One day after a game-changing official visit to Arkansas, offensive line target Ryan Winkel orally committed to the Hogs on Monday.
Winkel, 6-6, 280 pounds, of Christian Brothers High School in Memphis picked the Razorbacks over scholarship offers from Mississippi State, Tennessee, Nebraska, Northwestern, Virginia, Central Florida and others.
He said on Sunday his visit to Fayetteville was a "game-changer."
"The opportunities after college were big and the coaches were awesome, and they know what they're doing and I have no doubt the program is headed in the right direction," said Winkel, who has a 3.6 grade-point average and plans to major in business. "I'm looking forward to getting up there."
The University of Arkansas, Fayetteville extended an offer to Winkel on Dec. 19, followed a day later by Mississippi State and Tennessee a month later. He officially visited the Bulldogs from Jan. 19-21 and Northwestern in December.
Winkel called an elated offensive line coach Dustin Fry, who was with Coach Chad Morris, Monday morning to tell them of his decision.
"They were thrilled," Winkel said.
He becomes the 14th member of the 2018 class. Oral commitments are nonbinding.
LB impressed
Linebacker Jaylen Moody and his parents left impressed with Arkansas after their official visit to Fayetteville.
"They showed me a really good time, and I was excited to come out here for the first time with my family," Moody said. "It was a great time."
Moody, 6-2, 225, 4.6 seconds in the 40-yard dash, of Conway, S.C., has scholarship offers from Arkansas, Ole Miss, East Carolina, Georgia State and others.
Prior to his trip to check out the Hogs, he had visited Ole Miss and Georgia State and has plans to visit Alabama this weekend.
"I'm going to go ahead and take my visit at Alabama next week and see how that goes," Moody said Sunday.
The Crimson Tide haven't extended a scholarship offer, but they are expected to visit him this weekend.
"I think they'll let me know then," Moody said.
Moody, who recorded 105 tackles, 3.5 sacks, 3 interceptions and 9 pass breakups as a senior, said the Razorbacks are in a good place with him.
"Arkansas is up there," he said. "They're a top team."
Sophomore linebacker Tyler Phillips hosted Moody for the weekend.
"He was a cool dude, a great man, and I had a great time with him," Moody said. "I'm excited I got to hang with him."
Defensive coordinator John Chavis has been recruiting Moody.
"He's the 'G.O.A.T' of everything," Moody said. "He's a great defensive coordinator. I feel like he can get me to where I need and make me a better player. I like him a lot."
Moody plans to announce his college decision on national signing day Feb. 7.
Headline
During the contact period, college coaches often meet with prospects at school or home. In the case of Arkansas Coach Chad Morris, he and defensive coordinator John Chavis and safeties coach Ron Cooper attended church with linebacker commitment Andrew Parker on Sunday evening.
The Hogs were the first Power 5 school to extend a scholarship offer to Parker.
Parker, 6-2, 225, 4.56 attends Sophie B. Wright High School in New Orleans and made an official visit to the Hogs from Jan. 19-21. He picked the Hogs over offers from Georgetown, McNeese State and Houston Baptist.
Texas A&M and Texas offered last week, and he is expected to make a midweek trip to Austin and weekend visit to College Station.
Email Richard Davenport at rdavenport@arkansasonline.com
Sports on 01/30/2018