It’s unclear whether McDonald really has any options. The firm didn’t return phone calls or emails from The Miami Herald asking whether McDonald planned to take legal action. The NCAA’s website doesn’t specify how many signatures are needed — or if one takes precedence over another — for a letter of intent to be accepted.

Collins’ father said he received a phone call from Alex on Wednesday and agreed to sign the papers because “that’s where he wants to go.”

“It’s emotional,” Collins’ aunt, Loretta, said. “He really wanted his mom’s support, but at the same time it’s his decision. He would love for his mother to be here with him. But he had to make his decision with where he wanted to go. He came right to [Johnny on Wednesday] and told us everything that happened. I asked him, ‘Is Arkansas where you really want to go in your heart?’ And he said yes. So we will support him.”

Collins, who ran for 1,275 yards and 14 touchdowns on 155 carries as a senior and helped lead his team to a district title, said he never wavered on the decision he made Monday night on TV and explained why he didn’t choose the University of Miami. He had been a Hurricanes commitment until November.

He said pending NCAA sanctions at Miami didn’t affect his choice.

“It wasn’t necessarily something that turned me off,” Collins said.

“I love Miami. It’s a great place, close to home. If I was close to home, everyone could come. But I wasn’t making a decision for everyone else. It would have been great for everyone to support me at my games. But I’m making the best decision for me, and I felt it would be best for me to go to Arkansas. That’s ultimately where I want to go.

“I feel I have a great chance to get early playing time there. I just have to go in and work hard. With my work ethic, I feel like I can outwork anybody. Based on anywhere I would have went, I feel like I could have fought for playing time. I expect to get there and compete.”

Arkansas coach Bret Bielema released the following statement after Arkansas received the signed letter of intent: “Alex is a great addition to this class. He is an upstanding young man who has impressed us throughout our time getting to know him, and he focused on making a decision that was the best for him athletically, academically and socially. He has high character and is a student-athlete we are thrilled to bring into our family. He made it clear to us that he truly wanted to be a Razorback, which is what we want from everyone we sign.”