By Otis Kirk
Former SMU quarterback Ben Hicks has opted to play his 2019 season at Arkansas.
For Hicks, 6-2, 225, it means he will be united again with Chad Morris and Joe Craddock, who coached him for three years at SMU. Morris signed Hicks out of Waco (Texas) Midway in the Class of 2015. He redshirted in 2015 and then played three seasons with the Mustangs.
Looking forward to playing my final season of college football in Fayetteville! @RazorbackFB
Excited to get to work!— Ben Hicks (@8Hicks) January 14, 2019
Hicks chose Arkansas over Louisville. He had visited both schools. He spent Saturday at Arkansas and then had breakfast with Morris and Craddock before heading home on Sunday.
At SMU in 37 games, Hicks completed 718 of 1,266 passes for 9,081 yards, 71 touchdowns and 34 interceptions. He rushed for three touchdowns. Hicks had said upon completion of his visit the SEC and Arkansas was an attractive option for him.
“I dreamed about playing in the SEC since I was a little kid and it would be a cool deal to potentially have the opportunity to do that,” Hicks said. “We had some success at SMU with Coach Morris’ offense, a lot of success really and I feel like we can have the same success here so I am excited about it.”
At Arkansas, Hicks will compete against redshirt freshmen Connor Noland and John Stephen Jones, sophomore Daulton Hyatt and incoming true freshman KJ Jefferson for the starting job in 2019.
Hicks will have one year of eligibility remaining. He is the No. 22 recruit signed in Arkansas’ Class of 2019. The Hogs also have six public commitments and plan to sign 29 in this class.
Hicks was the lone visitor to Arkansas this weekend. They are slated at this time to host seven next weekend.
That group includes Warren’s pair of wide receiver Treylon Burks and defensive lineman Marcus Miller, Pflugerville (Texas) Hendrickson safety Myles Brooks, Tulsa (Okla.) Union offensive lineman Ricky Stromberg, Dallas (Texas) Highland Park wide receiver Finnegan Corwin and the Pulaski Academy pair of tight end Hudson Henry and wide receiver John David White.
Henry, Burks and Brooks are committed to Arkansas and plan to sign on Feb. 6. Stromberg and Miller have already inked with the Hogs on Dec. 19. White and Corwin hold a preferred walk-on offer from the Hogs.
Arkansas’ Class of 2019:
Enrolled and attending classes
Ben Hicks, QB, 6-2, 225, Waco (Texas) Midway (SMU Transfer)
Trey Knox, WR, 6-5, 218, Murfreesboro (Tenn.) Blackman
Greg Brooks Jr., CB, 5-11, 178, Harvey (La.) West Jefferson
Myron Cunningham, OL, 6-6, 300, Iowa Central Community College
Eric Gregory, DL, 6-4, 270, Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy
Shamar Nash, WR, 6-3, 194, Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy
Chibueze Nwanna, OL, 6-7, 315, Lackawanna (Pa.) Community College
Mataio Soli, DL, 6-4, 230, Douglasville (Ga.) Douglas County
Zach Williams, DL, 6-4, 235, Joe T. Robinson
Drew Vest, OL, 6-6, 305, Searcy (PWO)
Signed
Taurean Carter, DL, 6-3, 263, Mansfield (Texas) Legacy
Enoch Jackson Jr., DL, 6-0, 290, Mansfield (Texas) Legacy
Devin Bush, DB, 6-1, 190, New Orleans (La.) Edna Karr
Malik Chavis, DB, 6-2, 187, Rison
Collin Clay, DL, 6-5, 261, Putnam City (Okla.)
TQ Jackson, WR, 6-4, 195, Jefferson (Texas)
Brady Latham, OL, 6-5, 290, Jenks (Okla.)
Beaux Limmer, OL, 6-5, 270, Tyler (Texas) Lee
Marcus Miller, DL, 6-5, 300, Warren
Dylan Rathcke, OL, 6-5, 290, Baton Rouge (La.) University Lab
Ricky Stromberg, OL, 6-4, 280, Tulsa (Okla.) Union
Zach Zimos, LB, 6-4, 210, Richmond (Texas) Fort Bend Travis
Committed
Hudson Henry, TE, 6-5, 235, Pulaski Academy
Treylon Burks, WR, 6-3, 217, Warren
A’Montae Spivey, RB, 6-1, 200, Phenix City (Ala.) Central
Dante Walker, DE, 6-3, 240, Ellenwood (Ga.) Cedar Grove
Adonis Otey, DB, 5-11, 180, Murfreesboro (Tenn.) Blackman
Myles Brooks, DB, 6-2, 190, Pflugerville (Texas) Hendrickson
Known Targets
Jalen Catalon, DB, 5-9, 180, Mansfield (Texas) Legacy
Lakia Henry, LB, 6-1, 225, Dodge City (Kan.) Community College
Chris Russell, LB, 6-2, 220, Dyersburg (Tenn.) Central
Sci Martin, LB, 6-4, 230, East Mississippi Community College