Arkansas landed a major defensive target when Ashdown senior safety Montaric Brown orally committed to the Hogs during a visit to Fayetteville on Thursday.
Brown was accompanied by his mother and grandmother. They met with Coach Bret Bielema at the beginning of the visit.
“When we first got there, Coach B started talking to them,” Brown said. “He was like I’m an impact player.”
Brown, 6-1, 180 pounds, 4.5 seconds in the 40-yard dash, had narrowed his list to Arkansas, Alabama, Oklahoma State, Auburn and LSU on June 30. He visited Oklahoma State on Tuesday.
His mother and grandmother liked what they experienced during the trip.
“They said it was a great fit for me,” Brown said. “They were impressed how they treated the student-athletes.”
Brown recorded 112 tackles, 4 tackles for loss, 8 pass deflections, a forced fumble and 5 interceptions with 3 returned for touchdowns as a junior. ESPN rates him the No. 11 safety and No. 187 overall prospect.
He met with defensive coordinator Robb Smith and got a rundown of how the Hogs plan to use him at strong safety. Bielema also impressed his family with his focus outside of athletics.
“He talked about life after football,” he said.
Brown will be tutored by defensive backs coach Paul Rhoads while in Fayetteville. He said the two have a strong connection.
“I was thinking before I committed,” Brown said. “I had to have that type of connection. I couldn’t commit there and not have a bond with him.”
He also gave tight ends coach Barry Lunney Jr. major props.
“Coach Lunney has been on me throughout the recruiting process for a long time,” Brown said. “He was like nonstop. He made sure we got there. We talked late at night almost every week about everything family and outside of football. It wasn’t just football. We talked about everything.”
Brown said he’s done with recruiting and will not visit other schools.
“Yeah, I’m shutting everything down,” Brown said.
He is Arkansas’ 18th commitment for the 2017 class. Oral commitments are nonbinding.
Email Richard Davenport at rdavenport@arkansasonline.com