Former Southern Cal quarterback Ricky Town announced Friday his plans to transfer to Arkansas, ESPN’s Joe Schad reported.
Town and his parents made an unofficial visit to Fayetteville on Wednesday and Thursday and watched practices both days.
“Coach [Bret] Bielema is a great person,” Town told Schad. “I want to be a person like him. This is the first time my family had been to Arkansas, and it was great. We fell in love with the place.”
Town, 6-3, 200, of Ventura (Calif.) St. Bonaventure, was rated a four-star recruit, the No. 10 pocket passer and No. 124 overall prospect in the nation by ESPN for the 2015 class. He enrolled at Southern Cal in January and participated in spring practice and the first week of fall camp before asking and receiving a release.
“If I was going to transfer, I wanted to do it immediately as to not lose two years of eligibility,” said Town, who is expected to start classes next week. ”I’m excited to compete and to help Arkansas win games. It’s a long journey.
Southern Cal runs an up-tempo pro-style offense. Arkansas’ traditional pro-style offense played a role in Town’s decision.
“Great system,” said Town, who was committed to Alabama before switching to Southern Cal. “They said the quarterback is like a coach on the field. Not just simple reads. There are a lot of protections, and it’s really a chess game. I want to be like a point guard on the field.”
Schad reported that Town also had contact with Florida and Alabama.
Arkansas has five quarterbacks on scholarship. Starter Brandon Allen is a senior, while Austin Allen is a redshirt sophomore, Rafe Peavey is a redshirt freshman and Ty Storey is a true freshman. All three backups were four-star prospects coming out of high school.
The Razorbacks have an oral commitment from Cole Kelley of Lafayette (La.) Teurlings for the 2016 class. Kelley said Town’s decision has no impact on his pledge.
Town will sit out this season and will have four years of eligibility starting in 2016.