2004 Arkansas Football National Letter-of-Intent Signees (Final)

NOTE: Classification listed is as of fall 2004

Jamaal Anderson, FR, WR, 6-7, 220, Little Rock (Parkview HS), Ark.

Freddie Barnett, FR, DT, 6-2, 300, Texarkana (Arkansas HS), Ark.

Fred Bledsoe, FR, DE, 6-3, 280, Little Rock (Central HS), Ark.

Anthony Brown, JR, WR, 6-6, 215, Hot Springs (Brentwood [Tenn.] HS / Mississippi Delta CC), Ark.

Rick Culbert, FR, DB, 6-0, 180, Vidor (Vidor HS), Texas

Weston Dacus, FR, FB/LB, 6-2, 230, Searcy (Searcy HS), Ark.

Freddie Fairchild, FR, LB/DE, 6-4, 205, Little Rock (Central HS), Ark.

Cody Green, FR, OL, 6-6, 295, Oneonta (Cullman HS), Ala.

Marcus Harrison, FR, DL, 6-3, 285, Little Rock (Mills HS / Hargrave Military [Va.] Academy), Ark.

Peyton Hillis, FR, FB, 6-2, 240, Conway (Conway HS), Ark.

Shedrick Johnson, FR, CB, 5-10, 175, Sweeny (Sweeny HS), Texas

Randy Kelly, JR, S, 6-0, 180, Palmetto (Manatee HS / Coffeyville CC), Fla.

Cedric Logan, FR, WR/DB, 6-1, 170, Fayetteville (Fayetteville HS), Ark.

Jonathan Luigs, FR, OL, 6-4, 290, Little Rock (Pulaski Academy), Ark.

**Sam McFadin, FR, LB, 6-0, 210, Conway (Conway HS), Ark.

Ernest Mitchell, FR, DT, 6-2, 290, Newnan (Newnan HS), Ga.

Marcus Monk, FR, WR, 6-6, 205, Lepanto (East Poinsett County HS), Ark.

Alex Mortensen, FR, QB, 6-2, 180, Fairburn (Landmark Christian), Ga.

Jeremy Palmoore, FR, OL, 6-6, 315, Memphis (Hamilton HS / Hargrave [Va.] Military Academy), Tenn.

Kyle Payne, FR, FB, 6-1, 210, West Memphis (West Memphis HS), Ark.

Skye Peterson, SO, C, 6-3, 290, Little Rock (Millard West [Neb.] HS / Milford [CT] Academy / Kansas / Delta [Miss.] CC), Ark.

**John Aaron Rees, FR, WR, 6-1, 201, Little Rock (Pulaski Academy), Ark.

Matterral Richardson, FR, CB, 5-11, 185, Marlin (Marlin HS), Texas

**Collin Sears, FR, OL, 6-5, 285, Conway (Conway HS), Ark.

Zach Snider, FR, LB, 6-3, 225, Tulsa (Union HS), Okla.

Korey Sutton, FR, TB, 5-10, 193, Texarkana (Texas HS), Texas

Michael Tate, FR, DE, 6-4, 245, Tulsa (Washington HS), Okla.

**Lance Thompson, FR, TE, 6-4, 245, Searcy (Searcy HS), Ark.

Darius Vinnett, JR, CB, 5-9, 175, Saint Rose (Destrahan HS / West Hill [Calif.] College), La.

Dallas Washington, FR, CB, 6-0, 190, Douglasville (Atlanta HS), Texas

Desmond Williams, FR, S, 6-2, 205, Euless (Trinity HS), Texas

Woody Wilson, FR, Athlete, 6-0, 180, Fayetteville (Fayetteville HS), Ark.

Marc Winston, FR, TE/DL, 6-6, 225, Little Rock (Parkview HS), Ark.

D’Nerian Wrighter, FR, S, 6-1, 205, Marlin (Marlin HS), Texas

Ryan Young, FR, OL, 6-7, 320, Waco (University HS), Texas

** Denotes Non-Scholarship player that has been admitted to the University of Arkansas and has signed a written offer of admission

JAMAAL ANDERSON

WR – FR – 6-7 – 220 – Little Rock (Parkview HS), Ark.

40-yard dash: 4.6

He racked up 85 catches for 1,620 yards and 13 touchdowns in his prep career for Coach Earnest McGee. He is the all-time leading receiver at Parkview High School after eclipsing the mark held by former Green Bay Packers tight end and current Arkansas Razorback Sports Network color commentator Keith Jackson. He also owns career school records for most receptions and most touchdown catches. He earned 30 receptions for 430 yards and six touchdowns in just eight games as a senior. He tallied a school record 166 yards and three touchdowns against Little Rock Central as a senior. He missed two games with a concussion. In his junior campaign, he hauled in 23 passes for 530 yards and four touchdowns. He was named to the All-Junior Arkansas team as well as garnering all-conference accolades. He was also voted the most outstanding receiver on his squad. As a sophomore, he made 33 catches for 660 yards and three scores. A standout in high school basketball as well, he was a teammate of fellow UA signee Marc Winston. He also participated in track and field. The Morning News has him rated as the No. 19 prospect in Arkansas. He is ranked as the No. 11 prospect in Arkansas by SuperPrep. Max Emfinger rates him as the No. 50 flanker/receiver in the nation. In addition to Arkansas, he was recruited by Alabama, Colorado, Florida and Ole Miss.

