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FB Recruiting HawgBeat Recruiting Big Board: 2025 Defense

DanielFair

Football Recruiting Analyst
Staff
Dec 6, 2019
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While the Arkansas coaching staff is still focused on completing its 2024 class, the recruiting classes are filling up earlier than they have in previous years.

The Hogs currently have three commitments in the class of 2025 — two on offense and one on defense — and they're in on some more high-profile talent.

This board provides a one-stop shop for you to see who Arkansas currently has committed and who it's targeting, updated weekly. This iteration of the board will look at the defensive recruits Arkansas already has committed, as well as the ones they’re targeting.

I want to stress how early it is for the class of 2025, so please don't overreact if you see less-than-desirable names and stars in certain position groups. We'll learn more about the class after the coaching staff finishes up the class of 2024.

For more information on a specific recruit, click their name and it will take you to their Rivals profile.

Defensive End​

Defensive End
NameCity/StateStar RankingStatus
Lance JacksonTexarkana4Uncommitted
Julian MarksOverland Park, Kansas4 Uncommitted
Keylan LaGrantEast St. Louis, Illinois3Uncommitted
Kobby Sakyi-PrahRoswell, GeorgiaUncommitted
Jalen WigginsTallahassee, Florida4 Uncommitted
Brody WhatleyMonroe, LouisianaUncommitted
London MerrittCollege Park, Georgia4 Uncommitted


Arkansas has recruited fairly well at defensive end in the class of 2024 with two four-stars, and the Hogs will look to build on that in the class of 2025.

Lance Jackson is on this list, but he plays on both sides of the ball for Pleasant Grove (Texarkana) at tight end as well. He is the younger brother of current Arkansas defensive end Landon Jackson and has been to Fayetteville many times. His most recent visit was during the Southwest Classic on Sept. 30.

Julian Marks had been committed to Missouri but walked back that decision on Oct. 10. The Hogs offered him during a Prospect Day visit in March. Oklahoma is also in tow for him.

Jalen Wiggins picked up offers from Tennessee and Duke in the last week.

Brody Whatley was on hand for Arkansas loss to BYU on Sept. 16 and holds offers from Ole Miss, Penn State, LSU and others.

Defensive Tackle​

Defensive Tackle
NameCity/StateStar RankingStatus
Andrew MaddoxHattiesburg, Mississippi4 Uncommitted
Kevin OatisHattiesburg, Mississippi4 Uncommitted
Nicco MaggioBuford, GeorgiaURUncommitted
Stephon ShiversHumboldt, Tennessee3Uncommitted


It's tough competition for Hattiesburg, Mississippi, native Andrew Maddox as Texas A&M, Georgia, Auburn and others are pushing hard for Andrew Maddox. Arkansas got in early with his recruitment by offering him on July 27, 2022.

From the same town as Maddox but not the same high school, Kevin Oatis is a highly-recruited defensive tackle with offers from Alabama, Auburn, Florida State and others. Arkansas offered him during one of its Prospect Days in January.

Stephon Shivers holds offers from Ole Miss, Tennessee, Pittsburgh and others in addition to Arkansas. I like where the Hogs are at with him at the moment, even though it's still early.

Linebacker​

Linebacker
NameCity/StateStar RankingStatus
Zayden WalkerEllaville, Georgia 4Uncommitted
Noah MikhailLa Verne, California 4Uncommitted
Xavier GoulbourneTampa, Florida3Uncommitted
Keylan MosesBaton Rouge, Louisiana4 Uncommitted
Kelvion RigginsDallas, Texas 4Uncommitted
Parker MeeseBradenton, Florida 4Uncommitted
Dillon ArkansasDenton, TexasURUncommitted

Even though California is a lightly-recruited state by Arkansas in recent years, I like where the Hogs are at with four-star Noah Mikhail. He was on a visit over the summer, and he plays close to where 2026 four-star defensive back commit Tay Lockett does as well.

Parker Meese is also a name Arkansas has kept up with recently. Originally from the Dallas, Texas, area, Meese transferred to IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida. He took a visit to Arkansas over the summer. He was also on hand for the 2022 game against Alabama last season.

Dillon Arkansas, well, the name says it all. The guy is destined to be a Razorback. Jokes aside, the Denton, Texas product holds offers from Missouri and Baylor. If Arkansas wants him, they're in a good position.

Cornerback​


Cornerback
NameCity/StateStar RankingStatus
Antonio ParkerSt. Louis, Missouri3Uncommitted
Na'eem OffordBirmingham, Alabama4 Uncommitted
Zadian GentryMcKinney, Texas3Uncommitted
Caleb ChesterMissouri City, Texas3Uncommitted


Antonio Parker in the cousin of fellow '25 commit and four-star running back Jamarion Parker. They both play at Cardinal Ritter College Prep in St. Louis. Arkansas offered on Jan. 12 during one of its Prospect Days. He most recently took a visit to Nebraska on Oct. 19.

Zadian Gentry has visited Arkansas multiple times since the Hogs offered him. He's coached by former Razorback Marcus Shavers at McKinney High School.

Arkansas was one of the first offers for Na'eem Offord when he was still a sophomore. He hasn't scheduled a visit yet, but is still in contact with the staff.

Caleb Chester has visited once before over the
summer, and plays at Fort Bend Marshall in Missouri City, Texas. That's the same school that produced former Arkansas quarterback Malik Hornsby, who transferred to Texas State over the offseason.

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