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Hogs land pair of defensive players within minutes of each other
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — It’s summer and commitments are starting to roll in for Arkansas football.
Sunday, the Razorbacks picked up a pair of defensive commitments within hours of each other.
First, linebacker Alex Sanford from Oxford, Miss., committed to the Hogs after a weekend official visit.
COMMITTED ? @RazorbackFB @CoachSamPittman @Mike_Scherer38 @Jake_Trump46 @Coach_Odom @Walmart @Nike @MurphyUSA @iamayesanford #WPS? pic.twitter.com/SokzURcHWH
— Alex Sanford??? (@Alex5anford) June 26, 2022
Sanford felt like it was a family atmosphere during his visit on a prospect day earlier in the year and again on his official visit.
He also liked the defensive scheme Sanford feels let’s linebackers have the freedom to make plays.
“When you come here you’re going to make plays,” he said in multiple reports. “You are going to get playing time. So there’s lots you are going to do here.”
Sanford picked the Hogs offers from Tennessee, Ole Miss, Jackson State and others.
A few hours later, the Hogs picked up another defensive line commitment, going back to Georgia where they picked up a defensive line commitment last week.
This time defensive tackle Stephen Johnson moved his commitment up from a previously-announced July 4 date.
WPS?!!! Lets rock hog Nation! @CoachDekeAdams @CoachSamPittman @coachcfrazier @CoachFree08 @Cats_Recruiting @FayetteSports @BenMoore247 @JeremyO_Johnson pic.twitter.com/m3xNjU9xPj
— Stephen Johnson (@Srjohnson2023) June 26, 2022
The Hogs are carrying some commitment momentum into the dead period with the seventh-ranked consensus on the 247Sports composite rankings, second in the SEC with 17 players pledged.
Johnson (6-4, 310) is from Fayetteville Whitewater in Georgia. He is the fifth player from that state to commit to the Hogs.
Eric Musselman lands highly-regarded point guard commitment
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Arkansas coach Eric Musselman is at it again.
On a slow weekend after the Razorbacks were knocked out of the College World Series on Thursday, they picked up a big basketball commitment Saturday.
Lay Go H?ME #Arkansas #Home @EricPMusselman @CoachSmarty23 @CoachArgenal @AnthonyRuta @michaelmuss_13 @RonnieBrewerJr pic.twitter.com/0U7BKtRxzq
— Layden Blocker (@Laygogetit2) June 25, 2022
Blocker, a 6-2, 175-pound from the Wichita private school Bel Aire Sunrise Academy, picked the Razorbacks over Auburn, Baylor, Gonzaga, Kansas, Kansas State, Memphis, Oklahoma State and others.
Every sports winning and getting publicity helped. So did Musselman getting players to the next level, like Jaylin Williams being chosen at No. 34 overall (second round) by Oklahoma City on Thursday night.
ESPN 100 Layden Blocker tells me. “It’s Arkansas. I am staying home.” @Laygogetit2 @RazorbackMBB @SEC @SECNetwork pic.twitter.com/E2iPQsXzSS
— Paul Biancardi (@PaulBiancardi) June 25, 2022
Blocker made the announcement on Paul Biancardi’s podcast on Saturday afternoon.
“It’s clear how they will use me from day one in their NBA style system and his staff does a great job of preparing and developing players to get to the NBA,” Blocker said.
Thanks @PaulBiancardi #FlyHigh @Laygogetit2 Tremendously bright future! 5-Star Talent & Work Ethic https://t.co/TmkkXoj4Ln
— Bradley Beal Elite (@BradBealElite) June 25, 2022
He is the first 2023 commitment for Musselman after having the No. 2-ranked class in the country last year with Nick Smith, Anthony Black and Jordan Walsh all making early projections as NBA Lottery picks next spring.
Halftime Pod Presented By Eastside Liquor- June 24, 2022
Wrapping Up The OmaHogs Season; No Drew today; Jaylin To OKC
Guests- Aaron Torres & Clay Henry
Halftime is LIVE – Hogs fall to Ole Miss, Jaylin Williams to the Thunder
11:30 – Aaron Torres
Wrapping Up The OmaHogs Season; No Drew today; Jaylin To OKC Call or text, 877-377-6963
Jaylin Williams picked No. 34 by Oklahoma City in NBA Draft
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Jaylin Williams grew up just a few miles from the Oklahoma state line in Fort Smith and now he will be playing a lot of in that state now.
Williams was picked with the 34th overall pick (fourth in the second round) of the NBA Draft on Thursday night by the Oklahoma City Thunder.
He is the first Razorback the Thunder have selected and the 16th-highest picked player in school history.Dean Tolson was selected in the fifth round by the Seattle Supersonics, which became the Thunder, in 1974.
“He’s going to be a great fit with the Thunder,” Eric Musselman said. “He is a player that should be able to come in right away and contribute due to his high basketball I.Q., his ability to rebound and his play on dribble-handoffs.”
It’s the fourth-straight year a Razorback has been taken in the NBA Draft, joining fellow Arkansas natives Daniel Gafford, Isaiah Joe and Moses Moody.
