday, but adding Jaden Allen was a nice boost and the in-state tandem of Courtney Crutchfield and Charleston Collins made it a day to remember for Arkansas football fans.
By securing both commitments, it is a tremendous step in the right direction with what is shaping up to be a historically strong in-state class.
Offensive coordinator Dan Enos didn’t have enough time to make up ground with Little Rock Christian four-star quarterback — and legacy recruit — Walker White and he ultimately left Arkansas out of his top three before committing to Auburn.
Arkansas held a commitment from Benton four-star running back Braylen Russell for about a year before he backed off his pledge last October, but appears to still be in the mix. He recently announced he’ll reveal his new decision on July 14.
Bryant four-star defensive end TJ Lindsey, Valley View four-star linebacker Brian Huff, Bentonville three-star wide receiver CJ Brown, Fort Smith Southside three-star offensive lineman Kobe Branham and Malvern three-star offensive lineman Vinny Winters have also been offered in the 2024 class.
That is on the heels of an all-time light in-state class, as the Razorbacks signed only two – Bentonville offensive lineman Joey Su’a and Ashdown tight end Shamar Easter – in the 2023 class.
On top of that, Arkansas now has a pair of four-star, top-250 defensive ends in the 2024 class, according to the 247Sports Composite, as Collins joins Kavion Henderson from Leeds, Ala.
It will have been five years since the Razorbacks had multiple four-star defensive ends in the same recruiting class because the last time it happened was 2019, when they landed Collin Clay, Mataio Soli and Zach Williams. Eric Gregory was also in that class and a four-star recruit on some services, but a high three-star in the 247Sports Composite.
However, the top two guys in that group – Clay (No. 309) and Soli (No. 315) – were outside of the top 300. The Razorbacks have never had multiple top-250 defensive ends in the same class during the 247Sports Composite era (since 2000).
That is especially important in new defensive coordinator Travis Williams’ system, which is expected to pressure the quarterback more than what fans are used to. That requires a steady rotation of defensive ends capable of being excellent edge rushers.
2024 Arkansas Recruiting Class
Here’s a list of the Razorbacks’ current commitments in the Class of 2024…
- DE Kavion Henderson — Leeds (Ala.) — Nov. 6, 2022
- DT Dion Stutts — Memphis (Tenn.) University School — March 11, 2023
- ATH Noreel White — Ocean Springs (Miss.) St. Martin — March 13, 2023
- ATH JuJu Pope — Batesville (Miss.) South Panola — April 8, 2023
- QB KJ Jackson — Montgomery (Ala.) St. James — April 9, 2023
- CB Jaden Allen — Aledo (Texas) — April 21, 2023
- DE Charleston Collins — Little Rock (Ark.) Mills — April 21, 2023
- WR Courtney Crutchfield — Pine Bluff (Ark.) — April 21, 2023
- CB Tevis Metcalf — Birmingham (Ala.) Parker — April 22, 2023
Check out some highlights of new Arkansas football commit Charleston Collins:
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