Hogs back at Greenwood walk-on well

Arkansas' 2021 recruiting class success didn't end with the Dec. 16-18 signing period or even when Charlotte offensive line transfer Ty'Kiest Crawford (6-4, 348) came aboard on Jan. 5.

The Razorbacks continue to add talent via the preferred walk on route.

The latest commitment was that of Greenwood defensive end/linebacker Jordan Hanna (6-2, 215), one of the state's most productive players over the past two seasons.

Hanna is coming off a senior season in which he had 139 tackles with 11 sacks and was named to Arkansas Democrat-Gazette's first team All-Arkansas team after leading the Bulldogs to a 14-0 mark and Class 6A state title.

Hanna accumulated 259 tackles, 32 stops for lost yardage and 22 sacks the past two years as Greenwood won back-to-back state titles.

"Jordan is just a great football player," Greenwood head coach Chris Young said. "Jordan is one of those kids that just has a great motor. People talk about getting to plays fast and he is one that definitely does that.

"He is someone who wants to be great and will do whatever it takes to get there in college just as he did in high school."

Arkansas State, Colorado and Boston College had also offered Hanna preferred walk on options in addition to scholarship offers from Southern Miss, Pittsburg State, Central Missouri, Austin Peay, Northeastern State and Southern Miss.

Hanna announced his decision Sunday to turn down offers to those other schools and head to Fayetteville to join his brother Morgan as a Razorback.

The decision did not come as a surprise to Young, who talked with Arkansas head coach Sam Pittman earlier this week.

"He had a lot of great offers, but really he just wanted to go to Arkansas and has a great belief in himself," Young said. "He knows that if he continues to do the things that he has done the last few years that he is going to have the opportunity to play there.

"I am really excited for him and he is thrilled. I told Coach Pittman when I talked to him this week that you won't have a young man in your program more excited to be there than Jordan. I expect great things from him."

Because he is not 6-4 or 6-5 and doesn't weigh 230 to 240 pounds, Hanna was overlooked by some schools because he doesn't have the measurables that college coaches seem to be looking for these days.

In that regard, he is similar to former Greenwood standout and current Razorbacks linebacker Grant Morgan (5-11, 230), who has gone from preferred walk on to All-America last season.

"Colleges now -- and they have to -- recruit on potential and not performance," Young said. "Jordan is one of those kids like Grant Morgan who just performs. He does his job.

"I remember talking to college coaches about Grant and they were saying he is not tall enough, he is not fast enough, he is not big enough, but look what he has done now with hard work."

Young knows that Hanna will need time to transform his body to play in the SEC.

"Obviously it is going to take some time," Young said. "He is going to have to get into the weight room and get bigger and get stronger, but I suspect down the line that he is going to get his opportunity and make the most of it.

"Jordan knows what he is capable of and he, better than anybody else, knows the work he puts in. So his expectations are very high. But that's what you want out of a young man - to work as hard you can and expect to achieve that."

Greenwood won the title with Young taking over for long-time head coach Rick Jones, who left to take a job at the University of Missouri.

"I am fortunate that I was blessed with a great staff," Young said. "We had several great coaches that Coach Jones had hired and stayed on staff and then I was able to to go out and get some really good football coaches as well.

"Our kids here at Greenwood are special. They know what happens when they work hard and they are willing to put in the work at 5:30 in the morning or in the summer or coming up on Sunday afternoon to watch film.

"They know that if they work hard, they are going to have the opportunity to be successful. We had a great group that worked extremely hard this year, had a lot of great seniors and our leadership was very good.

"Jordan was one of those guys. He not only led our team vocally, but also behind the scenes, even with the young guys. He is as special as they come."

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