Arkansas Razorback Recruiting: Hogs Add Another Verbal Commitment

Linebacker Vin Ascolese from North Bergen, NJ, made an official announcement on Friday that he will be calling the Hogs on National Signing Day.

Ascolese is listed at 6'2", 215 pounds and runs a 4.5 40-yard dash. He was the only New Jersey high school player to make the Parade All-American list this season.

Ascolese played in the Semper Fidelis All-American Game in Phoenix, Ariz., on January 3. He was one of 100 players selected for the game.

Vin Ascolese reported offers from South Carolina, Illinois, Cincinnati and Michigan State. Texas A&M offered a scholarship on Jan. 24, but to no avail.

The Illinois coaching staff did an in-home visit on Thursday with Ascolese followed by an in-home visit from Arkansas head coach Bobby Petrino.

The Razorbacks have four scholarships remaining. Speculation is the Hogs have four private commitments waiting to announce on National Signing Day.

Edward Pope, a four-star athlete from Carthage, Texas, was scheduled to visit Fayetteville this weekend, but the coaching staff canceled his visit. Chances are, the Hogs would not have canceled his visit if they did not think they were set come Feb. 1.

Pope committed to TCU on Feb. 27, 2011.

Here’s a list of the 21 verbally committed Razorbacks recruits:

OG Cordale Boyd, 3-star, 6’3”, 290 pounds, Memphis, TN

OG Jeremy Ward, 3-star, 6’4”, 275 pounds, Pottsville, AR

WR D’Arthur Cowan, 3-star, 6’1’, 175 pounds, Olive Branch, MS

WR Keon Hatcher, 4-star, 6’1”, 195 pounds, Owasso, OK

WR Eric Hawkins, 3-star, 6’5”, 220, Longview, TX

RB Nathan Holems, 3-star, 6’1”, 180 pounds, Port Arthur, TX

RB Donovan Roberts, 3-star, 6’0”, 200 pounds, Norman, OK

TE Jeremy Sprinkle, 3-star, 6’6”, 215, White Hall, AR

RB Jonathan Williams, 4-star, 5’11”, 205 pounds, Allen, TX

WR Courtney Gardner, 4-star, 6’3”, 215, Rocklin, CA

CB Ray Buchanan Jr., 3-star, 5’10”, 170 pounds, Suwanee, GA

CB Jared Collins, 3-star, 5’11”, 170 pounds, Tulsa, OK

DE Brandon Lewis, 3-star, 6’5”, 220 pounds, Memphis, TN

DB Defonta Lowe, 3-star, 6’2”, 180 pounds, Bearden, AR

LB A.J. Turner, 3-star, 6’3”, 200 pounds, Lepanto, AR

DE JaMichael Winston, 3-star, 6’6”, 230 pounds, Prichard, AL

DE Deatrich Wise Jr., 4-star, 6’5”, 220, Carrolton, TX

FS Will Hines, 3-star, 6’1”, 175 pounds, Waco, TX

LB Vin Ascolese, 3-star, 6’2”, 215 pounds, New Bergen, NJ

DE Taiwan Johnson, 4-star, 6’3”, 230 pounds, Manvel, TX

DE *Austin Flynn, 3-star, 6’4”, 250 pounds, Los Angeles Harbor CC

*Already enrolled at University of Arkansas

Arkansas has five 4-star and 16 3-star commitments.

Position-by-position breakdown of Arkansas 2012 verbal commitments:

Offensive line: two

Running backs: three

Wide receivers: four

Quarterbacks: none

Tight ends: none

Defensive line: six

Linebackers: two

Safeties: two

Cornerbacks: two

Kickers: none

Arkansas fell in the recruiting rankings from No. 13 to No. 17 on Scout.com. Rivals.com dropped the Hogs one spot from No. 29 to No. 30.

All verbal commitments are non-binding until a letter of intent is signed.