Arkansas coach Chad Morris made it very easy to understand what he’s wanting on the SEC Network’s Paul Finebaum show on Friday:
“It is a great time,” he said. “It is a great fit for me being the head coach here and we want to get this program back to where it’s been several years ago, winning championships and eventually build it into a prominent week-in and week-out top five, top two program in the country.”
Morris, who was officially hired Dec. 7, hit the ground running and hasn’t slowed up.
“They hired me on a Thursday,” he said on the Finebaum Show. “I have basically been here eight days and you are trying to get into people’s living rooms and get into schools with the guys that are committed, to hang onto the commits, to gather other guys and say ‘make sure and give me a chance to build a relationship.”
That starts with recruiting and this is a big weekend with 10 recruits in Fayetteville on official visits, according to reports.
According to Dudley Dawson at WholeHogSports.com on the recruits the Razorbacks are looking at this weekend:
They will try to flip another trio this weekend with Mississippi State safety commit Myles Mason (6-2, 205), Oklahoma athlete pledge Jaqualyn Crawford (5-10, 160) of Rockdale, Texas, and North Carolina defensive end commit Nick Fulwider (6-7, 245) of Tyrone, Ga., Sandy Creek.
Mason is among eight players who have arrived in Fayetteville. Crawford and Fulwider are due later tonight or Saturday.
Fordyce defensive lineman Billy Ferrell is taking his official visit along with five Arkansas commits – offensive linemen Luke Jones of Pulaski Academy and Noah Gatlin of Jonesboro, Springdale defensive end Isaiah Nichols, Charleston wide receiver/safety Sean Michael Flanagan, Bishop and Woods.
With the early signing date coming up Wednesday, Morris said he’s re-thinking his position on it after making the switch so close to the deadline.
“At the time, I think everybody thought it was a good idea, but what we are finding out, especially with the coaching changes right now, is that you are having to get into contact periods,” Morris said on the Finebaum Show.
He did say he is looking at somewhere around 50 percent of the Hogs’ signing class becoming official Wednesday.
“What you are going to find is it is going to be about 50-50,” Morris said. “You have got some guys that have been committed to the University of Arkansas, with the coaching change they are still committed, but they are wanting to build that relationship and make sure it is the right fit for them.
“And then you have some that we have had existing relationships with or they have a coach that knew me from a prior relationship along the way that can kind of vouch for the person I am and the staff we are going bring in that are ready to go on Wednesday.
“The way it is looking now I am seeing about 50-50 and that’s okay because if you are unsure we want to have a chance to build a relationship with you to give us a chance in January.”