FREDDIE BARNETT

DT – FR – 6-2 – 300 – Texarkana (Arkansas HS), Ark.

40-yard dash: 4.8

A standout at Texarkana High School for Coach Bill Keopple, he earned a spot on The Associated Press Arkansas Super Team and the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette All-Arkansas Team as a senior. He was also selected to the Arkansas NBC People’s Choice team. He tallied 60 tackles including 15 tackles for loss and eight sacks as a senior. He also blocked five kicks in his final prep campaign. He played in only five games as a junior due to a sprained knee injury. He was named the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Defensive Player of the Year as a sophomore after racking up 97 tackles, including 49 unassisted stops, and eight sacks. He also forced three fumbles and recovered two fumbles. He also earned first team all-conference honors as a sophomore. He benched 400 pounds and earned a squat lift of 550 pounds in high school. He has been nominated to participate in the Down Under Bowl in Australia this June. Max Emfinger ranks him as the No. 17 nose tackle in the country. He is rated as the No. 42 defensive tackle in the nation and the No. 4 recruit in Arkansas by Rivals.com. SuperPrep rates him as the No. 4 prospect in Arkansas. The Morning News rates him as the No. 7 prospect in the state. He is ranked as the No. 91 overall prospect and the No. 12 defensive tackle in the nation by The Insiders.com. He is listed as one of the nation’s “Super Prospects” by College Sports.com. He was also recruited by LSU, Missouri, Miami and UCLA.

FRED BLEDSOE

DE – FR – 6-3 – 280 – Little Rock (Central HS), Ark.

40-yard dash: 4.9

He racked up 91 tackles, including nine tackles for loss, for Coach Bernie Cox in his senior season. He tallied three sacks and three interceptions. He returned an interception for a touchdown to help lead the Tigers to an undefeated season and the AAAAA state championship. He earned all-state honors and was named to The Associated Press’ Super Team and the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette All-Arkansas Team. The SuperPrep All-America selection ranks as the No. 2 prospect in Arkansas according to the same publication. The Morning News lists him as the No. 1 prospect in the state. He was a high school teammate of fellow UA signee Freddie Fairchild. He is ranked as the No. 24 defensive tackle and the No. 58 defensive lineman overall by Insiders.com. Rivals.com rates him as the No. 21 defensive tackle in the country and the No. 10 prospect in Arkansas. He is a cousin of former Razorback Cory Nichols (1995-97). He was also recruited by Tennessee and Oklahoma State.

ANTHONY BROWN

WR – JR – 6-6 – 215 – Hot Springs (Brentwood [Tenn.] HS / Mississippi Delta CC), Ark.

40-yard dash: 4.5

He made 35 catches for 603 yards and 10 touchdowns as a sophomore at Mississippi Delta Community College for Coach Jim Southward. His 10 touchdowns ranked second in the state among junior college wide receivers. He had 20 receptions for more than 40 yards on the season. He was named to the second team all-state junior college squad in 2003. He is rated as the No. 4 junior college wide receiver in the nation by Insiders.com. SuperPrep ranks him as No. 80 in its listing of the top 100 junior college prospects. He played his entire prep football career at Brentwood [Tenn.] High School before moving to Hot Springs, Ark. He was a second-team all-state selection as a junior. He was not eligible to play at Hot Springs in his senior year because of a transfer rule. He has a 35-inch vertical jump. He was also recruited by Alabama, Mississippi State and Ole Miss.

RICK CULBERT

DB – FR – 6-0 – 180 – Vidor (Vidor HS), Texas

40-yard dash: 4.3

He was a two-way starter for Coach Jeff Matthews at Vidor High School. During his prep career, he played at quarterback, halfback, wide receiver and defensive back. He rushed 13 times for 106 yards and an 8.2 yards-per-carry average as a senior. He also completed 15 of 27 passes for 185 yards and two touchdowns and made seven receptions for 193 yards. As a junior, he rushed 55 times for 470 yards and caught 10 passes for 250 yards. He scored 15 touchdowns. He also tallied 30 tackles and six interceptions. In the first game of his junior season, he recorded a school record three interceptions. As a sophomore, he snared eight interceptions. He was a baseball and track and field standout as well. He has a vertical jump of 36 inches. He is ranked as the No. 24 all-purpose back by Max Emfinger. He is rated as the No. 106 prospect in Texas by SuperPrep. He was also recruited by Oklahoma State, Purdue, LSU, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Rice and Iowa.

