Arkansas gets verbal commitment from 5-Star Hope DE McTelvin Agim
Written by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @HogManInLA
The Arkansas Razorbacks landed one of the most prized recruits in the 2016 recruiting class on Saturday securing a verbal commitment from defensive end McTelvin Agim.
The Hope High School star has rankings varying from the No. 9 player in the nation by ESPN, to the No. 53 recruit by 247Sports, and his lowest at No. 72 by Rivals. No matter how one adds up Agim’s talent he is the highest rated commitment for Arkansas head coach Bret Bielema since taking over the helm for the Razorbacks ahead of the 2013 recruiting class with the arguable exception of running back Alex Collins.
Agim had a breakout sophomore season coming up with 77 tackles, 32 tackles for a loss, 16 sacks, 6 pass breakups, 3 forced fumbles, and 4 fumble recoveries. He even added a fumble return for a touchdown eventually earning the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Sophomore Defensive Player of the Year honors. In 2014 he added another 72 tackles to his resume along with 22, tackles for a loss with 6 forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries.
College recruiters have come from all around the country to offer the 6’3”, 269 pound, end. Auburn, Baylor, Alabama, Texas A&M, TCU, Texas, Ole Miss, Notre Dame, Clemson, LSU, Mississippi State, Oklahoma, and Stanford have all extended early offers with programs like UCLA, Oregon, Miami, and Georgia showing heavy interest.
Agim did not take his recruiting lightly going on unofficial visits to LSU, Texas A&M, TCU, Auburn, Mississippi State, and Baylor while camping at Alabama, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. The 5-star recruit narrowed down his list of offers to four naming Arkansas, Baylor, Ole Miss, and Texas A&M as the frontrunners.
The commitment took place at his grandmother’s house during a family reunion. When asked during a previous Recruiting News Guru interview why he picked that time and place Agim responded with, “My family reunion, also I want to help the school recruit that I am going to commit to. My family reunion is that weekend. I wanted to do it around my family. I’m big on family.”
During the same interview, current Arkansas Razorbacks wide receiver commit Jordan Jones (Smackover) asked Agim about the pressures of being from Arkansas thus having to commit to the Hogs. Agim responded with, “Being in Arkansas, but I am from Texas, you’re going to get pressure. The Hogs have some of the craziest fans. They will stay in stands until the clock hits all zeroes, even if it is a blowout. They are great fans.”
The Razorbacks recruiting class may not be valued highly by various recruiting services but the class they have put together is solid all the way around. The defensive line grouping of Agim, Austin Capps, and Briston Guidry is excellent and should be a force for years to come in the SEC.
During an Arkansas High School Weightlifting meet during the spring future Class of 2016 teammates squared off. Austin Capps finished with a bench press of 365 and a power clean of 345 while Agim posted a bench press of 345 and a power clean of 335.
Arkansas Razorbacks 2016 Verbal Commitment List
SS Deon Edwards, 6’0”, 195 lbs, Lake Minneola HS, Minneola, FL
SS Alexy Jean-Baptiste, 6’3”, 205 lbs, Coconut Creek HS, Coconut Creek, FL
DE McTelvin Agim, 6’3”, 269 lbs, Hope HS, Hope, AR
DT Austin Capps, 6’4”, 306 lbs, Star City HS, Star City, AR
DT Briston Guidry, 6’3”, 275 lbs, Rummel HS, Metairie, LA
LB Dejon Harris, 5’11”, 235 lbs, John Ehret HS, Marrero, LA
OT Kellen Diesch, 6’7”, 272 lbs, Byron Nelson HS, Trophy Club, TX
OT Jake Heinrich, 6’5, 290 lbs, Urbandale HS, Urbandale, IA
QB Cole Kelley, 6’7”, 235 lbs, Teurlings Catholic HS, Lafayette, LA
RB T.J. Hammonds, 5’11”, 196 lbs, Robinson HS, Little Rock, AR
FB Hayden Johnson, 6’3”, 252 lbs, Rock Bridge HS, Columbia, MO
TE Grayson Gunter, 6’6”, 230 lbs, Madison Central HS, Madison, MS
WR Kofi Boateng, 6’1”, 175 lbs, Arlington Lamar HS, Arlington, TX
WR Jordan Jones, 6’2”, 175 lbs, Smackover HS, Smackover, AR
Photo credit: twitter.com; McTelvin Agim signs autographs for Arkansas fans.