Razorback Signing Class Has Large Texas Flavor

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Arkansas baseball and head coach Dave Van Horn announced a huge 19-player signing class for the 2018 season yesterday with a good mix of in-state and out-of-state players. Four of the 19 came from within the Natural State and a whopping nine came from the state of Texas, alone.

Arkansas has always been the main pipeline for recruiting in Razorback baseball, but Texas with its large population and growing metropolitan areas has become a go-to state for Van Horn and his staff to get some of the best talent in the country. Last year’s Razorback squad included 11 players from the Lone Star State, six from either the Dallas or Houston area. In each of the last four seasons, Texan players have made up at least 25 percent or more of the overall roster.

Of the nine from Texas in this year’s signing class, outfielder Cole Turney highlights as one of the best signees in the entire group. From Richmond, Texas, Turney brings a strong lefty bat as the No. 17 player in the nation, second overall in Texas, according to Perfect Game. He was selected to the prestigious Under Armour All-America Game last summer at Wrigley Field and batted .344 as a junior with six home runs and 28 RBIs.

The 2017 Razorback baseball team will begin its season against Miami (Ohio) with a three-game series on Feb. 17. Friday and Saturday SEC Partial plan deposits, season tickets, and group experience deposits are also currently available. To renew or order tickets, log on to ArkansasRazorbacks.com or call the Razorback Ticket Center at 800-982-HOGS (4647) or 479-575-5151.

For more information on Razorback Baseball, follow @RazorbackBSB on Twitter.

RAZORBACK BASEBALL SIGNEES FROM TEXAS (8)

Bryce Bonnin | SS | 6-0 | 180 | R/R | Baytown, Texas (Barbers Hill HS)
Ranked No. 104 in the nation and No. 9 in the state of Texas by Perfect Game … Batted .405 as a freshman and was named District 19-4A Newcomer of the Year and Second Team All-Greater Houston … Was named preseason All-Greater Houston as a sophomore and junior … Went on to hit .355 at the plate with 25 runs scored, 11 doubles, two triples, two home runs, 32 RBI and 10 stolen bases … Named All-District and First Team All-Houston after his junior season … Played in the Texas Scout Association All-Star Game last summer, going 1-for-3 at the plate with an RBI and also striking out three on the mound … Played in the 2016 Area Code Games and attended the 2016 Perfect Game National Showcase … Plays for David Denny at Barbers Hill High School.

Heston Kjerstad | SS | 6-3 | 180 | S/R | Amarillo, Texas (Randall HS)
Ranked No. 369 in the nation by Perfect Game and No. 26 in the state of Texas … Attended the Perfect Game South Underclass Showcase as a freshman … Named the District 3-5A Newcomer of the Year in 2015 … Part of Canyon Randall team that finished 2015 with a 33-6 record and a district championship … Was also a Third Team TSWA 5A All-State player as a sophomore … Completed a stellar junior campaign by batting .477 at the plate with 32 RBI … Named District 3-5A MVP and First Team 5A All-State player in 2016 … Member of Amarillo Globe-News 2016 Baseball Super Team … Attended the 2016 Perfect Game National Showcase … Played summer ball with D-Bat 17u Robertson and was part of the AABC Connie Mack World Series … Named to CMWS All-Tournament Team after batting .524 with five extra base hits … Plays for Cory Hamilton at Canyon Randall High School.

Easton Murrell | SS | 6-0 | 195 | S/R | Prosper, Texas (Prosper HS)
Ranked No. 401 in the nation by Perfect Game … Also plays second and third base … Batted .329 with three home runs and 25 RBI as a sophomore … Had a three-run triple in the 2015 5A State Baseball Championship … Named the District 10-5A Defensive Player of the Year as a sophomore.

Jacob Nesbit | SS | 6-0 | 170 | R/R | Coppell, Texas (Coppell HS)
Ranked No. 31 in the state of Texas by Perfect Game and the No. 4 shortstop … Batted .294 with 21 RBI, 15 runs, four doubles and one home run as a junior … Went .354 at the plate as a sophomore with 26 stolen bases … Also added seven doubles, four triples and 15 RBI in 2015 … Named UIL All-District 7-6A Newcomer of the Year as a sophomore … Third Team Rawlings-Perfect Game Preseason Underclass All-American as a junior … Plays for Kendall Clark at Coppell HS.

Kole Ramage | RHP | 6-0 | 180 | R/R | Southlake, Texas (Carroll HS)
Ranked No. 63 in the state of Texas by Perfect Game … Attended the 2015 Perfect Game South Underclass Showcase … Went 8-2 on the mound as a junior with a 1.10 ERA and 75 strikeouts in 70 innings pitched … Named First Team 7-6A All-District in 2016 … Was 3-1 as a sophomore with a 2.37 ERA and 40 strikeouts … Also plays football for Southlake Carroll … Played summer ball with the Dallas Patriots-Stout Team … Currently plays for Larry Vucan at Southlake Carroll.

Canaan Smith | C | 6-0 | 210 | L/R | Rockwall, Texas (Heath HS)
Ranked the No. 24 player and the top catcher in Texas by Perfect Game … Batted .434 as a junior in high school with seven home runs and 38 RBIs … Was named District 12-5A Offensive Player of the Year in 2016 … Was also Third Team SportsDay DFW All-Area and First Team TSWA 5A All-State during his junior season … Named Second Team Louisville Slugger High School All-American in 2016 … As a sophomore, batted .421 at the plate with 21 RBIs … Was named a 2015 First Team All-District 12-5A player and Second Team THSBCA All-State as a sophomore … Plays summer ball for the Dallas Tigers-Woods … Plays for head coach Greg Harvey at Rockwall Heath High School.

Alerick Soularie | OF | 6-0 | 165 | R/R | Humble, Texas (Atascocita HS)
Ranked the No. 156 player in the nation by Perfect Game … Also plays shortstop and catcher … First team All District as a sophomore and a junior … Attended the 2016 Perfect Game National Showcase.

Cole Turney | OF | 6-1 | 200 | L/L | Richmond, Texas (Fort Bend Travis HS)
Ranked the No. 17 prospect in the nation by Perfect Game and No. 2 in the state of Texas … Selected to play for the Rangers in the 2015 Underclass Area Code Games as a sophomore … Also attended the 2015 Perfect Game Underclass All American Games … Played in the 2016 Under Armour All-America Game at Wrigley Field after his junior season, hitting a double to knock in one run in his only at-bat … Named a First Team Rawlings-Perfect Game Preseason Underclass All-American prior to his junior season … Batted .344 with 25 runs scored in 2016, including four doubles, three triples, six home runs 28 RBIs and five stolen bases in 24 games … Named District 23-6A MVP and Third Team TSWA All-State in 2016 … Also named the Fort Bend Herald All-Area Team Offensive Player of the Year as a junior … Played in 2016 Area Code Games and Perfect Game All-American Classic … Third Team All-State by the Texas High School Baseball Coaches Association and Texas Sports Writers’ Association … First Team Texas Prep Baseball All-Houston 6A Team member … Plays summer ball with the South Texas Sliders … Currently plays for Rodney Hernandez at Fort Bend Travis HS.