FAYETTEVILLE — The University of Arkansas football program has steadily recruited talent from Alabama, signing nine high school athletes from the state over the past three recruiting cycles. This trend appears set to continue as the Hogs aim to bolster their ranks for the 2026 class.
Last Saturday’s Junior Day event proved to be a significant occasion as Arkansas welcomed two standout prospects from Alabama.
One such prospect is junior offensive lineman Hudson Reed, who stands at 6-foot-5 and weighs 280 pounds. Hailing from Spain Park High School in Hoover, Alabama, Reed has already garnered attention from several prestigious programs, including Oregon, Mississippi State, Kentucky, Cincinnati, West Virginia, and Marshall.
Recently, the University of Arkansas extended a scholarship offer to Reed, prompting his visit to Fayetteville. During his visit, Reed praised the Razorback’s facilities and expressed his admiration for the program’s atmosphere. He specifically highlighted the positive impression made by offensive line coach Eric Mateos. “The visit was great,” Reed noted. “The facilities are really nice, and the college town has a great vibe. Coach Mateos is a really nice guy, and I’m excited to build a relationship with him.”
Reed also appreciated the overall culture fostered by head coach Sam Pittman. “The culture they have there is really impressive,” he added.
Despite the fact that many 2026 prospects have yet to receive official ratings from major recruiting services, Reed has already earned a 3-star ranking from two services, indicating his potential to become a valuable asset to the Razorbacks.
In addition to Reed, another prominent figure from Alabama attended Junior Day—cornerback Dylan Purter from Washington High School in Tuskegee. Standing at 6-foot-1 and weighing 172 pounds, Purter received a scholarship offer from Arkansas on January 19th and visited the campus six days later. Purter has also attracted interest from schools such as Auburn, Missouri, Vanderbilt, Tulane, and Memphis.
Purter shared his positive experience at Arkansas, particularly highlighting the welcoming nature of the staff and Coach Pittman’s commitment to academic success. “The entire staff was very welcoming, and it felt like I’d known them for years,” Purter said. “Coach Pittman’s 100% graduation rate really stood out to me. Arkansas is building something special in Fayetteville.”
During a summer showcase, Purter was recorded at an impressive speed of 21.98 mph, according to Jeff Martin of Catapult Sports. While he is primarily recruited as a cornerback, Purter demonstrated his versatility by playing safety last season. His impressive stats include 97 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, 3 sacks, 2 interceptions, 7 pass breakups, and a blocked field goal.
“I played safety because that’s where my team needed me the most, but cornerback is my primary position,” Purter explained.
Rivals is currently the only major recruiting service that has rated Purter, awarding him a 3-star ranking.
Scott Fountain, Arkansas’s special teams coordinator and a native of Brewton, Alabama, is responsible for recruiting his home state for the Razorbacks. His efforts have not gone unnoticed by prospects, including Purter. “Coach Fountain is a great guy who puts in the effort to get to know me and my mom. He shows a lot of interest in me, which stands out a lot,” Purter said.
