re: Arkansas Football 2024 Recruiting Thread **WR Zachary Taylor Commits**

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Offensive line coach Eric Mateos and the Arkansas Razorbacks landed another offensive lineman through the transfer portal on Tuesday, as Tennessee interior lineman Addison Nichols has committed to the Hogs, he tells HawgBeat.

A product of Norcross, Georgia, Nichols is the seventh transfer portal pickup of the offseason for the Razorbacks and third offensive lineman.

A redshirt freshman for the Volunteers, Nichols played a total of 116 snaps and finished the 2023 season with an overall Pro Football Focus grade of 61.3 at the guard position.

The 6-foot-5, 327-pound transfer also finished the season with a pass block grade of 68.1 and a run block grade of 58.7.

Nichols was given a four-star rating by Rivals and was considered the No. 15 offensive tackle in the country out of high school. This was good for the No. 166 spot nationally, as well.

Now, Nichols will have three years of eligibility remaining to finish his college career.

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Arkansas landed another offensive lineman from the transfer portal on Tuesday when former Tennessee Volunteer guard Addison Nichols went public with his decision. Nichols, 6-5, 325, will have three years of eligibility remaining when he officially joins the Razorbacks in January.

Nichols made his decision after visiting Georgia Tech, Clemson, and Arkansas last week. He had great things to say (VIP) on Sunday about his time with Razorback head coach Sam Pittman and new offensive line coach Eric Mateos. While Nichols played mostly guard as a reserve lineman in Knoxville, he practiced at center and is expected to get a shot at earning the job with the Razorbacks.

As a three-star prospect out of Norcross (Ga.) Greater Atlanta Christian in the Class of 2022, Nichols chose the Vols over a staggering list of offers that included Georgia, USC, Ohio State, Florida, Alabama, Clemson, Florida State and others.

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Quick Pivot on the Crystal Ball to Arkansas for Bradley Shaw (4:30 pm)

With Clemson landing CJ Kubah-Taylor, I now like Arkansas's position for Hoover (Ala.) High Top247 linebacker Bradley Shaw. The Tigers are done at the position.

The Razorbacks, led by Travis Williams have been all in on Shaw who is 247Sports’ No. 8 linebacker and. No. 101 prospect overall.


Huge is it happens!!! Way to go Williams!

How did we beat out Clemson for a top LB recruit?

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Are these guys some of those juco and community college players our fans said we’d be signing?

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Well, the college is in a community I suppose!

The funniest part of today is Mizzou still having a lower average player rating than us by a good bit.

Hell, Mizzou has the worst player ratings in the SEC besides State and Vandy.

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After losing three linebackers to the transfer portal this offseason, Arkansas finally added one with the commitment of former Georgia linebacker Xavian Sorey Jr. on Tuesday per his Instagram.

A redshirt sophomore out of IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, Sorey made the announcement after visiting Fayetteville on Dec. 12.

The 6-foot-3, 220-pound athlete played in 11 total games 2023, making two starts. He only racked up 19 total tackles and a sack.

According to Pro Football Focus, Sorey played 188 snaps and logged an overall defensive grade of 60.1. His coverage grade was 66.1, pass rush grade was 54.2, and his run defense grade was 57.4.

Sorey will have two years of eligibility remaining with the Razorbacks. He is the first transfer linebacker in the 2024 class and eighth transfer portal commitment overall.

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Georgia Bio
Career Highs

* 6 tackles vs. UAB, 2023

* 1.0 TFL vs. UAB, 2021

* 1 interception vs. Charleston Southern, 2021

2023: Has played in 11 games to date, making two starts..Tallied a team-high six tackles, including five solo, in win over UAB...had a sack for a loss of two yards in SEC win over Auburn...broke up a pass in win over Kentucky...had five solo tackles in SEC Championship against Alabama.

2022: Saw action as a reserve LB and on kick coverage units in 12 of 15 games to date...had one tackle and one QB hurry in season-opening win over No. 11 Oregon...had a first-quarter fumble recovery in win over Samford...one solo tackle in win at South Carolina.

2021: Saw his first collegiate action as a reserve in Georgia's win over UAB...also played vs. Missouri, Charleston Southern and Georgia Tech...had one tackle and his first career interception in the CSU game...enrolled at UGA in January 2021 and participated in spring drills.