WESTON DACUS

FB/LB – FR – 6-2 – 230 – Searcy (Searcy HS), Ark.

40-yard dash: 4.6

He earned 3,828 rushing yards and 49 touchdowns on 576 career carries as a fullback for Coach Danny Mallett. He scored 300 points in his high school career. In his senior season, he tallied 1,462 yards and 19 touchdowns on 240 carries. He averaged 6.1 yards per carry. He earned four receptions for 27 yards. He was selected to Fox Sports Net’s 2003 “All South” third-team offense. He rushed for 1,183 yards and 15 touchdowns on 168 attempts as a junior. He boasted a 7.0 yards-per-carry average in his junior campaign. He recorded a bench press of 355 yards and a 485-pound squat lift as a prepster. He also has a 36-inch vertical jump. His brother Robert Joseph plays football at Randolph Macon College in Chatham, Va. He was a high school teammate of fellow UA signee Lance Thompson. The Morning News ranks him at the No. 8 prospect in Arkansas. He is rated as the nation’s No. 18 running back by Max Emfinger. Insiders.com ranks him as the No. 27 running back in the country. SuperPrep has him as the No. 5 prospect in Arkansas. He is listed as one of the nation’s “Super Prospects” by College Sports.com. He was also recruited by Iowa, Nebraska, LSU and Oklahoma State.

FREDDIE FAIRCHILD

LBDE – FR – 6-4 – 205 – Little Rock (Central HS), Ark.

40-yard dash: 4.6

He was the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Player of the Year in his senior season for Coach Bernie Cox. He tallied 156 tackles (77 solo, 79 assisted), five tackles for loss and five pass deflections. He also earned two interceptions, two fumble recoveries and one forced fumble. The Associated Press named him to its Super Team following his senior season. He was also a member of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette All-Arkansas Team. He played only two years of organized football in high school. He was a high school teammate of fellow UA signee Fred Bledsoe. SuperPrep has him rated as the No. 14 prospect in Arkansas while The Morning News has him at No. 23. He was also recruited by Arkansas State and Memphis.

CODY GREEN

OL – FR – 6-6 – 295 – Oneonta (Cullman HS), Ala.

40-yard dash: 5.3

He earned first-team all-region honors and honorable mention all-state 5A accolades as a senior for Coach Mark Britton at Cullman High School. He helped clear the way for an offense that scored 342 points in 12 games. He played only his senior season at Cullman High School after transferring from Oneonta HS. He was a three-time all-county selection and was named to the All-Metro Birmingham squad in both his junior and senior seasons. He was named a first-team all-state selection as a junior. He was ranked in the top five offensive linemen in Alabama in both the preseason and following his senior campaign. He was selected to play in the 2004 Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Game. He attended the same high school as current Razorback offensive tackle Zac Tubbs. Max Emfinger has him rated as the No. 49 offensive tackle in the nation. He was also recruited by Alabama, Florida, UAB and Southern Miss.

MARCUS HARRISON

DL – FR – 6-3 – 285 – Little Rock (Mills HS / Hargrave [Va.] Military Academy), Ark.

40-yard dash: 4.9

Originally signed as a part of the 2003 Arkansas signing class, he spent a year at Hargrave Academy playing for Coach Robert Prunty before coming to Fayetteville. He is rated as the No. 11 nose tackle in the nation by Max Emfinger. As a senior, he was a member of The Associated Press Super Team as a defensive tackle. He recorded 40 tackles and two sacks as a junior. He also snared nine passes as a tight end. He recorded an 8-foot, 2-inch standing broad jump and 28-inch vertical jump in high school. He was a high school teammate of current Razorback Farod Jackson. Coming out of high school, he was ranked as the No. 4 overall player in Arkansas and the No. 29 defensive tackle in the nation by Rivals.com. TheInsiders.com ranked him as the No. 77 defensive tackle in the country. He was also rated the No. 72 player in the Southwest by Tom Lemming and given a three-star rating by Forrest Davis. He was SuperPrep’s No. 6 player in Arkansas and Heartland Recruiting’s No. 90 player in the Big XII region. He was selected to PrepStar’s all-region IX Team. He was also recruited by Oklahoma and Tennessee.

PEYTON HILLIS

FB – FR – 6-2 – 240 – Conway (Conway HS), Ark.

