FAYETTEVILLE — The Arkansas Razorbacks signed 16 high school players and eight college transfers Wednesday on the first day of the early national signing period for football.
Arkansas’ class of high school signees is ranked 28th overall and 14th in the Southeastern Conference by 247Sports. The SEC will expand to 16 teams next season when Texas and Oklahoma join the league.
The Razorbacks’ transfer class, which is expected to grow, is ranked 16th overall and fifth in the SEC by 247Sports. The NCAA’s transfer portal is open until early January and will reopen in the spring.
By only signing 16 high school players, Arkansas has an opportunity to sign several more transfers who will provide experience for a team on the heels of a season that ended with a 4-8 overall record and 1-7 record in SEC play.
The Razorbacks’ high school class is highlighted by a pair of 4-star recruits from Arkansas, defensive lineman Charleston Collins of Little Rock Mills and running back Braylen Russell of Benton.
A third 4-star prospect from the state, receiver Courtney Crutchfield of Pine Bluff, was previously committed to the Razorbacks, but signed with conference rival Missouri.
Other 4-star signees are cornerback Selman Bridges of Lake Belton High School and Temple, Texas; receiver Ashton Bethel-Roman of Ridge Point High School and Missouri City, Texas; and quarterback KJ Jackson from Saint James School in Montgomery, Ala.
Collins is the only top-100 overall signee in the class, according to 247Sports. The publication ranks Bridges the 10th-best player at his position.
Collins and Russell are among five signees from the state of Arkansas. The Razorbacks also signed receiver CJ Brown from Bentonville, linebacker Wyatt Simmons from Harding Academy and offensive lineman Kobe Branham from Fort Smith Southside.
Arkansas signed four high school players from Texas — Bethel-Roman, Bridges and cornerbacks Ahkhari Johnson from Pleasant Grove High School in Texarkana, and Jaden Allen from Aledo.
The Razorbacks signed three high school players from Alabama and one apiece from Louisiana, Georgia, Mississippi and Kentucky.
Jeremy Cook, a safety from Hoover, Ala., has verbally committed to Arkansas but has not signed.
The Razorbacks got a signing day surprise when receiver Krosse Johnson of Holy Cross High School in New Orleans committed early Wednesday. Johnson de-committed from Louisiana-Lafayette on Tuesday.
High School Signees (16)
Name; Pos.; High School; Ht.; Wt.
Jaden Allen; DB; Aledo, Texas; 5-10; 163
Ashton Bethel-Roman; WR; Missouri City (Texas) Ridge Point; 6-0; 171
Kobe Branham; OL; Fort Smith Southside; 6-5; 323
Selman Bridges; DB; Temple (Texas) Lake Belton; 6-2; 163
CJ Brown; WR; Bentonville; 6-1; 185
Charleston Collins; DL; Little Rock Mills; 6-5; 261
Kavion Henderson; DL; Leeds, Ala.; 6-2; 253
KJ Jackson; QB; Montgomery (Ala.) Saint James; 6-4; 222
Ahkhari Johnson; DB; Texarkana (Texas) Pleasant Grove; 5-11; 179
Krosse Johnson; WR; New Orleans Holy Cross; 5-10; 170
Justin Logan; LB; Kennesaw (Ga.) Kell; 6-2; 213
Zuri Madison; OL; Lexington (Ky.) Douglass; 6-3; 315
Tevis Metcalf; DB; Clay, Ala.; 5-10; 181
Juju Pope; DB; Pope (Miss.) South Panola; 6-0; 195
Braylen Russell; RB; Benton; 6-1; 240
Wyatt Simmons; LB; Searcy/Harding Academy; 6-1; 213
College Transfers (8)
Name; Pos.; High School; College; Ht.; Wt.
Keyshawn Blackstock; OL; Covington, Ga.; Michigan State; 6-5; 315
Fernando Carmona; OL; Las Vegas; San Jose State; 6-5; 314
Taylen Green; QB; Lewisville, Texas; Boise State; 6-6; 221
Addison Nichols; OL; Norcross, Ga.; Tennessee; 6-5; 327
Andreas Paaske; TE; Copenhagen, Denmark; Eastern Michigan; 6-6; 255
Matthew Shipley; K; Liberty Hill, Texas; Hawaii; 6-1; 190
Doneiko Slaughter; DB; Roswell, Ga.; Tennessee; 6-0; 190
Xavian Sorey; LB; Campbellton, Fla.; Georgia; 6-3; 220