CBS Sports Network national recruiting analyst Tom Lemming likes what Arkansas Razorbacks Coach Chad Morris and his staff have done in a short period of time.
Morris was announced as the Hogs' new coach Dec. 6, and he and his incomplete staff had 13 days to recruit before Wednesday, the first of the early signing period.
Seven prospects signed national letters of intent with the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville. Lemming believes the class will rank around 50th nationally after the completion of the signing period that wraps up Friday.
"Which isn't bad with a coaching change," Lemming said. "What I like about this group is there's a lot of guys that they did a lot of scouting with because there's a lot of guys with high ceilings that haven't developed yet and will be adding weight and strength.
"I think it will be a developing stage now because they do have athletes coming in. It's an athletic class."
Morris and six others were able to recruit leading up to the signing period. He likely will have a full staff when the dead period ends Jan. 11 and will have four recruiting weekends to host official visitors. How the class ends up nationally will depend a lot on what happens next month leading up to the Feb. 7 signing day.
"I'm sure next year's class will be much better once they have a full year to recruit," Lemming said.
Quarterback signee Connor Noland, 6-3, 208 pounds, of Greenwood led the Bulldogs to their first state title since 2012 with a 52-14 victory over Pine Bluff to win the Class 6A state championship.
Lemming, who rates Noland a four-star prospect, believes he's underappreciated.
"Probably one of the more underrated quarterbacks in the country, mainly because he's from an area that's not around Little Rock," Lemming said. "I'm surprised that he's not talked about more by people. As for talent, I think he has to be ranked as one of the better quarterbacks in the entire country."
Lemming also rates linebacker signee Bumper Pool, 6-2, 220, 4.79 seconds in the 40-yard dash, of Lucas, Texas, a four-star prospect. He recorded 166, 148 and 113 tackles in his three seasons at Lovejoy.
Being committed to the Hogs for more than a year probably hurt Pool, said Lemming.
"Again, he's the kind of kid that didn't get the kind of publicity because he committed so early," Lemming said. "But he's perfect for the inside linebacker position. He's a coach on the field and a very good talent and makes a lot of plays."
Defensive line signee Billy Ferrell, 6-3, 330, of Fordyce saw his stock rise recently with scholarship offers from Arkansas, Alabama, Wisconsin, Louisville and Tennessee.
"He's a good run stuffer, quick hands, quick feet," said Lemming, who rates Ferrell a three-star prospect.
Lemming rates offensive lineman Silas Robinson, 6-4, 315, of Yoakum, Texas, a three-star recruit. He was committed to Morris and his staff at SMU before flipping to the Hogs.
"A real good ballplayer, technically sound, good feet, good overall skills," Lemming said. "He's a real solid tackle that will probably be a guard in college."
Springdale defensive line signee Isaiah Nichols, 6-3, 265, inked with the Hogs over 12 other scholarship offers from schools such as Missouri, North Carolina State, Indiana and Kansas. Lemming rates Nichols a three-star prospect.
"He has real good size, real good feet and plays with great effort," Lemming said. "He's one of the better players in the Northwest Arkansas and Tulsa section part of the country."
Lemming lists receiver signee Mike Woods, 6-2, 190, 4.43, of Magnolia, Texas, and cornerback signee Ladarrius Bishop, 6-1, 190, 4.35, of Ashdown as three-star prospects.
"He has the length and quick feet," Lemming said of Bishop. "He's quick in transition and he has the loose hips you look for in a DB. Being from a small town, he wasn't as heavily recruited as he should've been."
Sports on 12/21/2017