40-yard dash: 4.6

One of the nation’s top recruits, he rushed for 2,631 rushing yards and 29 touchdowns, including nine touchdowns of more than 55 yards, on 261 carries for an average of 10.1 yards per carry in his senior season. His 2,631 yards was the second highest single-season total in Class AAAAA history trailing only fellow Razorback De’Arrius Howard (2,746). He earned 100 yards or more in all 12 games as a senior. He also caught 12 passes for 172 yards and a touchdown. He rushed for 384 yards and four touchdowns in a win over Russellville as a senior for Coach Kenny Smith. He was named the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Offensive Player of the Year as a senior. He was also named to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette All-Arkansas Team as both a junior and a senior. He was also a member of The Associated Press Arkansas Super Team and was named to the Fox Sports Net “All-South” first-team Offense. He won the Landers Award, recognizing the top high school football player in Arkansas. Previous winners of the award include current Razorbacks De’Arrius Howard and Landon Leach. He earned consensus all-conference, all-state and All-Arkansas honors as a junior and a senior. He racked up 1,427 yards and 17 touchdowns as a junior. He also snared 10 receptions for 143 yards and two touchdowns. A SuperPrep All-American, he is ranked as both the top fullback in the nation and the top prospect in Arkansas by the same publication. He was selected to Tom Lemming’s Prep Football Report All-America squad. He is a member of the Parade magazine All-America football team. He is rated as the No. 2 fullback in the nation and as the No. 1 prospect in Arkansas by Rivals.com. He is also ranked as the No. 44 prospect in the Southeast by Rivals.com. Max Emfinger has him as the top fullback prospect in the nation. Tom Lemming ranks him as the No. 44 overall player in the nation’s top 100 prep players. The Insiders.com ranks him as the No. 79 prospect and the No. 10 running back in the country. He is listed as the No. 3 prospect in Arkansas by The Morning News. He was a high school teammate of fellow UA signees Collin Sears and Sam McFadin. He was also recruited by Alabama, Oklahoma, Colorado, Nebraska, Tennessee and Michigan.

SHEDRICK JOHNSON

CB – FR – 5-10 – 175 – Sweeny (Sweeny HS), Texas

40-yard dash: 4.4

He rushed for 1,022 yards and eight touchdowns on 129 rushes and completed nine of 18 passes for one touchdown as a senior. He made six catches for 85 yards and a score. He also racked up five interceptions in his final prep campaign for Coach Mike Treybig. As a junior, he earned 1,550 all-purpose yards, returned three kickoffs for touchdowns and intercepted three passes on his way to first-team all-district and all-county honors. He is rated as the No. 42 cornerback in the nation by Rivals.com. He is ranked in The Dallas Morning News Top 100 players in Texas. He was also recruited by Texas A&M, Kansas State, Houston, Iowa, Oklahoma State, Syracuse and Iowa State.

RANDY KELLY

S– JR – 6-0 – 180 – Palmetto (Manatee HS / Coffeyville CC), Fla.

40-yard dash: 4.4

After a standout prep campaign at Manatee High School, he spent two years at Coffeyville Community College. He earned a redshirt in his first year. In his sophomore season, he led the squad and ranked third in the Jayhawk Conference with 107 tackles, including 45 unassisted stops, in 10 games for Coach Jeff Leiker. He also registered five tackles for loss (-13), a sack, an interception, two pass deflections, three forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries. He was the defensive most valuable player and helped lead the Red Ravens to a victory in the Dalton Defenders Bowl. He was also recruited by Tennessee, TCU, Washington, Kansas State, East Carolina and BYU.

CEDRIC LOGAN

WR/DB – FR – 6-1 – 170 – Fayetteville (Fayetteville HS), Ark.

40-yard dash: 4.37

He hauled in 42 catches for 829 yards and nine touchdowns in his final prep campaign. He rushed for 201 yards and three touchdowns on only 29 carries. He racked up a total of 1,570 all-purpose yards and 13 touchdowns as a senior including a punt return, kickoff return and interception return for scores. He racked up 260 yards and a touchdown on 19 punt returns and 280 yards and a touchdown on eight kickoff returns. He averaged 35.0 yards on kickoff returns. He also intercepted three passes as a senior. He was also the deep snapper for his squad. He was named to The Morning News all-area football team and was a member of both The Associated Press Arkansas Super Team and Class AAAAA all-state squad. He was also named to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette All-Arkansas Team as a senior. He earned all-state honors in basketball and helped lead his team to a AAAA state championship. He was named to the AAAAA state tournament team. He was also selected to The Morning News of Northwest Arkansas All-Area squad after averaging 10 points, five rebounds and two steals on the campaign. As a junior, he earned 652 yards and eight touchdowns on 42 receptions. He rushed for 131 yards and two touchdowns on six attempts. He is ranked No. 8 in Arkansas overall and No. 25 in the nation among wide receivers by Rivals.com. A three-sport star in high school, he also was the Bulldogs’ starting point guard in basketball and a standout on the track and field squad. He has posted times of 10.6 and 21.7 in the 100 meters and 200 meters, respectively. He has a 32-inch vertical jump. He was a high school teammate of fellow UA signee Woody Wilson. Max Emfinger rates him as the No. 19 wide receiver in the country. He is rated as the nation’s No. 71 wide receiver by Insiders.com. SuperPrep has him listed as the No. 8 prospect in Arkansas while The Morning News has him at No. 2. He was also recruited by Auburn, Nebraska, Florida, Oklahoma, Penn State and Texas A&M.

