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St. Louis Cardinal Ritter running back Jamarion Parker announced his commitment to the Arkansas Razorbacks on Friday afternoon.Parker is a four-star prospect who now gives the Razorbacks three commitments in the 2025 class.
“He’s very dynamic and explosive,” said Cardinal Ritter head coach Brennan Spain. “He’s able to make nothing out of something and can make something that’s wrong right. You can see where he can add another 15 to 20 pounds. He has a track background and he’s an all-around player. He’s not a running back that has a lot of, he’s not banged up, so I think that’s what Arkansas is getting.”
Parker burst onto the radar as a freshman. He missed his sophom*ore season but is still a four-star recruit and top 25 running back per 247Sports thanks to his speed (10.99 100-meter dash as a freshman) and big-play ability.
He rushed for 199 yards last week in Ritter’s first game.
Michigan, Oklahoma, Oregon, Nebraska, Texas A&M and others had offered previously.
See AlsoSaving Lives in Cardiff: Baseball bat attack victim's sight saved by surgeonsA look at UMHB Football's incoming transfers entering the 2024 season - True To The Cru10 Freshmen Join The Bears - California Golden Bears AthleticsPreview: Carmel Cup - TCU AthleticsHe has visited Arkansas three times, most recently in the spring. Razorbacks running backs coach Jimmy Smith was the primary recruiter, and a major reason Parker chose Arkansas.
“Coach Smith, the running backs coach, has done a great job keeping tabs on him, staying in touch, and talking to him about more than just football,” Spain said. “Jamarion has been in the unfortunate situation where he’s had some significant deaths and they’ve always been there. Coach Smith and Coach Pittman have done an excellent job and I think that’s important for the kids and know that they care off the field as much as on the field.”
Parker will play in the 2025 Under Armour All-America Game.
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St. Louis (Mo.) Cardinal Ritter College Prep 2025 four-star running back Jamarion Parker first visited Arkansas during his freshman year. He returned a second time, and the Razorbacks became a program that stood out early in his recruitment.Over the past two years, he’s amassed more than 25 early offers, including The Razorbacks, Oregon, Purdue, Louisville, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Michigan State. After visiting Fayetteville for the fifth time when he tripped there this summer, he felt like it was time for a commitment.
On Friday, he publicly announced for the Razorbacks and head coach Sam Pittman.
See AlsoAnthony Izzio - Baseball Coach“It started with visits to Arkansas two times during my freshman year,” he told On3. “Now I have been there five times. It is always great there, I feel comfortable, and I love it there. It is not too far from home and it is fun going back and forth. Just being on campus feels right. The coaches make me comfortable and the atmosphere is a lot like mine at home.”
Pittman and his staff made an impression early and often on Parker, who says the Razorbacks have been at or near the top for pretty much his entire recruitment.
“In my mind, since my freshman year, they have been up there,” he added. “They recruited me hard from the beginning. I picked them because how comfortable they made me feel, Coach Smith, Coach Pittman and the whole staff all mess with me. They just know me and make me feel at home.”
RBs Jimmy Smith played a pivotal role with Parker
In addition to Pittman’s personal involvement in the recruitment, the efforts of running backs coach Jimmy Smith were as crucial as anything in landing Parker.
The two have developed a strong relationship both on and off the field.
“He is a real coach, and he’s been on me hard since freshman year,” Parker said. “He always lets me know how much they want me, and we have built a connection. I have great talks with him and we have a great connection now. He is real and I like him a lot. Arkansas made me feel special, like they wanted me. From Coach Pittman to Coach Smith all the way down the whole staff.”
Parker is also excited about the chance to play in the SEC and compete against the nation’s best.
“They play tough teams and have a great schedule this season,” he said. “They have been playing well under Pittman and I am ready to get there and get developed. They produce running backs, they feature the running backs and I am ready to help.”
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Arkansas added a third commitment to its 2025 class Friday as four-star running back Jamarion Parker called the Hogs.A product of Cardinal Ritter College Prep in St. Louis, Parker is ranked the No. 236 player in the class of 2025, according to Rivals, and he holds offers from Missouri, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, Nebraska and others.
Parker is the No. 5 player in the state of Missouri in the 2025 class. He released a top-7 on June 22 that included Arkansas, Missouri, Purdue, Tennessee, Oregon, Michigan State and Louisville.
Arkansas running backs coach Jimmy Smith continues his impressive run recruiting his position, as Parker is the third four-star running back in the last two recruiting cycles to join the fold.
The Hogs now have three recruits committed in the class of 2025, as Parker joins in-state commits Grayson Wilson and Marcus Wimberly.
