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Confusion Wednesday Shows How Emotional Hog Fans Will Be When Russell Announces

If over-reaction to not knowing how question mark works is any indication, Arkansas fans will lose their minds Friday no matter whether top back chooses Razorbacks, Vols

Kent Smith

Confusion Wednesday Shows How Emotional Hog Fans Will Be When Russell Announces
Confusion Wednesday Shows How Emotional Hog Fans Will Be When Russell Announces /
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FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – If the response Wednesday afternoon to a post Benton running back Braylen Russell put out of himself in a Tennessee uniform, the only such team associated post since he announced he will reveal his decision on Friday, then if the high 4-star running back chooses to go somewhere else, the state highway department might want to string a few nets along Arkansas bridges. 

Basic understanding of punctuation in the English language should have clued Razorback fans that this wasn't an announcement, but that didn't stop them from losing their minds and sending radio hosts scrambling to see if something happened without them knowing it. That being said, if Russell's social media is any indicator, the people of Arkansas might want to brace themselves for another round of disappointment as it pertains to the in-state 2024 class. 

With four of the Top 9 players in the state, including national Top 10 quarterback Walker White, heading to Power Five teams out of state, including three SEC teams, adding a fifth player and fourth SEC team to the list would be a minor disaster. It could become even worse with the Volunteers popping onto the schedule next year.

Russell's final list includes Arkansas, Tennessee and South Carolina. Baylor also got a visit, but didn't make the final cut. Of those teams, only the Volunteers have received individualized attention over the past 23 days. It should be noted that in another post, Russell shows he and his mother enjoying life amid a party scene at Tennessee, although everyone outside the Russell family certainly looked a little awkward in the video. It almost looks the Russell and his relatives have too much swag for Knoxville. 

The one theme that seems to run throughout Russell's process is family. He makes it a point to mention that his mother was having a good time at Tennessee. That's not the best news for Razorback fans from a recruit who already decommitted from Arkansas after getting cold feet back in October. Futher evidence that family plays a large role in his decision comes from a post from his visit to Baylor.

Apparently, she didn't love it because less than a month later the Bears were officially out. A survey of the media across Arkansas and Tennessee indicates both states believe their assigned school gets its name called on Friday. The only team not getting a lot of buzz is South Carolina, which has proven to mean nothing over the years.

Whichever team lands Russell on Friday gets a huge SEC ready back at 6-foot-1, 230 pounds with tree trunks for legs and deceptive speed. His highlight reel shows him running through and by the first two levels and pulling away from defensive backs similar to how charging buffaloes crash across the plains with power that hides how fast they move. For Arkansas fans needing a comparison, his junior year in high school body compares to where current Razorbacks running back Raheim Sanders enters the season. 

If Sam Pittman's band of merry recruiters can convince Russell and his family to stay home, it could set off a mini run of Top 300 recruits coming the Razorbacks' way. If he heads the other way on I-40, the next few months become a scramble to keep up. 

The wind blows Friday. Hopefully, for the sake of Arkansas fans, it blows Northwest instead of Northeast. Otherwise, Wednesday serves as a appetizer for a whole new level of crazy yet to come.

Arkansas divider

HOG FEED:

SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCE SHOCKING INDICATOR AS TO SUCCESS OF SEC TEAMS ON FIELD AND RECRUITING

GUNDY'S COMMENTS OPEN DOOR FOR ARKANSAS, OKLAHOMA STATE TO HAVE THEIR OWN 'BEDLAM'

BOASTFUL WORDS BY BIG 12 COMMISSIONER MAKE CLEAR GIANT LEAP TEXAS, OU WILL HAVE TO MAKE IN JOINING ARKANSAS IN SEC

BASKETBALL, BASEBALL HAVE SURPASSED RAZORBACK FOOTBALL IN INTEREST FOR TIME BEING

YOUTUBE RABBIT HOLE PROVES RAZORBACKS WEREN'T BEST TEAM IN ARKANSAS IN 2019

SO MUCH SAID, HINTED AT THE DAY BROYLES, KRAMER ANNOUNCED ARKANSAS MOVE TO THE SEC

COMMON THREAD BETWEEN SUCCESS OF THREE PRO HOGS, DAVONTE DAVIS

ARKANSAS FANS VOICED IRE TOWARD WRONG FOOTBALL COACH PAST THREE SEASONS

WALSH, BLACK SHINE BRIGHT, DISPLAY ADDED SKILLS IN NBA DEBUT WITH BOSTON CELTICS, ORLANDO MAGIC

ARKANSAS TO ENTER SEASON AS HEAVY UNDERDOGS, WHICH FITS PITTMAN'S PERSONALITY PERFECTLY

'HEART OF A RAZORBACK' PHRASE USE TOO OFTEN, BUT ONLY APPLIES TO ONE MEMBER OF TEAM NOW

MAYBE BIGGEST OFFENSIVE QUESTION MARK FALLS ON CODY KENNEDY'S SHOULDERS

NFL DRAFT EVALUATIONS SHOW KJ JEFFERSON HAS ROOM TO MOVE UP BY APRIL

SLOP HOUSE: GREG THOMAS, NOLAN RICHARDSON CHANGED CULTURE ACROSS ARKANSAS IN '80'S AT HIGH COST

SLOP HOUSE: THREE 10-2 SEASONS REVEAL DAYS IN SWC WASN'T EVERYTHING SOME REMEMBER COMPARED TO TIME IN SEC

ACTS BY POLITICIANS PRETTY MUCH GUARANTEE ARKANSAS WILL HAVE ROLE IN WHETHER NCAA USE NUCLEAR OPTION

RAZORBACKS NOT GETTING STUCK ON BODY TYPE WHEN RECRUITING WIDE RECEIVERS

DFW RADIO BIT SHOWS WHY TEXAS JOINING SEC MIGHT LEAD TO SOME MISUNDERSTANDINGS

ARKANSAS FOOTBALL SCHEDULE GIVES HOGS BEST CHANCE IN DECADE TO TOPPLE LSU, ALABAMA FOR FINAL SEC WEST CROWN

FORMER RAZORBACK TREYLON BURKS WRAPS UP HONEYMOON, JETS OFF TO TITANS IN BETTER SHAPE

Arkansas divider

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Kent Smith
KENT SMITH

Kent Smith has been in the world of media and film for nearly 30 years. From Nolan Richardson's final seasons, former Razorback quarterback Clint Stoerner trying to throw to anyone and anything in the blazing heat of Cowboys training camp in Wichita Falls, the first high school and college games after 9/11, to Troy Aikman's retirement and Alex Rodriguez's signing of his quarter billion dollar contract, Smith has been there to report on some of the region's biggest moments.