JONATHAN LUIGS

OL – FR – 6-4 – 290 – Little Rock (Pulaski Academy), Ark.

40-yard dash: 5.1

He was a three-year starter on the offensive line for Coach Kevin Kelley. He started at both center and offensive tackle as well as playing defensive end. He graded out at 90 percent or more in blocking in each of his three varsity seasons. He capped his prep career by helping his squad win its first state championship in school history. He was named to The Associated Press Arkansas Super Team and the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette All-Arkansas Team as senior and the all-metro squad as a junior. He racked up 77 tackles, including 26 solo stops, in his junior campaign. He also earned four sacks, three more tackles for loss (-30) and two quarterback hurries. He was a member of the National Honor Society. SuperPrep has him rated as the No. 12 prospect in Arkansas while The Morning News has him at No. 14. He was also recruited by LSU, Memphis, Alabama, Iowa, Kansas State and Nebraska.

SAM McFADIN**

LB – FR – 6-0 – 210 – Conway (Conway HS), Ark.

40-yard dash: 4.6

He was a standout for Coach Kenny Smith and the Wampus Cats. He was a high school teammate of fellow UA signees Peyton Hillis and Collin Sears. He was also recruited by Arkansas State, Central Arkansas and Arkansas Tech.

ERNEST MITCHELL

DT – FR – 6-2 – 290 – Newnan (Newnan HS), Ga.

40-yard dash: 4.85

He racked up 146 tackles, including 21 tackles for loss, in his senior season at Newnan High School. He tallied 10 sacks for Coach Robert Herring. He helped his high school squad post a 13-2 record in his final campaign. He is rated as the No. 18 player in Georgia by Rivals.com. He is a member of the Southeast Elite 88 and is the nation’s No. 27 defensive tackle in rankings by the same outlet. He is listed as one of the nation’s “Super Prospects” by College Sports.com. He is ranked as the No. 22 prospect in Georgia by SuperPrep. He can bench 425 pounds and can squat lift 540 pounds. He also was recruited by Florida State and Clemson.

MARCUS MONK

WR – FR – 6-6 – 205 – Lepanto (East Poinsett County HS), Ark.

40-yard dash: 4.5

An all-state selection in both football and basketball at East Poinsett County High School, he plans to play both sports at Arkansas. He is considered by some publications as the top basketball prospect in the state. He tallied more than 50 receptions as a senior for Coach Mark Courtney. He hauled in 52 balls for 1,104 yards and 19 touchdowns as a junior. He also rushed for 110 yards on 10 carries and earned 400 yards on 15 kickoff returns. As a junior in basketball, he averaged 25.8 points and 15.7 rebounds per game. He averaged a double-double per game in his sophomore season. He was part of a state basketball championship as a freshman and a senior. The Morning News has him ranked as the No. 5 football prospect in Arkansas. He is rated as the No. 68 wide receiver in the nation by Rivals.com. He is also ranked as the state’s No. 7 prospect by Rivals.com. SuperPrep has him as the No. 9 prospect in Arkansas and the No. 30 wide receiver in the Southeast Region. Insiders.com ranks him as the No. 97 wide receiver in the country.

ALEX MORTENSEN

QB – FR – 6-2 – 194 – Fairburn (Landmark Christian), Ga.

40-yard dash: 4.72

The 2003 Atlanta Journal-Constitution Class-A Offensive Player of the Year recipient posted a stellar career at Landmark Christian School for Coach Kenny Dallas. He completed 159 of 269 pass attempts for 2,565 yards and 29 touchdowns in his senior season. He was named to the first team all-state squad by The Associated Press and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He earned all-state honors three times in his prep career. The AJC also named him the Atlanta City/South Metro Offensive Player of the Year (included all high school classifications) twice. He was a two-time Region 5-A Most Valuable Player award winner. He completed 151 passes on 241 pass attempts for 2,270 yards and 25 touchdowns as a junior. He earned honorable mention all-state honors for that campaign. He was one of three juniors nationally to be selected as a “Ball Boy” to the Elite 11 quarterback camp in 2002. He participated in the North-South Georgia All-Star Game. His high school team posted a combined 29-7 record in his sophomore, junior and senior seasons. He was selected to the Tom Lemming’s Prep Football Report All-America squad. The same outlet ranked him as the No. 25 overall quarterback in the country including the No. 1 quarterback in Georgia. He is rated as the No. 29 pro-style quarterback in the nation by Rivals.com. He is listed as one of the nation’s “Super Prospects” by College Sports.com. Max Emfinger has him ranked as the No. 13 drop-back quarterback and the No. 27 overall quarterback in the country. He is rated as the No. 23 prospect in Georgia by SuperPrep. He participated in the Elite 11 quarterback trials this summer. He is the son of ESPN NFL analyst Chris Mortensen. He was also recruited by LSU, Alabama, Clemson, North Carolina State, North Carolina and Hawaii.


