Arkansas Coach Bret Bielema said Ricky Town’s talent and his desire to keep the Razorbacks well-stocked with scholarship quarterbacks heading into 2016 were the key reasons he decided to accept the transfer quarterback. First-year Gators play-caller Doug Nussmeier had been the offensive coordinator at Alabama when Town committed there in 2013, but despite that connection Town declined to visit Gainesville before deciding on the Hogs.

“Ricky is a very talented young man who comes from a great family”, Bielema said. “We fell in love with the place”. Town said the decision came down to Arkansas’ pro-style offense.

Former USC quarterback Ricky Town is heading south. The lowest rated recruit was actually Allen (No. 23 QB-PP in 2013) but he’s the only one of the group vying for the job in 2016 with real game experience, completing 8-of-16 passes for 153 yards with an interception as his older brother’s backup in 2014.

Bielema said he was contacted last week by Town after the quarterback was given his release to transfer from Southern California. But after just a week of fall camp with the Trojans, it had already become evident that the far less heralded Sam Darnold, not Town, might have a higher long-range ceiling in the battle to succeed Cody Kessler and Max Browne. Given that there isn’t a current frontrunner to earn the position once Allen graduates, Town may have chosen Arkansas in part with the knowledge that he could potentially be starting next season.

“If I was going to transfer, I wanted to do it immediately as to not lose two years of eligibility”, Town told Schad. Town visited Arkansas this week with his parents. “I can’t wait to get started and help Arkansas win an SEC championship”.