Recruiting Notebook: Hogs on Impressive Athlete
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Iowa Western is one of the best football programs at the junior college level, winning the 2022 national championship at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock last season. Arkansas doesn’t have a pipeline to the college but did sign former offensive lineman and fan favorite Sebastian Tretola from there in 2014. The Reivers are also home to another prospect that’s received a lot of attention in recruiting over the past few months.
Kemari Copeland who began his career at Army-West Point released his top schools late Thursday evening. Arkansas was listed first in the graphic with Arizona State, Kansas, Auburn, Virginia Tech, UCF, North Carolina State and Tennessee. The Razorbacks offered the JUCO product on Oct. 26.
The Razorbacks success along the defensive line resonates with pass rushers as Arkansas uses a variety of blitz packages to create an exciting brand of football. So far, the Hogs sit sixth in the SEC in total sacks with 22. They’ve been very active in opponents backfields recording 55 tackles for loss, good for fifth in conference.
With Iowa Western, the 6-foot-2, 275 pounder, who can play either position in the trenches, has recorded 26 tackles and 3.5 sacks on the season. He initially signed with Army out of high school when he graduated from Floyd Kellam High School in Virginia Beach, Virginia during the 2021 recruiting cycle. After two seasons at West Point, Copeland entered the transfer portal .
According to On3sport’s Industry Rankings, Copeland is ranked as the top defensive line prospect for 2024. He is the No. 7 overall for the class with a four-star ranking of 91.83. He has received nearly 50 offers from schools around the country due to his versatility on defense, reportedly playing some linebacker. Copeland has three years of eligibility remaining.
The Razorbacks currently hold verbal commitments from several defensive linemen for the 2024 high school class. Charlie Collins is the top prospect at no. 92 in the 247sports composite rankings. Kavion Henderson is a four-star and ranks as the No. 36 defensive lineman. The Leeds, Ala., native committed to the Hogs in November of 2022. Arkansas currently has 19 players committed for the 2024 class that ranks No. 20 overall on 247sports.