JEREMY PALMOORE

OL – FR – 6-6 – 315 – Memphis (Hamilton HS / Hargrave [Va.] Military Academy), Tenn.

40-yard dash: 5.0

Originally signed as a member of last year’s UA signing class, he attended Hargrave Academy and played for Coach Robert Prunty in 2003. He is rated as the No. 13 junior college lineman by Max Emfinger. Insiders.com has him ranked as the No. 50 offensive lineman in the country. Rivals.com rated him as the No. 56 prospect among non-high school players. As a senior in high school, he earned 38 tackles and five sacks at defensive tackle. He also started at offensive tackle. He missed all but one game of his junior campaign with a broken arm. Following his high school career, he was rated as the No. 13 player in the state of Tennessee by the Knoxville News-Sentinel and as the nation’s No. 67 offensive tackle by Rivals.com. Tom Lemming’s Prep Football Report ranked him as the No. 88 player in the Southwest. He earned PrepStar Region IV Honorable Mention honors. He was a high school teammate of current Razorback Ivora Hall. He was also recruited by South Carolina, Virginia and Memphis.

KYLE PAYNE

FB – FR – 6-1 – 210 – West Memphis (West Memphis HS), Ark.

40-yard dash: 4.5

He rushed for 1,946 yards and 30 touchdowns as a senior for Coach Lanny Dauksch. He was an all-state selection and earned AAAAA-East Offensive Player of the Year honors as a senior. KAIT-TV named him to its all-region team including naming him as the offensive player of the year. He earned all-conference honors as a junior and senior. He helped lead his team to the AAAAA state championship game as a senior. He took over the starting role at tailback halfway through his sophomore season. As a junior, he earned all-state honors after racking up 1,548 yards and 21 touchdowns on 223 carries. He averaged 6.94 yards per carry. The Morning News ranks him as the No. 15 prospect in Arkansas. He was also recruited by Memphis, Ole Miss, Oklahoma State and Mississippi State.

SKYE PETERSON

C – SO – 6-3 – 290 – Little Rock (Millard West [Neb.] HS / Milford [CT] Academy / Kansas / Delta [Miss.] CC), Ark.

40-yard dash: 5.0

He is already enrolled at Arkansas and will take part in spring drills. He arrived in Fayetteville following the fall semester and practiced with the Razorbacks in preparation for the 2003 Mainstay Independence Bowl. He redshirted at Kansas in 2002 before playing one year at Delta Community College. His father Chris is the athletic director at the University of Arkansas-Little Rock. He was also recruited by Oklahoma, Kansas State, Colorado State and Mississippi State.

JOHN AARON REES**

WR – FR – 6-1 – 201 – Little Rock (Pulaski Academy), Ark.

40-yard dash: 4.6

He caught 75 passes for 1,315 yards and 17 touchdowns as a senior for Coach Kevin Kelley. He also returned nine kickoffs for 232 yards and 14 punts for 205 yards. He helped his school win its first state championship as a senior. In his junior season, he snared 50 catches for 918 yards and 10 touchdowns. Max Emfinger has him rated as the No. 23 wide receiver in the nation. He is the son of former Razorback John Aaron Rees Sr. (1968-70). He was also recruited by SMU, Tulsa and Army.

MATTERRAL RICHARDSON

CB – FR – 5-11 – 185 – Marlin (Marlin HS), Texas

40-yard dash: 4.36

He made 87 tackles and snared seven interceptions in his senior season for Coach Jerry Malone. He helped lead his prep team to a state championship berth against Atlanta High School and fellow UA signee Dallas Washington. He was a high school teammate of fellow UA signee D’Nerian Wrighter. He also lived with the Wrighter family while attending high school. The Waco Tribune-Herald named him to its Super Centex football first team and rated him as the No. 7 prospect in Central Texas. His nickname is “Red.” He was also recruited by Kansas, TCU and Texas A&M.

COLLIN SEARS**

OL – FR – 6-5 – 285 – Conway (Conway HS), Ark.

40-yard dash: 5.4

He earned Super Team honors from The Associated Press for his senior season under Coach Kenny Smith.

He was a high school teammate of fellow UA signees Peyton Hillis and Sam McFadin. His father Michael was an offensive lineman at Texas Tech. He was also recruited by Colorado State, Missouri and Oklahoma State.

ZACH SNIDER

LB – FR – 6-3 – 225 – Jenks (Union HS), Okla.