High School: IMG Academy, coached by Bobby Acosta…selected to the 2021 All-American Bowl and 2021 Polynesian Bowl…247Sports.com composite five-star prospect…ranked as the #1 outside linebacker prospect, #6 prospect in Florida, and #20 prospect nationally…PrepStar Magazine four-star prospect, Top 150 Dream Team…ranked as the #4 athlete prospect, #13 prospect in Florida, and #81 prospect nationally…rivals.com four-star prospect…ranked as the #3 OLB prospect, #12 prospect in Florida, and #48 prospect nationally…ESPN.com four-star prospect…ranked as the #3 athlete prospect, #6 prospect in Florida, and #88 prospect nationally…helped lead IMG Academy to 8-0 record in 2020 senior season…posted eight tackles, including two tackles for loss in three games during season…named to MaxPreps Preseason Florida All-State First Team defense…played for Graceville HS for first three seasons of high school career…led Tigers to 8-4 record in 2019 junior season, advancing to FHSAA Class A Regional Semifinals…played at running back, linebacker, and defensive back…finished second on team in rushing with 81 carries for 638 yards and three touchdowns, along with posting four catches for 110 yards and two touchdowns… finished fifth on team with 57 tackles, in addition to three interceptions…named to Florida High School Football Class A All-State Team honorable mention…also played forward on Graceville basketball team for three seasons, leading Tigers to 21-8 record in 2019-20 junior season…led team in scoring and rebounding with 14.7 points and 7.8 rebounds per game during 2019-20.

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Arkansas landed a massive transfer commitment on Tuesday when former Georgia linebacker Xavian Sorey went public with his decision to call the Hogs. Sorey, 6-3, 220, was a 247Sports Composite five-star recruit by 247Sports in the Class of 2021.

A native of Campbellton in the Florida panhandle, Sorey is a redshirt-sophomore who will have two years remaining in Fayetteville. He is expected to officially join the Razorbacks in January.

“I mean, it’s a great place and I know people here,” Sorey said. “Jaheim Singletary, that’s my former teammate. Andrew……from Florida. So there’s a lot of factors that can factor in.”

Sorey attended IMG Academy as a senior in high school and signed with Georgia as the nation's No. 35 overall prospect per 247Sports. He enrolled early and saw action in four games as a freshman in 2021 while preserving his redshirt season. He recorded three tackles in 12 games in 2022, and this year he produced 19 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, a sack, and a pass break-up through 11 games played.

Former Director of Scouting Barton Simmons gave Sorey a thorough evaluation as a high school prospect:

"Above average height as a linebacker with strong upper body that still is filling out and is far from maxed out. Length drives his range on defense, particularly in pass coverage. Has natural soft hands with the ability to track and make plays on the football in coverage. Makes one-handed catches and plays downfield regularly. Showcases explosiveness on the basketball court and plays well above the rim. Has versatility on the football field and is used as a running back, fullback, tight end and rover. Shows natural body control. More smooth than sudden. Plays fast but under control. Is not a violent tackler. Makes most of his plays defensively on the perimeter and doesn't show a lot of downhill tackling. Has versatility to be an inside or outside linebacker. Size lends to inside. Not as rare physically as an edge defender. Needs to showcase that he has the demeanor necessary to be dominant at linebacker and inside the tackle box but has the traits necessary to be an elite modern linebacker. Likely impact Power 5 prospect with early round NFL Draft potential."

Sorey is a big get for the Razorbacks, who have lost three linebackers to the portal in starter Chris Paul Jr. and backups Jordan Crook and Mani Powell. The Hogs are still in the mix for others, including JUCO standout and new Baylor commit Keaton Thomas, as well as Top247 member Bradley Shaw in the 2024 high school ranks.

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I think he was a 5* bro!

USC LB joins the fold. Welcome to the hill Tackett Curtis.

Edit- I thought I read committed. Jumped the gun. Richard posted an update.

Curtis is a Many, LA kid. Ohio State has offered. Gonna be tough to fight off unless he wants to be closer to home.

Big time HS recruit. Top 12 LB prospect in the nation last year.

Sounds like we picked up an unexpected signing this AM from Krosse Johnson. Small, fast WR. Doesn't seem to be a ton of info out there about him.

247