FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas had a big football recruiting day on Friday and the recruiting services have taken notice.
Arkansas added Albany defensive end Anton Juncaj, 6-3, 275, South Alabama cornerback Marquise Robinson, 6-2, 195, and Utah running back Ja'Quinden Jackson, 6-2, 228, on Friday bringing to 12 new additions from the transfer portal.
In the transfer portal rankings 247Sports now has Arkansas at No. 11 nationally and No. 4 in the SEC. The Hogs only trail Ole Miss (1), Texas A&M (3) and South Carolina (8) in the rankings that only considers the transfer portal portion of the class.
Arkansas has signed 12 transfer portal recruits and all will be in Fayetteville at midterm. Juncaj is from the same school that produced Florida State defensive end Jared Verse. He visited Texas A&M prior to Arkansas and then signed on Friday thus canceling trips to Arizona and Syracuse.
“Coach (Deke) Adams has stayed in touch and I just feel like I needed to visit Arkansas,” Juncaj said. “He just always kept in touch, and going over the defense and that just means a lot to me. Just keeping in touch through the whole process.”
In 2023, Juncaj had 55 tackles, 34 solo, 21.5 for loss, 15 sacks, three pass breakups and forced five fumbles.
After losing Raheim "Rocket" Sanders and AJ Green to the transfer portal the Razorbacks felt they needed an older running back. They signed Benton four-star standout Braylen Russell, 6-2, 230, and now Jackson gives them another option. Once Jackson signed then Arkansas canceled former Florida State running back Rodney Hill's scheduled visit for this weekend.
Jackson went to Utah out of Duncanville (Texas) High School in hopes of playing quarterback. But he eventually made the switch to running back. In 2023, Jackson played in 13 games. He carried 161 times for 797 yards and four touchdowns. Jackson also caught nine passes for 53 yards.
He played in 28 career games at Utah, playing quarterback, running back and on special teams with 11 starts in 2023 at RB. Officially made the switch to running back in week four of the 2022 season.
Robinson offers some outstanding size for Arkansas at cornerback. He talked about why he chose the Razorbacks.
“You know you just get that home feeling and see the energy you can burn,” Robinson said. “I just see the energy I can burn through the team. I know myself. Woo Pig!”
In 2023, Robinson had 36 tackles, including 21 solo, 2.5 for loss, one fumble recovery, three interceptions an a trio of pass breakups. Once he entered the portal several schools started extending offers, but Marcus Woodson and Deron Wilson led the way. He talked about what the Hogs are getting with his pledge.
“Arkansas is getting a leader,” Robinson said. “They are getting a player with a chip on for surely. Somebody that is going to all four quarters until zero on the clock. Be prepared to do what they do.”
This past fall, Robinson helped his team defeat Oklahoma State 33-7 on Saturday, Sept. 16, in Stillwater. He will get a chance to beat the Cowboys again with his new school on Saturday, Sept. 7, in Stillwater again.
“Hopefully we get the same outcome,” Robinson said. “We’re going to get that for sure. I’ll be ready for it.”
Arkansas' Transfer Portal Additions