40-yard dash: 4.6

He was named the Tulsa World Player of the Year after posting a stellar senior campaign for Coach Bill Blakenship at Union High School. He tallied more than 400 tackles in his prep career. He tore his medial collateral ligament (MCL) in his left knee in a playoff game as a senior. As a junior, he racked up all-league and all-state honors after earning 153 tackles, six sacks, three interceptions and four fumble recoveries. He tallied 143 tackles as a sophomore. He is rated as the No. 10 player in Oklahoma by Rivals.com. Sooners Illustrated ranked him the No. 3 prospect in Oklahoma. His grandfather Lee Snider was a coach at Oklahoma State when UA head coach Houston Nutt was a player with the Cowboys. He is rated as the No. 65 prospect in the Midlands by SuperPrep. He was also recruited by Oklahoma State, Colorado State, Kansas, Tulsa and TCU.

KOREY SUTTON

TB – FR – 5-10 – 193 – Texarkana (Texas HS), Texas

40-yard dash: 4.4

He rushed for 1,430 yards and 28 touchdowns in his final prep campaign for Coach Barry Norton. He helped his squad to a 13-1 record. He earned District 13-4A Most Valuable Player honors and all-district accolades as a junior. He earned 2,012 yards and 24 touchdowns on 260 carries in his junior season. As a sophomore, he was selected to the second team all-district squad. He played with current Razorbacks Jeremy Harrell and Jacob Skinner on the school’s 2002 state championship team. He is rated as the No. 18 all-purpose back in the nation by Rivals.com. He is also ranked as the No. 67 player in Texas by the same outlet. He is a member of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram Top 100 players in Texas. Insiders.com has him rated as the No. 95 running back in the nation. The Waco Tribune rates him among the state’s top 100 players. He is ranked as the No. 21 all-purpose back by Max Emfinger. He was also recruited by Colorado and Missouri.

MICHAEL TATE

DE – FR – 6-4 – 245 – Tulsa (Washington HS), Okla.

40-yard dash: 4.5

He averaged 10 yards per carry at tailback and tallied 153 tackles and 11 sacks at defensive end as a senior for Coach Antwain Jimmerson. He also recorded five forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and forced two safeties. In his junior campaign, he racked up 154 tackles including 18 tackles for loss. He registered nine sacks, five pass deflections and two fumble recoveries as well. He was named all-city defensive player of the week three times in his junior season. He was rated as the No. 3 player in Oklahoma in the 2003 preseason by Sooners Illustrated. He is ranked as the No. 8 player in Oklahoma and the No. 39 strongside defensive end in the nation by Rivals.com. His father, Buddy, played football at Tulsa (1971-75) and was drafted by the Oakland Raiders. Max Emfinger has him rated as the No. 31 rush defensive end in the nation. In addition to Arkansas, he was also recruited by Colorado, Tennessee, Oklahoma State, Tulsa and Oklahoma.

LANCE THOMPSON**

TE – FR – 6-4 – 245 – Searcy (Searcy HS), Ark.

40-yard dash: 4.8

A two-way standout for Coach Danny Mallett, he tallied 57 tackles in his senior season. He also earned five sacks and recovered one fumble. He split time between tight end and defensive line. He was a high school teammate of fellow UA signee Weston Dacus.

DARIUS VINNETT

CB – JR – 5-9 – 175 – Saint Rose (Destrahan HS / West Hill [Calif.] College), La.

40-yard dash: 4.3

After a standout high school career, he played two years at West Hill College for Coach Mark Gritton. He will have three years to play two seasons at Arkansas. He is rated No. 55 among non-high school prospects by Rivals.com. As a sophomore at WHC, he earned 56 tackles, 10 pass deflections, three forced fumbles, one interception and one fumble recovery. He returned kicks and averaged 23.4 yards per attempt. He was named a Junior College Academic All-American after earning a 3.6 grade-point average. He was also recruited by Louisville, Mississippi State, San Jose State and Southern Miss.

DALLAS WASHINGTON

CB – FR – 6-0 – 190 – Douglasville (Atlanta HS), Texas

40-yard dash: 4.4

He is a standout product from the same high school that has already produced former Razorback Randy Garner and current Razorback DeCori Birmingham. He intercepted four passes in his senior season for Coach Ben Schamberg. He helped his team capture the Class 3A Division II state championship. He returned two punts for touchdowns in a 34-0 win in the state championship game. He played against fellow UA signees D’Nerian Wrighter and Matteral Richardson in that contest. His scores were from 90 and 79 yards on punt returns in that game. He was also recruited by Purdue, TCU, Texas A&M and SMU.

DESMOND WILLIAMS

S – FR – 6-2 – 205 – Euless (Trinity HS), Texas.

40-yard dash: 4.4

He racked up 74 tackles and five interceptions for Coach Steve Lineweaver in his senior season at Trinity High School. He returned a punt and an interception for touchdowns. He was selected to the AAAAA all-state second team. He is ranked as the No. 20 player in the Metroplex by The Dallas Morning News. He is also rated No. 48 overall among players in Texas by Rivals.com. The same outlet placed him No. 27 among the nation’s defensive backs. He is listed as one of the nation’s “Super Prospects” by CollegeSports.com. He is rated as the No. 60 prospect in Texas by SuperPrep. He is a member of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram’s top area 75 and state’s top 100 listing. The Dallas Morning News has him ranked as the No. 59 prospect in the state. The Waco Tribune rates him among the state’s top 100 players. He also was recruited by Texas A&M, LSU, Arizona and Arizona State.