Joe, Moody and Williams played for Musselman. Joe and Williams were high school teammates at Fort Smith Northside.
Williams, named to The Athletic’s All-Glue Team this past season, helped Arkansas to back-to-back NCAA Elite 8 appearances. In 2021-22, he established himself as one of the top defensive players in the country, one of the top rebounders in the nation and one of the top passing big men.
He was named a Lefty Driesell Defensive All-American and was named to the SEC All-Defensive team. He also led the NCAA by taking 54 charges in 2021-22 while also leading the Razorbacks in charges taken as a freshman with 16.
Williams ranked fifth in the nation in total rebounds with a school-record 364, ranked sixth in the NCAA in defensive rebounds (8.32) and 19th in the NCAA in total rebounds per game (9.84). In addition, he ranked 15th in the NCAA by collecting 16 double-doubles, all over the final 23 games including a streak of seven straight games.
He ranked third on the team with 95 assists with 16 games dishing out three-or-more assists.
Williams was additionally named first team All-SEC by the league’s coaches – second team by the media – and was named the NCAA West Regional All-Tournament team. Williams additionally earned SEC Player of the Week honors twice and was on the USBWA and NABC All-District teams.
Williams averaged 10.9 points and 9.8 rebounds this past season, a significant improvement over his freshman campaign when he averaged 3.7 points and 4.7 rebounds.
Williams was part of Arkansas Musselman’s inaugural and highly-touted recruiting class.
The consensus top-five group also featured Moody, Arkansas’ first one-and-done and eventual lottery pick by 2022 NBA Champion Golden State Warriors.
This marks the fourth straight year Coach Musselman has had a player drafted including Cody Martin (at Nevada), Joe, Moody and Williams.
Jaylin Williams 2021-22 Honors
• ALL-GLUE TEAM (1 of 6) by The Athletic (Seth Davis)
• Lefty Driesell Defensive All-America Team (1 of 31) by CollegeInsider.com
• NCAA West Regional All-Tournament Team
• All-District VII (one 10-person team) by USBWA
• 2nd team All-District 20 (10 total players honored) by NABC
• SEC All-Defensive Team (Coaches)
• 1st Team All-SEC (Coaches)
• 2nd Team All-SEC (Associated Press)
• SEC co-Player of the Week (Jan. 24)
• SEC co-Player of the Week (Feb. 21)
Information from Arkansas Communications is included in this story.
Diamond Hogs come up empty in semifinal
OMAHA, Neb. — In the most important game of the season, the Razorbacks walked away with a zero in the run column after just two hours Thursday.
Ole Miss’ Dylan DeLucia tossed a four-hitter, lifting the Rebels to the College World Series Finals with a 2-0 victory.
Arkansas sophomore third baseman Cayden Wallace and graduate catcher Michael Turner strung together two-out singles in the first, but the Hogs failed to score either of them, missing a big opportunity to take an early lead. Including the third out of the first, DeLucia retired the next nine Hogs in order.
Graduate right fielder Chris Lanzilli picked up a two-out knock in the fourth, but again, DeLucia mowed through the next nine Razorbacks.
Junior second baseman Robert Moore hit an infield single, and senior shortstop Jalen Battles reached on an error to put a pair of runners on in the seventh, but DeLucia induced a groundout on the next pitch to end the threat. He sat down the next six Arkansas hitters in order to finish the complete game shutout.
Opposite DeLucia was right-hander Connor Noland, who put together perhaps his best outing in a Razorback uniform. In his last collegiate game, the senior threw eight innings, allowed two runs on seven hits, walked no one and struck out seven batters.
Only twice did the Rebels have a leadoff hitter reach, but they cashed in both times. Third baseman Justin Bench scored in the fourth on a two-out double from left fielder Kevin Graham, and first baseman Tim Elko came home on right fielder Calvin Harris’ RBI single in the seventh.
Senior left-hander Evan Taylor got the call for the ninth, which he handled perfectly. The heart of the Razorback order still could not solve DeLucia after 102 pitches, and the Rebels defeated Arkansas for the second time to advance to the national championship series.
The Hogs finished the season at 46-21, marking the fourth consecutive full season with at least that many wins.
Halftime Pod Presented By Eastside Liquor- June 23, 2022
Heart Attack Hogs in the CWS! Getting Ready For Hogs/Rebs Chapter 6; Let’s Get It!
Guests- Bob Holt & Bubba Carpenter
Halftime is LIVE for a 3 and half hours edition in Omaha
11:30 – Bob Holt
12:30 – Bubba Carpenter
Heart Attack Hogs in the CWS! Getting Ready For Hogs/Rebs Chapter 6; Phil’s at Charles Schwab field; Let’s Get It! Call or text, 877-377-6963
RECRUITING THURSDAY: Democrat-Gazette’s Richard Davenport on coaches
Football coach Sam Pittman, basketball coach Eric Musselman showing coaches’ cooperation, support in Omaha at CWS.
Democrat-Gazette’s Tom Murphy on Dave Van Horn lineup shuffling
It seems to be paying off in the CWS, Hogs needing one win to get to finals against Oklahoma.
