FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The Arkansas Razorbacks have secured a major building block for their future, landing a commitment from Lakeland, Fla., quarterback Joaquin Kavouklis for the Class of 2027.
Kavouklis, a 6-foot-2, 190-pound prospect, is rated as a three-star by 247Sports and picked the Hogs over offers from Purdue, Syracuse, Georgia Tech, West Virginia, and Virginia Tech.
“I just wanna say I’m happy to be home,” Kavouklis told HawgSports on Thursday after multiple campus visits.
Kavouklis’ decision comes after trips to Fayetteville last November and again this spring, where he spent time with offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino and recruiting assistant Miles Fishback.
He is the second commitment for Arkansas in the 2027 cycle, joining three-star offensive lineman Bradley Sturdivant from Sheridan, Ark.
The Razorbacks’ quarterback room is in a state of transition. With freshman Madden Iamaleava leaving the program and Malachi Singleton transferring to Purdue, depth has become a priority.
Taylen Green returns as the starter for 2025, but the Hogs are already looking to the future with Kavouklis and 2026 commit Jayvon Gilmore, who plans to join the team in January after graduating early.
“Five is a good number at quarterback, four is the minimum,” said Trey Biddy of HawgSports, highlighting the importance of building depth at the position.
The commitment from Kavouklis follows a busy week for the Razorbacks.
Just a day earlier, four-star linebacker JJ Bush from Theodore, Ala., pledged to the Razorbacks over LSU and Missouri, giving a boost to the 2026 recruiting class.
Arkansas coach Sam Pittman and his staff have emphasized the importance of early quarterback commitments.
“You need a quarterback to help build a class. Kavouklis can be that guy for us,” Petrino noted in a recent interview with 247Sports.
Kavouklis threw for over 2,000 yards and 21 touchdowns as a sophomore at Lakeland, drawing attention for his strong arm and poise in the pocket.
“He’s got the tools to be a Power Five starter,” said Rivals recruiting analyst Adam Friedman.
With the quarterback position now stabilized for the next several cycles, the Razorbacks’ attention shifts to filling out the rest of the 2027 class.
