Arkansas Business

This story is from the archives of ArkansasSports360.com.

Arkansas has a lot riding on the next two weeks as they leave the state to play both football games, but the next home game in Fayetteville will also be a big one for more than what happens on the field.

The Razorbacks are set to play host to official visitors that weekend. It will be the first group of official visitors this fall and currently six or seven are scheduled to be at the UA that weekend. Arkansas will take on Auburn on the field.

Arkansas knows that if it goes into the Auburn game at 5-0 the recruiting weekend could really be enormous that weekend. Last year's atmosphere at the Alabama game was probably the greatest atmosphere ever in Fayetteville. In addition, Arkansas played host to approximately 100 recruits that weekend, but the last-minute loss kind of put a damper on the weekend.

Among the official visitors slated to be at the UA for the Auburn game includes Las Vegas (Nev.) Bishop Gorman 4-star offensive tackle Ronnie Stanley (6-7, 285). Stanley is rated the top recruit in Nevada by 247 Sports and is considered one of the nation's elite players.

USC, Notre Dame, Florida State, Oregon and Oklahoma are just a few of the teams that join Arkansas in offering this standout. Stanley is a prospect who could come in and play early.

From Florida, a trio of prospects will join Stanley at Arkansas that weekend. Apopka safety K.J. Dillon (6-1, 190) Tallahassee (Fla.) Lincoln wide receiver Ralph Andrades (6-1, 200) and Gainesville cornerback Chris Bivins (5-10, 170) all are heavily recruited.

Dillon has Arkansas, Kentucky and West Virginia at the top of his wishlist. Dillon was going to visit last weekend for the Troy game, but Arkansas wide receiver's coach Kris Cinkovich urged him to switch weekends.

“He thought I could see a better atmosphere if I came for the Auburn game,” Dillon said.

Bivins gave an early verbal pledge to South Florida, but has since said while he feels he's a solid commitment to USF, he plans to take other visits. Arkansas has three cornerbacks in the fold, but is still trying to land at least one more.

Andrades is among the top recruits in Florida at his position. Illinois, Stanford, Vanderbilt and Florida International are among the other schools in hot pursuit of Andrades.

In Texas, Arkansas will be bringing in a pair of 3-star defensive ends. Plano West's Bryce Cottrell (6-3, 225) and Manvel's Taiwan Johnson (6-3, 238) have several schools on their list. Cottrell is looking hard at Arkansas, Baylor and Oregon while Johnson has Nebraska, Arkansas, Oklahoma State, Rice, Arizona and Arizona State as well as others high on his wishlist. Cottrell has a close friend attending Arkansas and says she has told him great things about the UA.

“I'm super interested in Arkansas,” Johnson said. “It's one of the schools I feel I have to visit before I make a decision. I can't wait to see them and see what they have to offer.”