By Otis Kirk
FAYETTEVILLE -- Arkansas had a huge football recruiting weekend landing five prospects, including one for 2023.
The Hogs landed North Texas tight end Var'Keyes Gumms, 6-3, 230, from the transfer portal. He will report in late May or early June and play this fall. He was a Freshman All-America at North Texas this past season.
“I chose Arkansas because, back to the community and back to the football team in general, I feel like it’s a perfect fit,” Gumms said. “They need tight ends here. It’s a tight end-heavy offense, it’s not too far from home and it’s still in the South.”
He took an official visit to Arkansas this weekend. He entered the transfer portal on March 23. Gumms was a second-team Freshman All-America in 2022. He played in 14 games with six starts. Gumms caught 34 passes for 458 yards and five touchdowns.
Since entering the transfer portal, Gumms has picked up offers from Colorado, Utah, California, Oregon, FAU, BYU and West Virginia in addition to the Razorbacks. The Razorbacks have Luke Hasz, Nathan Bax, Ty Washington and Shamar Easter on scholarship at tight end. Gumms will be the fifth.
Arkansas also landed four high school prospects for the Class of 2024 including two in-state prizes. Mills four-star defensive lineman Charlie Collins, 6-5, 265, and Pine Bluff four-star wide receiver Courtney Crutchfield, 6-2, 170, chose Arkansas on Friday.
Also, on Friday, Aledo (Texas) four-star cornerback Jaden Allen, 5-11, 160, committed to the Hogs over Tennessee and Alabama. He was once committed to Texas.
On Saturday, Arkansas landed Birmingham (Ala.) Parker three-star cornerback Tevis Metcalf. Metcalf, 5-10, 178, is the younger brother of Arkansas safety TJ Metcalf, who signed in 2023 and went through spring drills at Arkansas.
Arkansas now has nine commitments for 2024.
Arkansas’ Commitments
KJ Jackson, QB, 6-3, 210, Montgomery St. James, Ala.
Courtney Crutchfield, WR, 6-2, 175, Pine Bluff
Charlie Collins, DL, 6-5, 265, Mills
Kavion Henderson, DL, 6-3, 250, Leeds, Ala.
Dion Stutts, DL, 6-3, 265, Memphis University School, Tenn.
Julius “JuJu” Pope, LB-ATH, 6-2, 195, Batesville South Panola, Miss.
Noreel White, CB-ATH, Ocean Springs St. Martin, Miss.
Tevis Metcalf, CB, 5-10, 178, Birmingham Parker, Ala.
Jaden Allen, CB, 5-11, 160, Aledo, Texas
Arkansas’ Recruits From Portal Enrolled Now Class of 2023
Jacolby Criswell, QB, 6-1, 205, North Carolina
Andrew Armstrong, WR, 6-5, 189, Texas A&M-Commerce
Isaac TeSlaa, WR, 6-4, 210, Hillsdale College
Tyrone Broden, WR, 6-7, 210, Bowling Green
Joshua Braun, OL, 6-6, 335, Florida
John Morgan III, Edge, 6-2, 265, Pitt
Trajan Jeffcoat, DE, 6-4, 269, Missouri
Antonio Grier, LB, 6-1, 223, South Florida
Lorando Johnson, CB, 6-0, 193, Baylor
Alfahiym Walcott, S, 6-2, 220, Baylor
Enrolling in Late May, Early June
Jaheim Singletary, CB, 6-2, 170, Georgia
Tank Booker, DT, 6-4, 320, Maryland
Var'Keyes Gumms, TE, 6-3, 230, North Texas