After starting the week with a poor showing against a commitment to an SEC school, Arkansas will end the week trying to do the same against another conference opponent.
The Razorbacks will welcome Texas A&M wide receiver Kelshawn Johnson to Fayetteville on an unofficial visit for Saturday’s game against Texas after losing top kicker Evan Noel to Florida on Monday, officials said. Recognized as Best of Arkansas Sports.
The name should be familiar to those who follow Arkansas’ recruiting efforts, as he has been a target in the 2025 class for some time. In fact, he took an official visit over the summer, with this weekend being his unofficial visit before committing to the Aggies in mid-July.
But Arkansas isn’t the only state looking to turn Johnson around.
Recruiting for Arkansas vs. Texas
Both teams playing inside Razorback Stadium this weekend still have Kelshawn Johnson on the list despite committing to another program.
The Hitchcock, Texas, native visited the Longhorns last month, and his comments on the Texas Rivals site Orange Bloods suggest they may be ranked next to Texas A&M.
“Texas still is. If something were to happen at A&M, Texas would be the place to go,” Johnson said in October.
It certainly doesn’t help that both of the Lone Star State’s SEC teams are in contention for a spot in the College Football Playoff, and that the University of Arkansas is in contention for a bowl berth.
But the Razorbacks could certainly improve their standing in the race to sign Johnson by pulling off a big upset on Saturday, especially with Johnson in the mix.
Of course, that would involve Arkansas’ current receivers doing something few teams have ever done against the Longhorns’ strong secondary. They have perhaps the best pass defense in the nation, holding teams to an NCAA-leading 135.3 yards per game through the air.
To be fair, the Longhorns have never faced a receiver like Andrew Armstrong. Armstrong entered the game between Arkansas and Texas with 857 receiving yards, second in the SEC and 11th in the nation. His 107.1 yards per game ranks sixth among FBS eligible receivers.
make a pig claim
Looking ahead to next year, Arkansas will add Florida native Kamare Williams to the in-state duo of Antonio Jordan (Warren) and Quentin Murphy (Little Rock-Parkview), giving it a trio of wide receivers to compete in the 2025 class. has.
All three are three-star prospects, and while it lacks star power, it’s a solid group. (However, it probably wouldn’t be wise to underestimate Warren as a wide receiver.)
Johnson would change that. He is a consensus four-star recruit, ranked No. 112 nationally by 247Sports, and will be one of the Razorbacks’ top recruits in the 2025 class regardless of position.
This is in stark contrast to the situation he would find himself in at Texas A&M and Texas. He would be the third or fourth-best wide receiver in the class, especially for the Longhorns.
If he’s looking for a clearer path to immediate availability, Arkansas would make more sense than Texas. The Longhorns, led by passing game coordinator and wide receivers coach Chris Jackson, are so talented at receiver that former five-star recruit Jontay Cook II recently left the team and will enter the transfer portal. .
The Razorbacks are expected to return Isaiah Sategna and several others, but will replace three of their top four receivers as Andrew Armstrong, Tyron Broden and Isaac Tesla are super seniors with no eligibility left. He also has a mission.
Texas A&M’s situation is less clear, but it looks like two of the top three still have eligibility remaining. Johnson will be the Aggies’ top wide receiver signee in the 2025 class, but they acquired a five-star and three four-stars the year before.
Of course, he might want to go somewhere with more recent success on the field, and it doesn’t hurt that Austin or College Station are much closer to his hometown than Fayetteville.
Those factors will be difficult to overcome, but having Johnson back on campus at least gives Arkansas a chance at a puncher.
Below is a list of players in the class of 2025 who are still contributing to Arkansas football…
LB Tavion Wallace — Baxley (Ga.) Appling County DL Kevin Ortiz — Hattiesburg (Mich.) QB Grayson Wilson — Conway (Arkansas) DL Reginald Vaughn — Flowood (Mich.) Hartfield Academy OT Conner Howes — Kissimmee (Fla.) Osceola OT Blake Cherry — Owasso (Okla.) DL Caleb Bell — Alpharetta (Georgia) Milton Edge Kayandre Johnson — Terrell (Texas) OT Kash Courtney — Carthage (Texas) IOL Lionel Prudhomme — Shreveport (La.) Captain Shreve ATH Quentin Murphy — Little Rock (Arkansas) State) Parkview LB Jayden Shelton — Dallas (Texas) South Oak Cliff WR Antonio Jordan — Warren (Arkansas) S Tyge Overton — Mobile (Alabama) Williamson RB Cameron Settles — Little Rock (Arkansas) Parkview WR Kamare Williams — West Palm Beach (Florida) Palm Beach Central RB Markelynn Batton — Atlanta (Texas) ATH Nigel Pringle — Houston (Texas) North Shore EDGE Trent Sellers — Mobile (Alabama) Faith Academy CB Shannon Blair — East Mississippi CC TE Gavin Garretson — Chico (CA) Pleasant Valley DL Jaquentin Madison — Alpharetta (GA)
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Check out highlights from Arkansas football target Kelshawn Johnson.
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