Two Former 4-Star Recruits Join Arkansas Football Over the Weekend
Sam Pittman and the Arkansas Razorbacks quietly made a splash in the transfer portal over the weekend, landing two significant additions: linebacker Andrew Harris from UCF and wide receiver Jalen Brown from Florida State.
Andrew Harris and Jalen Brown Commit to the Razorbacks
Harris, a former 4-star prospect from the 2023 class, announced his commitment on Friday in a move that caught many by surprise. Despite his brief time at UCF, he has strong ties to Razorbacks defensive coordinator Travis Williams, who originally recruited and coached him at UCF. When Williams transitioned to Arkansas, he attempted to bring Harris along—but it’s only now that the reunion is happening.
Harris redshirted his freshman year and appeared primarily on special teams last season, logging 14 tackles in seven games. His arrival boosts Arkansas’ linebacker depth, which has been notably thin behind experienced players like Stephen Dix, Xavian Sorey Jr., and Bradley Shaw. Behind them are mostly underclassmen and a Kent State transfer who never saw the field there.
Coming out of high school, Harris was rated a .9087 4-star by 247Sports Composite, placing him inside the top 300 nationally and as the 24th-ranked linebacker in his class.
The second big pickup came in the form of wide receiver Jalen Brown, another former blue-chip prospect. Initially committed to LSU, Brown transferred to Florida State after failing to get playing time in Baton Rouge. He recorded eight catches for 75 yards over nine games with the Seminoles last season. However, his time in Tallahassee ended prematurely following his dismissal from the team after an arrest on a third-degree felony charge for possession of a controlled substance.
Despite Arkansas already having a crowded wide receiver room, the late addition of Brown suggests some unease within the coaching staff about the current depth. The Hogs previously made a strong push for Johntay Cook II, who ultimately chose Syracuse. Still, with Brown and recent commit Andy Jean, Arkansas has now added two SEC-level receivers.
Brown was a .9640-rated 4-star recruit by 247Sports and ranked as the No. 12 wide receiver and a top-100 player nationally coming out of high school.
These additions bring Arkansas’ total spring transfer haul to nine players, including one of the top defensive backs available in the portal.
