Arkansas Razorbacks Land Mississippi JUCO OL Terrance Malone
Written by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @HogManInLA
There was no surprise that Arkansas wanted to land up to two junior college offensive linemen in the 2016 recruiting class. One of the big leads was Dwayne Wallace, who committed to Cal after the two sides parted ways over possible high SEC transcript requirements. The other big target is Snow College (Utah) offensive tackle Garett Bolles. Bolles may still be in play but on Tuesday the Hogs took a surprise turn landing Northwest Mississippi tackle Terrance Malone.
Malone helped NWCC rush for 2,282 yards and pass for 3,488 yards on the way to an 11-1, 5-1, season in 2015. The gaping holes left open by Malone and his fellow Ranger offensive lineman contributed to Justin Crawford’s (6’1”, 200) standout season seeing him rush for 1,610 yards with 16 touchdowns.
Arkansas got on Malone late offering him on Dec. 8 just three days before his official visit to Fayetteville. Two days after visiting Arkansas, Malone verbally committed to the Hogs.
The Razorbacks are the biggest offer for the former South Panola High School lineman but at least 15 scholarship offers have come Malone’s way. The 6’4”, 315 pounder, also has offers from Memphis, Tulane, Troy, Texas-San Antonio, UAB, Central Arkansas, Jacksonville State, Middle Tennessee State, Southern Illinois, Southern Miss, Buffalo, East Carolina, and San Diego State.
The Hogs now have 16 verbal commitments to their 2016 recruiting class. Malone is the second offensive lineman added joining Semper Fidelis All-American Game invite Jake Heinrich. Arkansas head coach Bret Bielema is hoping to catch lightening in a bottle again via the junior college ranks. In the 2014 recruiting class, the last time the Hogs signed a JUCO lineman, Sebastian Tretola out of Iowa Western ended up being a tremendous pick-up for Arkansas winning the Jacob’s Blocking Trophy as the SEC’s top offensive lineman and was named a second team AP All-American this season.
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 Jordan Carmouche, 6’1”, 230 lbs, Manvel HS, Manvel, TX
LB Dejon Harris, 5’11”, 235 lbs, John Ehret HS, Marrero, LA
OG Terrance Malone, Northwest Mississippi C.C., Senatobia, MS
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
WR Kiel Pollard, 6’1”, 228 lbs, Colquitt County, Moultrie, AR
Photo credit: scout.com; No. 72 Terrance Malone