By Otis Kirk
FAYETTEVILLE -- While Arkansas will lose some players to the transfer portal they also are busy trying to add some as well.
On Monday, former Florida offensive lineman Joshua Braun, 6-6, 335, went public with his commitment to Arkansas. He was among the weekend official visitors to Arkansas.
"This is a great place," Braun said. "These are some of the most avid fans I've seen. It's a great situation. They were telling us the University of Arkansas football team is the biggest football team, sports venue in the state. There's no pro teams and no other Power 5 school. We can tell they are the pride of Arkansas. Just to be able to put on for a state like Arkansas and the fan base would be amazing and quite the experience. I'm looking forward to being involved in Fayetteville and the University and sports."
Braun was a four-star recruit out of Live Oak (Fla.) Suwannee High School and was committed to Sam Pittman at Georgia. When Pittman left to become head coach of the Razorbacks then Braun committed to the Gators.
Braun played in 20 games at Florida including seven starts in 2021. He only played in two games in 2022 with a new coach. He played mostly guard with the Gators, but spent a little time at tackle.
“I’m a guard,” Braun said.
You committed to Coach Pittman at Georgia. He goes to Arkansas and you to Florida, but now reunited. How nice is that?
“It’s fantastic,” Braun said. “When he was recruiting me at Georgia he was very upfront with me that the only job was the head coaching job at Arkansas. It was kind of his dream. So to see him achieve his dream and to be able to a part of him having success in a place he loves so much will be tremendous. I’m looking forward to being on his team and helping him win championships.”
This weekend the Hogs will host some more transfer possibilities. Among those will be former Morrilton and North Carolina quarterback Jacolby Criswell, 6-1, 205, and Texas A&M-Commerce wide receiver Andrew Armstrong, 6-6, 189.
Criswell was a standout at Morrilton. He completed 408 of 650 passes for 5,964 yards, 58 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. Criswell also rushed 370 times for 2,593 yards and 41 touchdowns. He had eight receptions for 94 yards. At North Carolina, Criswell completed 18 of 31 passes for 204 yards, one touchdown and an interception. He rushed 20 times for 133 yards and a touchdown. Criswell talked about how much he feels his improvement has been since getting to college.
Armstrong, who played at Dallas (Texas) Bishop Dunne in high school, had a big sophomore season at Texas A&M-Commerce. He caught 62 passes for 1,020 yards and 13 touchdowns,
Braun, Criswell and Armstrong will all be enrolling at the new school they choose in January.