Razorbacks Land North Dakota State JUCO CB Joseph Putu
Written by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @HogManInLA
The Razorbacks landed their first cornerback commitment in the 2016 recruiting class on Saturday receiving a verbal from junior college talent Joseph Putu.
Putu, listed at 6’2”, 195 pounds, has become a hot commodity on the recruiting trail in recent weeks. The Providence, Rhode Island, native has taken official visits to Tennessee State (Jan. 8), UAB (Jan. 22), and Toledo (Jan. 25) but Power Five Conference schools had finally started to come around. Luckily for Arkansas, the Razorbacks got into the mix ahead of recent interests from UCLA and Texas A&M among others.
North Dakota State College of Science went 8-3 in 2015 with Putu manning the island. He earned All-Region and All-American honors playing in all 11 contests for the Wildcats. Putu started five games during his true freshman season in 2014 leaving him with three years to play two.
Putu was making his official visit to Arkansas this weekend along with other top recruits; Katy running back Kyle Porter (TX), Marshall safety Micahh Smith (TX), San Bernardino Valley College JUCO offensive tackle Paul Ramirez (CA), and Colquitt County linebacker Dee Walker (GA).
National Signing Day, along with the days leading up to it, should be interesting for the Razorbacks and their fan base. The Hogs have expressed an interest in taking a full class and are waiting to hear the final decisions on top prospects like defensive end Allen Cater, cornerback Kristian Fulton, and wide receiver Tyrie Cleveland among others.
Arkansas Razorbacks 2016 Verbal Commitment List (18)
CB Joseph Putu, 6’2”, 195 lbs, North Dakota State College of Science, ND
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
LB Giovanni LaFrance, 6’1”, 235 lbs, St. Augustine HS, New Orleans, LA
OG Terrance Malone, Northwest Mississippi C.C., Senatobia, MS
OG 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
RB Devwah Whaley, 6’0”, 205 lbs, Central HS, Beaumont, TX
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: uark.edu; Arkansas fans cheer on the Razorbacks.