Arkansas senior defensive lineman Jake Hall has decided to take the graduate transfer route to SMU, HawgSports.com has learned through sources close to the situation.

Hall, 6-5, 253, is from Springdale (Ark.) Har-Ber high school and enrolled at Arkansas as part of the 2014 recruiting class. He signed as a walk-on with a priority to earn a scholarship as early as one became available and had it before classes even started after drawing high praise from former coach Bret Bielema. 247Sports ranked Hall the No. 35 defensive end prospect in the country after he made 67 tackles and 3.5 sacks with a pair of forced fumbles. Hall redshirted as a true freshman, played in just one game as a redshirt freshman and helped on special teams in all 12 games as a sophomore.

Last year was his best season as he played in all 12 games and started one game when McTelvin Agim was suspended for a quarter. Hall, who has one career sack, played defensive end at Arkansas last season but switched between defensive end, tight end and offensive tackle as a sophomore. He was more like a jumbo tight end/extra tackle that season. With the current staff, Hall saw action at both defensive end and defensive tackle but finished out the spring battling for playing time with guys like Randy Ramsey, Gabe Richardson, Jamario Bell, Michael Taylor and David Porter. Additionally, more competition is headed to the Hill with the nation’s No. 1 ranked JUCO defensive end in Dorian Gerald. As a tackle, he worked behind McTelvin Agim, TJ Smith and Jonathan Marshall while battling with Armon Watts for playing time. Additionally, Briston Guidry and Austin Capps figure to be high on the depth chart in preseason camp.

With the news Thursday afternoon that senior Kevin Richardson would be granted a sixth year of eligibility and now the news of Hall’s departure, that leaves the Razorbacks with 85 total scholarship players including everyone in the Class of 2018. It also puts the Razorbacks at 15 scholarship seniors heading into the 2018 season.

Arkansas is welcoming in several defensive linemen in the incoming recruiting class. Springdale defensive tackle Isaiah Nichols is already with the program, and Gerald is coming in ready to play along with true freshmen in defensive tackle Billy Ferrell and defensive ends Courtre Alexander and Nick Fulwider.

Arkansas retained defensive line coach John Scott Jr., and he now focuses on interior defensive linemen. Steve Caldwell, once with the Arkansas staff under Bobby Petrino, returned to coach defensive ends along his longtime friend and colleague John Chavis upon his hire as the new Razorback defensive coordinator.