FAYETTEVILLE — The backbone of a Class 7A state championship last fall have suddenly become the bellcows of the University of Arkansas 2013 recruiting class.
Fayetteville quarterback Austin Allen, linebacker Brooks Ellis and safety Alex Brignoni have played football together for years. Last fall, the three Purple’Dogs were key pieces in a remarkable run to a state championship. And now, Allen, Ellis and Brignoni have pledged to stay together for four more years as all three committed to play football at Arkansas in the recruiting class of 2013.
“We just really thought it was cool that we would all have a chance to play together,” said Allen, who set the single-season Class 7A record with 4,150 yards passing in 2011. “It’s been a dream of mine growing up since middle school with these guys for us to all be able to play college ball. And to be able to play together at Arkansas is a dream come true.”
Allen, a 6-foot-2, 205-pound senior-to-be, is a four-star prospect and the 17th-rated quarterback overall according to Scout.com. He is the son of Arkansas assistant coach Bobby Allen and younger brother of current Razorbacks quarterback Brandon Allen.
The Fayetteville quarterback had offers from Tennessee, Stanford, North Carolina, Arizona State, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, South Florida, Arkansas State, Tulsa and Memphis. Unlike his brother before him, who committed to Arkansas without exploring other options, Austin Allen wanted to see what other schools had to offer before committing to the Razorbacks.
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“It was an easier decision than I thought it would be,” Allen said. “Basically whenever Alex got his offer (from Arkansas) we all sat down and talked about and decided this was what we wanted to do.”
Ellis, at 6-2, 215 pounds, is a three-star prospect and ranked as the No. 85 linebacker in the country according to scout.com. Ellis had offers from Notre Dame, Purdue, Illinois, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, South Florida, Tulsa and Arkansas State. He was strongly considering both Notre Dame and Vanderbilt before making his decision to stay close to home by picking Arkansas.
“I was just thinking too far ahead in my future and I thought Notre Dame or Vanderbilt could give me a better future,” Ellis said. “But I realized Arkansas can give provide me that same future, and I’ve got all my family and all of my friends here who support me.”
Allen and Ellis had been offered scholarships by Arkansas earlier this spring. Brignoni, a 6-1, 185-pound safety, received his offer from the Razorbacks on Saturday after Arkansas coaches watched him play in Fayetteville’s Purple-White spring game on Friday.
“I definitely kind of knew I wanted to go to Arkansas,” Brignoni said. “It’s always been a dream of mine.”
Brignoni said Arkansas coaches see him as a hybrid player on defense with the ability to play either safety or linebacker.
The three Fayetteville High players join Patterson (La.) High tight end Deondre Skinner and Denham Springs (La.) High running back Kaleb Blanchard as Arkansas commitments this spring. All five verbal commitments, which came after John L. Smith was named head coach, are non-binding.
“Coach (John L.) Smith told us to be the bellcows for the rest of the state,” Allen said. “He wants us to be the bellcows and recruit the rest of Arkansas and that’s what we’re going to do.”
Arkansas names captains
Arkansas has its head coach in place for the 2012 season. On Monday, the Razorbacks officially announced their six team leaders.
Quarterback Tyler Wilson, running back Knile Davis, center Travis Swanson were elected as offensive captains by teammates. Linebackers Tenarius Wright and Alonzo Highsmith and defensive tackle Alfred Davis were elected as defensive captains.
“I am very confident in the six student-athletes selected by their teammates to represent our football team as captains for the upcoming year,” Smith said in a statement Monday. “Each of the six has demonstrated strong leadership, determination and toughness during their careers as Razorbacks. Although their leadership styles differ, I believe they will provide examples to our program as to what the standard of commitment will be.”
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Robbie Neiswanger of the Arkansas News Bureau contributed to this report.