FAYETTEVILLE — One of the biggest surprises for Arkansas football during the early signing period was the addition of a tight end-turned-defensive end from Scooba, Miss., who looks like he might be ready to help right away.
East Mississippi Community College standout Julius Coates (6-6, 270 pounds) could have ended up at Oregon, Colorado or Nebraska - three places he officially visited, but chose to head to Arkansas sight unseen.
He did so after talking to new Arkansas coach Sam Pittman just a few days before the early signing period began and. He made the decision that he wanted to play in the SEC instead of the Big Ten or Pac-12.