Former USC Class of 2015 4-Star Commit QB Ricky Town Reportedly Interest in Arkansas

Written by Ryan Wright

On Sunday former St. Bonaventure High School Class of 2015 standout quarterback Ricky Town was in Los Angeles as a member of the USC Trojans. By the end of the day he was no longer a Trojan and looking for a new school to call home. Steve Wiltfong of 247Sports is reporting the formerly ranked No. 5 high school quarterback in the nation is showing heavy interest in Arkansas and Florida as potential landing spots.

Town was everybody’s All-American out of Bakersfield, Cali. The 6’4”, 210 pound, gunslinger had offers from Alabama, Georgia, Florida State, Miami, UCLA, Texas, Tennessee, Stanford, and Arizona State. The scouting report builds a perfect specimen under center: mobile, can throw on the run, strong arm, accurate, can throw on the road to his left and right, mechanically strong, strong at pre-snap reads, can hold and fake defenders, and great at play-action fakes.

How Town would fit into Arkansas’ rotation under center may create other problems for those already on the roster. Third-year senior starter Brandon Allen will be gone at the end of the 2015 season leaving a big hole to fill in the Arkansas offense. Second-string quarterback Austin Allen, a redshirt sophomore, is the heir apparent to take over with redshirt freshman Rafe Peavey and 2015 early enrollee Ty Storey competing to unset Austin in 2016.

The other effect of Town heading to the Razorbacks could influence the 2016 recruiting class with Cole Kelley already verbally committed. Kelley, from Teurlings Catholic in Lafayette, Louisiana, is an ideal pocket passer listed at 6’7”, 230 pounds, with a rocket for an arm and the ability to make all the throws needed at the collegiate level. Competition is great but only one quarterback can play at a time. Chances are at least one quarterback would matriculate to another program if Town found a home in Fayetteville.

The situation in Gainesville is direr under first-year head coach Jim McElwain. The Gators desperately need a quarterback of the future failing to land one in the 2015 recruiting haul. The Gators are rolling the dice on Manvel High School (Texas) quarterback Kyle Trask (6’6”, 215) to be “the man” even though the Class of 2016 recruit is expected to play behind TCU commitment D’Eriq King this season.

Either freshman Will Grier or sophomore Treon Harris could emerge off the Gators’ roster as the needed weapon in the pocket for McElwain. That probability will play out throughout the 2015 college football season.

One thing through this recruiting process that is known is where Town cannot go per his release from USC. Schools Town cannot transfer to include Alabama, where Town was a one-time commitment before de-committing and signing with USC, Arkansas State – the first team the Trojans play in 2015, Idaho – Game 2 for USC in 2015, Notre Dame – Game 6, Utah State, Western Michigan, Texas, and BYU – all upcoming teams on USC’ schedule in years to come. Oddly other Pac-12 programs were not included on the “cannot transfer to” list.

Photo credit: usatoday.com; Ricky Town receivers his U.S. Army All-American jersey.