Arkansas Football: 5 incoming freshmen who could start in 2018

Chad Morris and Arkansas football closed out its 2018 recruiting class and the Razorbacks landed some gems. Which five freshmen could start?

Arkansas is going to look a bit different in 2018. Bret Bielema has moved on, giving way to Chad Morris who led SMU to a 14-22 record over the past three years. He brought the Mustangs back to relevance and he hopes to do the same with Arkansas.

On his first National Signing Day with Arkansas, the Razorbacks reeled in the 49th-best class in the nation and 14th-best in the SEC. Although it may not be elite, on paper, the Razorbacks have some players who could come in and play right away.

Which five incoming freshmen could become starters for the Razorbacks in 2018?

Arkansas may not have a pressing need on the offensive line, but you can never count out incoming freshmen who have the talent to compete right away. Noah Gatlin is a three-star who isn’t an early enrollee, but he has the size and strength to be an early contributor.

Gatlin stands 6-foot-7 and weighs about 300 pounds. He’s a mountain of a player who can either pull and lay down the lumber on a would-be tackler on a counter play or just drive a defender into the grass. He needs to be quicker off the ball and his initial pops could afford to be more jarring, but he’s a consistent lineman who doesn’t get beat often.

Colton Jackson and Brian Wallace are the projected starters at both tackle positions, but that doesn’t mean Gatlin can’t push them for snaps.

There’s a good chance 62nd-best tackle and eighth-best Arkansas prospect could see the field as a freshman in 2018.