FAYETTEVILLE -- Former USC defensive lineman Carlon Jones considered transferring to Penn State, but during his official visit to Arkansas earlier in January, he knew he was going to be a Razorback.
Jones, 6-3 and 315 pounds, appeared in eight games for the Trojans and recorded 4 tackles as a redshirt freshman in 2025. He has three years of eligibility remaining.
He signed with the Hogs on Jan. 6.
"I was considering Penn State," Jones said after visiting Arkansas. "I came here, I said, 'Yeah, this is home.' I shut it down off the rip. I was like, 'Yeah, this is a great environment to be in,' and I like fan culture and everything like that. I love it here. I like Fayetteville."
Jones was rated a 4-star recruit by three of the four major recruiting services as a senior out of Bay City (Texas) High School in the 2024 class. The On3 industry ranking listed him as a 4-star prospect, the No. 19 defensive lineman and the No. 211 overall recruit in the nation for his class.
He was a three-sport athlete, also playing basketball and throwing the shot put in track and field.
Jones connected with Razorback Coach Ryan Silverfield and defensive line coach Marion Hobby.
"I really like the culture, Coach Silverfield is a great coach, Coach Hobby, great coach," Jones said. "I built a real good connection. I feel like we can turn this whole program around."
The cousin of former NBA player Rashard Lewis, Jones said the family atmosphere at Arkansas also helped sway him to Fayetteville.
"It feels like a family here," he said. "On the first day, I felt a great connection with Coach Hobby and I feel like they showed stronger interest that what other programs did. I said, 'Yeah this might be the place for me.' "
Jones is among four Division I transfer defensive linemen to sign with the Hogs. Virginia defensive lineman Hunter Osborne, 6-4 and 301 pounds; Oregon defensive lineman Xadavien Sims, 6-3 and 305 pounds; and Auburn edge rusher Jamonta Waller, 6-0 and 243 pounds, also signed with Arkansas.
Arkansas also signed junior college defensive lineman Antonio Sandel-Bascomb, 6-3 and 305 pounds, of Coffeyville (Kan.) Community College.
The Razorbacks inked 4-star defensive linemen Danny Beale III, 6-4 and 330 pounds, of Cross County High School; Anthony Kennedy Jr., 6-3 and 313 pounds, of Little Rock Central; and Colton Yarbrough, 6-5 and 250 pounds, of Durant, Okla., from the 2026 class.
On3 rates Jones the No. 105 defensive lineman in the NCAA transfer portal. Jones said the coaches plan to utilize his versatility.
"Me being a versatile D-lineman, making me work inside interior as a nose guard and a tackle, being able to show my versatility off," he said.