Rivals250 running back Chase Hayden commits to Arkansas

The Arkansas Razorbacks 2017 class got a major boost on Sunday night when Rivals250 Germantown (Tenn.) St. George's running back Chase Hayden made his commitment to the school official. Hayden, who has seen his interest spike after a strong spring and summer, chose the Hawgs over finalist Missouri and Oklahoma State.

"I'm officially committed to Arkansas," Hayden said. "I ended up choosing Arkansas because of the relationships I've developed with Coach Bielema and Coach Mitchell, that really helped me make my decision."

Hayden, who is ranked as the No. 224 overall player in the country and the nation's No. 4 all-purpose back, brings a versatile skill set with him to Fayetteville. He said the staff plans to use him in a variety of ways and that is a major plus for his future.

"That played a big part in my decision," Hayden said. "They don't have a guy like me right now and they told me I can come in and be used all over the place. They can move me around in the backfield, put me in the slot and just find ways to get the ball in my hands. That was always their biggest pitch to me, that they need a guy with my skills."

Because of several strong camp showings during the spring and summer, Hayden has seen several schools try to get back in this picture with him, but he said the loyalty shown to him by the Arkansas staff was on his mind.

"They've been there the whole time," Hayden said. "They've been recruiting my hard and I've always felt like a priority. When I visited earlier this month it was the best visit I had during my recruitment. I toured campus, saw the facilities and sat down with Coach Bielema for about an hour and a half and that pretty much sold me."

Hayden said one of the things that impressed him the most about Bielema is his causal approach as well as his accessibility to both players and recruits alike.

"He's just so laid back," Hayden said. "You go there and he's walking around in a t-shirt and shorts, he doesn't walk around like he's the head coach, acting all important. He seems like he's always available and I've seen how he treats his players and I really like it."

Longtime SEC fans will remember Hayden's father, running back Aaron Hayden, who starred for the Tennessee before playing in the NFL. With the younger Hayden's commitment now in the books, the older Hayden has been converted to a Razorback as well.

"My dad is really excited for me and really comfortable with my decision," Hayden said. "He told me he's going to be an Arkansas fan, but if we play Tennessee he's still going to wear the orange."

The addition of Hayden also signals a move by the Razorbacks into Tennessee, a state the school has recruited in recent years. The current Arkansas roster has just two players from Tennessee, something Hayden hopes he can change in this year's class.

"I'm already talking to a few guys about joining me," Hayden said. "[Three-star athlete] Alec Long from Jackson, Tenn. is really good that Arkansas is recruiting so I've been talking to him. We'll see what happens."

Hayden joins four-star tight end Jeremy Patton as members of the Rivals250 in the current 2017 Arkansas recruiting class.