Razorback running back Maleek Barkley has announced his intentions to transfer from Arkansas' football program. A native of Austin (Tex.), Barkley arrived in Fayetteville in 2017 via Lake Travis High School, sitting out his freshman campaign as a redshirt receiver.

Due to an unclear path to playing time heading into this spring, the Arkansas coaching staff transitioned Barkley from wide receiver to running back, a position he was familiar with from high school. Following Arkansas’ annual Red-White Game, Barkley found himself in a logjam behind Devwah Whaley, TJ Hammonds, Chase Hayden, Maleek Williams and potentially even former fullback Kendrick Jackson. With JUCO signee Rakeem Boyd entering the fray this summer, Barkley decided it’s in his best interest to continue his education and college football career elsewhere.



In three years of high school ball, Barkley totaled over 4,600 yards from scrimmage (2,031 rushing, 1,902 receiving) and 53 touchdowns. Moving from Las Vegas (Nev.) to Texas, Barkley closed out his high school career at Lake Travis High School, former stomping grounds of current head Hog Chad Morris. As a senior, Barkley was utilized primarily in the backfield, rushing for 1,345 yards and 17 touchdowns and leading the squad to a 41-13 victory in the 6A Division I state championship. Rated a three-star prospect and a top-100 wide receiver by 247Sports, Barkley signed with Arkansas over Michigan State, Utah, Arizona and others with the intentions to split out and catch passes. As a freshman, Barkley failed to break through the depth chart and subsequently redshirted.



Barkley was part of a 2017 Razorback recruiting class that ranked 27th nationally and 10th in the SEC by 247Sports. The former wide receiver was the 10th highest-rated signee Arkansas received that offseason. Despite being only one year removed from that signing day, the Razorbacks have already lost three of 24 signees from that class. Linebacker Josh Paul was dismissed from the program following last season, defensive back Korey Hernandez decided to transfer not long after spring practice concluded and Barkley announced his intentions to move elsewhere today. The signing class isn’t without potential impact players though, with cornerback Chevin Calloway, tight end Jeremy Patton, running back Chase Hayden, safety Kam Curl and wide receiver Jonathan Nance all expecting to see major roles in 2018.



Including Barkley’s departure, the Razorback football program has now had 10 players leave for one reason or another since the end of the 2017 season - Barkley, Jake Hall, Korey Hernandez, Will Gragg, Reid Miller, Zach Rogers, Jake Heinrich, Jack Kraus, Cole Hedlund and Josh Paul. The move will put Arkansas at 84 scholarship players, one below the allowed NCAA maximum. Even further attrition is expected to happen on Arkansas’ roster between now and the start of next season.