Fayetteville trio commits to Arkansas

Matt Jones
May 21, 2012

FAYETTEVILLE — A trio of Fayetteville High School football standouts won't be leaving home to continue their careers.

Quarterback Austin Allen, linebacker Brooks Ellis and safety Alex Brignoni verbally committed to Arkansas on Monday, giving the Razorbacks their largest group of in-state commitments from one school since three Warren High School seniors signed with the program in 2008.

Allen, the son of Arkansas assistant coach Bobby Allen and brother of redshirt freshman quarterback Brandon, is one of the most sought after quarterbacks in the class of 2013, receiving at least 10 scholarship offers.

As a junior, Allen set the state record for most passing yards in the highest classification, throwing for 4,150 yards and breaking his older brother's school record with 46 touchdowns. He helped lead Fayetteville to a state Pchampionship win, upsetting nationally ranked Bentonville High School in overtime of the finals.

Ellis helped make a name for himself in that game, recording 3.5 sacks. He finished with 92 tackles and a team-leading 13.5 sacks as a junior after recording 130 stops as a sophomore.

Brignoni, who received scholarship offers from Arkansas and Illinois over the weekend, led the Bulldogs with 124 tackles set a school record with 10 interceptions last season, returning two for touchdowns.

The trio joins Patterson, La. tight end Deondre Skinner and Denham Springs, La. running back Kaleb Blanchard to commit to Arkansas this off-season. All five will be seniors next season.

Verbal commitments are nonbinding.