WOODY WILSON

ATH – FR – 6-0 – 180 – Fayetteville (Fayetteville HS), Ark.

40-yard dash: 4.6

He registered 4,916 yards and 45 touchdown passes in his career at Fayetteville High School. As a senior, he completed 117 of 187 passes for 1,891 yards and 14 touchdowns as well as rushing 121 times for 696 yards and nine scores for Coach Daryl Patton. He led the Bulldogs to a share of their first AAAAA-West Championship since 1985. For his accomplishments, he was selected as The Morning News Player of the Year. He also was named to The Associated Press Arkansas Super Team and the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette All-Arkansas Team. He earned all-state and AAAAA-West Offensive Back of the Year honors as well. As a junior, he passed for 2,529 yards and 20 touchdowns. He also rushed for 578 yards. He also served as the team’s punter. He was a high school teammate of fellow UA signee Cedric Logan. Max Emfinger rates him as the No. 26 athletic quarterback in the country. He is ranked the No. 10 prospect in Arkansas by SuperPrep. He was also recruited by Arkansas State and Tulsa.

MARC WINSTON

TE/DL – FR – 6-6 – 225 – Little Rock (Parkview HS), Ark.

40-yard dash: 4.7

He was named to The Associated Press’ Super Team after making 20 catches for 204 yards as a senior. He was also a key run blocker in the Patriots’ offense under Coach Earnest McGee. His father Billy was a tight end at Arkansas (1986-89) under Ken Hatfield. His uncles Rodney (1988-90) and Dennis (1973-75) also played at Arkansas. Dennis was also an assistant coach (1997) with the Razorbacks. He is listed as one of the nation’s “Super Prospects” by CollegeSports.com. Max Emfinger has him rated as the No. 18 tight end in the nation. He is ranked as the No. 6 prospect in Arkansas by SuperPrep and The Morning News. Rivals.com has him ranked as the No. 26 tight end in the nation and the No. 6 prospect overall in Arkansas. He is also one of Arkansas’ top basketball prospects. He was a high school teammate of fellow UA signee Jamaal Anderson. He played AAU basketball with fellow UA signee Marcus Monk. He was also recruited by Florida, Duke, Virginia Tech, Iowa, Mississippi State and Stanford.

D’NERIAN WRIGHTER

S – FR – 6-1 – 205 – Marlin (Marlin HS), Texas

40-yard dash: 4.41

He racked up 147 tackles and 11 interceptions as a senior for Coach Jerry Malone at Marlin High School. The Waco Tribune-Herald named him to its Super Centex football first team. He is ranked as the nation’s No. 29 safety and the No. 57 player overall in Texas by Rivals.com. He was a high school teammate of fellow UA signee Matterral Richardson. He helped lead his prep team to a state championship berth against Atlanta High School and fellow UA signee Dallas Washington. Longhorn Recruting.com lists him as the No. 8 safety in Texas. He is a member of both the Houston Chronicle’s and The Fort Worth Star-Telegram’s top 100 players in the Lone Star state. SuperPrep has him ranked as the No. 51 prospect in the state while The Dallas Morning News has him at No. 62. The Waco Tribune rates him as the No. 4 prospect in Central Texas and among the state’s top 100 players. He is listed as one of the nation’s “Super Prospects” by College Sports.com. He was also recruited by Texas A&M and Texas Tech.

RYAN YOUNG

OL – FR – 6-7 – 320 – Waco (University HS), Texas

40-yard dash: 5.3

He starred for Coach Leroy Coleman at University High School and was named to the second-team 4-A all-state squad by The Associated Press. He also earned a spot on the The Waco Tribune-Herald’s Super Centex football squad. He led the way for a 1,000-yard rusher and did not allow a sack in his senior season. Insiders.com has him rated as the No. 64 offensive lineman in the nation. Rivals.com rates him as the No. 48 offensive tackle in the country along with the No. 15 prospect overall in the state of Texas. He is ranked as the country’s No. 16 offensive tackle by Max Emfinger. Rivals.com has him listed as the No. 48 offensive tackle in the nation. He is a member of The Dallas Morning News’, Houston Chronicle’s and Fort Worth Star-Telegram’s Top 100 players in Texas listings. The Dallas Morning News has him as the No. 33 prospect in the state. The Waco Tribune rates him as the No. 3 prospect in Central Texas and among the state’s top 100 players. SuperPrep has him ranked as the No. 65 offensive lineman nationwide. He was also recruited by Houston and Baylor.