Safety, running back add to Razorbacks' weekend haul

This past weekend was a successful one for Arkansas Razorbacks Coach Chad Morris and his staff.

The Hogs hosted nine prospects on official visits and two on unofficial visits. Linebacker Andrew Parker, 6-2, 225 pounds, 4.56 seconds in the 40-yard dash, of Sophie B. Wright High School in New Orleans and defensive end Courtre Alexander, 6-4, 250, 4.9, of Owasso, Okla., committed to the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville on Sunday.

Mississippi State safety commitment Myles Mason, who was one of two unofficial visitors, flipped his pledge to the Hogs while junior college running back Rakeem Boyd announced his commitment Monday.

Mason, 6-2, 205 pounds, 4.4 in the 40, chose the Razorbacks over scholarship offers from Alabama, Mississippi State, Auburn, Clemson, Florida State, Louisville, Tennessee, Notre Dame and others.

ESPN rates him a four-star prospect and the No. 22 safety in the nation.

"After a bunch of prayer and talking with my family, I am proud to announce that I will be de-commiting from Mississippi State University and recommiting to the University of Arkansas," Mason announced on Twitter.

He made an official visit to Fayetteville in December. He said Sunday he wanted to visit again so he could get to know recently hired defensive coordinator John Chavis and secondary coach Ron Cooper.

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"They just hired Coach Chavis and Coach Cooper, and that was my first time to be able to spend time with them, so I just took the opportunity to come back," Mason said. "They're both great coaches with great experience. They're just real personable people."

Mason recorded 41 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, 2 pass breakups and a forced fumble as a senior while missing four games after having a knee scoped for torn cartilage and a chipped bone.

Offensive coordinator Joe Craddock is his lead recruiter.

Boyd is a former Texas A&M Aggie who is now at Independence Community College in Kansas. He was shocked by the facilities while officially visiting the Razorbacks.

While A&M is known to have outstanding facilities, Boyd said the Hogs' are more impressive.

"The facilities, I didn't know it was that big," Boyd said. "They are building stuff on, the academic center and stuff. The pools and stuff like that are huge. I have never seen anything like it.

"They have a lot of bigger things there at Arkansas. I'm just saying the training room and stuff like that and maybe the academic building, the learning center, stuff like that. There's more stuff to help you out."

Boyd, 6-0, 207, starred at Houston (Texas) Stratford High School before inking with the Aggies in 2016. He transferred after redshirting his freshman year and enrolled in junior college.

He chose the Hogs over Arizona and Colorado. He believes Morris is about to do big things at Arkansas.

Boyd praised his lead recruiter and running backs coach Jeff Traylor.

"He's one of these guys whose going to put it on the table and keep it real with you and stuff like that," said Boyd, who rushed 192 times for 1,211 yards and 14 touchdowns this season. "So you're going to want that in the recruiting process, that honesty, that loyalty and stuff like that."

Mason and Boyd are the Hogs' fourth and fifth commitments for the 2018 class after the Razorbacks signed eight prospects during the early signing period in December.

Sports on 01/23/2018

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