NATIONAL SIGNING DAY: Hogs await prospects' decisions

Arkansas coach Chad Morris watches warmups prior to the Class 4A State Championship Game between Warren and Arkadelphia on Saturday, Dec. 9, 2017, at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock.
Arkansas coach Chad Morris watches warmups prior to the Class 4A State Championship Game between Warren and Arkadelphia on Saturday, Dec. 9, 2017, at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock.

Arkansas Razorbacks Coach Chad Morris and his staff signed eight prospects during the early signing period in December and are expected to ink six or more prospects today, the first February signing date.

Several other targets are undecided.

The signees are expected to fax their national letters of intent early today, and most will have ceremonies later in the day.

Jonesboro offensive lineman Noah Gatlin, who committed to the Hogs last summer, plans to sign with the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville at a 1:30 p.m. ceremony at the performing arts center on the school campus.

[SIGNING DAY 2018: Photos, live updates, video + more]

Gatlin, 6-7, 300 pounds, picked the Hogs over 17 other scholarship offers from Arizona State, Texas Tech, Virginia, Mississippi State, Iowa State and others.

"It's just a blessing in the sky, and I can't believe it," Gatlin said. "I'm so thankful for all of the people along the way. Without them I wouldn't be near the person I am on the field, but especially off the field. All the glory to God because without Him in my life this wouldn't be possible."

The Hogs are expected to sign quarterback John Stephen Jones, 5-10½, 185, 4.6 seconds in the 40-yard dash, of Dallas Highland Park during a 2:30 p.m. ceremony at the school. He committed to the Hogs on Sunday over scholarship offers from Texas Tech, SMU, Kansas and others.

Safety Myles Mason, 6-2, 205, 4.4 in the 40, of Hewitt-Trussville High School in Alabama will have a 2 p.m. ceremony at his school to ink with the Hogs. He chose the Razorbacks over scholarship offers from Auburn, Mississippi State, Clemson, Florida State, Louisville, Tennessee, Notre Dame and others.

Morris will welcome offensive tackle Ryan Winkel's signature as he signs with the Razorbacks at 8:30 a.m.

Winkel, 6-6, 280, of Christian Brothers High School in Memphis picked the Razorbacks over scholarship offers from Mississippi State, Tennessee, Nebraska, Northwestern, Virginia, Central Florida and others.

"I am excited to join the Razorback family and end the recruiting process," Winkel said. "I am looking forward to my future in Fayetteville."

Junior college running back Rakeem Boyd, 6-0, 207, of Independence Community College in Kansas plans to fax his letter of intent at 7:01 a.m., the earliest time a prospect can send in the paperwork.

He attended Houston (Texas) Stratford High School and signed with Texas A&M in 2016, but he left the Aggies last year as a redshirt freshman and enrolled in junior college. He picked the Hogs over Colorado and Arizona.

Defensive end Courtre Alexander, 6-4, 250, 4.9 in the 40, from Owasso, Okla., will sign with the Razorbacks at 7:30 a.m. He had 10 other scholarship offers from Texas, Memphis, Wyoming, Tulane and others.

Linebacker Andrew Parker committed to Arkansas on Jan. 21 after an official visit to Fayetteville, but he took an official visit to Texas over the weekend and it appears the Longhorns are in position to flip him.

Parker, 6-2, 225, 4.56 in the 40, attends Sophie B. Wright High School in New Orleans and picked the Hogs over offers from Georgetown, McNeese State and Houston Baptist. After his pledge to the Razorbacks, Texas, Texas A&M, TCU, Colorado State and Ole Miss extended offers.

Morris and his staff will wait to see whether several other prospects decide to join the class today.

New Orleans McDonogh 35 safety Joseph Foucha, who officially visited the Hogs from Jan. 19-21, will sign with the school of his choice at 10 a.m.

Foucha, 5-11, 195, has scholarship offers from Arkansas, Auburn, Ole Miss, Florida State, Michigan, Arizona and numerous others. He's also visited Ole Miss and SMU, but it appears he'll choose between the Hogs and Rebels.

Linebacker/safety Aaron Brule, 6-2, 215, 4.56 in the 40, of Metairie (La.) Rummel visited Fayetteville from Jan. 19-21 while also making trips to TCU and Mississippi State. He'll choose among the three schools today.

The Razorbacks also is awaiting what defensive end Caleb Okechukwu decides at 2 p.m. as he chooses from among the Hogs, Texas and Syracuse.

Okechukwu, 6-4, 240, 4.79 in the 40, of Washington, D.C., St. John's College has scholarship offers from Arkansas, Tennessee, Syracuse, Arizona, Massachusetts, Florida Atlantic and others. He's previously visited Texas, Syracuse and Massachusetts before visiting Fayetteville over the weekend.

Linebacker Jaylen Moody will choose from Arkansas, Alabama, Ole Miss and Georgia State at 9:15 a.m.

Moody, 6-2, 225, 4.6 seconds in the 40, of Conway, S.C., has scholarship offers from Arkansas, Alabama, Ole Miss, East Carolina, Georgia State and others.

The nation's top junior college defensive end Dorian Gerald will sign with Arkansas, Texas A&M, Florida or Louisville on Friday. ESPN rates him the No. 1 defensive end and the No. 4 overall junior-college prospect.

Gerald, 6-3, 265, of College of the Canyons in Santa Clarita, Calif., has more than 30 scholarship offers from schools such as Arkansas, Texas A&M, Florida, Tennessee, Oklahoma, Alabama, LSU and Nebraska.

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Sports on 02/07/2018

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