Arkansas’ recruiting momentum continued Monday evening when cornerback Jarques McClellion announced his commitment to the Hogs.
McClellion, 6-1, 180 pounds, 4.41 seconds in the 40-yard dash, of Delray Beach (Fla.) American Heritage picked the Hogs over about 25 other scholarship offers, including ones from Nebraska, Michigan State, Louisville, Stanford and Wisconsin. He’s the Hogs’ seventh commitment in June.
McClellion said he had a great connection with Arkansas Coach Bret Bielema and linebackers coach Vernon Hargreaves.
“The reason why I felt like Arkansas was a good position for me, I felt more at home with Arkansas,” McClellion said. “When I talked to Coach B, he just let me know not just the football standpoint, but just as a person, as a man, he’ll take care of me like I was like his own.”
“Coach Hargreaves has been talking to me almost every day. During this recruiting process, I just felt like Arkansas has always been high on me since Day 1.”
McClellion committed to the Hogs without visiting Arkansas’ campus. He planned to visit about two weeks ago, but was unable to make the trip.
“Most likely in the next two weeks, I’ll take a visit to Arkansas,” McClellion said.
His commitment came on the same day of his parents’ 18th wedding anniversary.
“I just let them know that I really like Arkansas,” McClellion said. “They said, ‘If that’s what you want to do, then do it.’ They were fine with it.”
McClellion is also a strong competitor in track and field. He has been timed at 10.50 seconds in the 100 meters and 22.7 in the 200. He also has a best effort of 25 feet, 9 inches in the long jump. He said Bielema left open the door to him participating for the Razorbacks’ track and field team.
He becomes Arkansas’ 16th commitment for the 2017 class. Oral commitments are nonbinding.