While the Arkansas coaching staff plugs away at finishing up their 2025 class, the class of 2026 got some recognition in the first iteration of the 2026 Rivals250, which released Tuesday.
As it currently stands, Arkansas has two commits in the class of 2026 in four-star defensive back Tay Lockett from St. John Bosco in Southern California and three-star offensive lineman Bear McWhorter from Cass High School in White, Georgia.
The state of Arkansas was represented in the rankings, too, as two in-state products — four-star lineman Danny Beale and four-star quarterback Kane Archer — made their debuts.
It’s still early for the 2026 class, but right now Arkansas sits at No. 6 in the nation according to Rivals. The only teams ahead of them are Ohio State, Auburn, Miami, Florida State and USC. There's still plenty of time before the 2026 class gets more heavily recruited, though, so expect that number to change as time goes on.
Arkansas is currently in on a lot of talent that debuted in the Rivals250. Here’s a closer look at where those targets found themselves.
Cantwell is no stranger to a five-star rating, as he’s been ranked since Rivals released the Rivals100 since October 2023.
Arkansas was one of the first to jump in on the Nixa, Missouri, native’s recruitment, as it offered him during a Prospect Day in March 2023. He has since picked up offers from Alabama, Georgia, Florida State and many others.
Cantwell's last visit to Arkansas was on Sept. 9, the day the Hogs played Kent State. Arkansas head coach Sam Pittman paid a visit to his high school in rural Missouri on Jan. 17.
Right now, Georgia, Missouri, Nebraska and Oklahoma are the early standouts for Cantwell in addition to Arkansas.
Ball isn't an in-state recruit, but he's not far from Arkansas as he plays for Texas High in Texarkana. The Hogs got into his recruitment on July 29, 2023, as they offered him during a visit for Arkansas' Hog Wild Hangout.
Arkansas will have to contend with schools like Texas, Texas A&M, Georgia, Florida State and others in his recruitment.
According to Ball's Hudl page, he runs a 4.48 40-yard dash and a 10.5 100-meter dash. As a sophomore, he rushed for 1,225 yards and 12 touchdowns. He added 24 receptions for 400 yards and six scores in the air.
Beale was the 11th-highest riser in the Rivals250, as he debuted at No. 54 after not having a ranking at all prior. The Cross County product currently has 13 total offers including Arkansas, Georgia, Auburn, Ole Miss, Mississippi State and others.
The 5.9 four-star prospect plays both ways for Cross County High School in eastern Arkansas and told HawgBeat he's open to playing on either side at the next level too, but competed at the Under Armour Next Camp in Dallas on the defensive line and was ferocious.
Beale has the quick twitch and size to wreak havoc on opposing offensive lines and was virtually unstoppable in all of the drills at the camp. He was awarded one of the two MVPs of the camp for his performance.
Beale's recruitment is still early, but the Hogs along with Mississippi State and Ole Miss seem to be the schools pushing hardest for his services.
Yarbrough has been getting recruited hard by the usual powers like Alabama, Georgia and others. The Hogs got in the race nearly two years ago, as they extended an offer on May 14, 2022.
Arkansas was the first school to offer Yarbrough and it hosted the Durant, Oklahoma, product during the Hog Wild Hangout on July 29 of last year. Yarbrough was back again on Jan. 27 for another Prospect Day visit.
The Hogs do have a slight connection to Yarbrough, as his great-grandmother went to law school in Fayetteville. It probably isn't a huge factor in his recruitment, but it certainly can't hurt.
Brayden Robinson is another Arkansas target who is making a lot of noise on the recruiting trail in the 2026 class. The Red Oak, Texas, wide receiver hails roughly 30 miles south of Dallas Metro and holds offers from Notre Dame, Michigan, LSU and others.
Robinson made a trip to Fayetteville last week on March 12 to check out a spring practice. He also took a visit to Texas A&M recently.
As a sophomore, Robinson appeared in eight games and gained 1,039 all-purpose yards and nine touchdowns.
His Hudl says he runs a 4.38-second 40-yard dash, so speed is not an issue. His personal best in the 100-meter dash is 10.44 seconds.
McWhorter is a name that Arkansas fans will likely get used to in the next few years, as Brodie's cousin, Bear, is currently in the fold for Arkansas' 2026 class.
The Hogs got into the race for Brodie's services on Feb. 3 and are battling other schools like South Carolina, Florida State, Georgia and others for his services.
As a sophomore, McWhorter led Cass High School to its first winning season in three years and defeated No. 1-seed Kell High School — featuring now-Arkansas linebacker Justin Logan — on the road in the playoffs.
McWhorter has been labeled a "gunslinger" by those who have seen him up close. He makes a lot of accurate throws and handles pressure well. He isn't afraid to take off and run, but his arm strength is where the real talent is.
As it currently stands, Arkansas has two commits in the class of 2026 in four-star defensive back Tay Lockett from St. John Bosco in Southern California and three-star offensive lineman Bear McWhorter from Cass High School in White, Georgia.
The state of Arkansas was represented in the rankings, too, as two in-state products — four-star lineman Danny Beale and four-star quarterback Kane Archer — made their debuts.
It’s still early for the 2026 class, but right now Arkansas sits at No. 6 in the nation according to Rivals. The only teams ahead of them are Ohio State, Auburn, Miami, Florida State and USC. There's still plenty of time before the 2026 class gets more heavily recruited, though, so expect that number to change as time goes on.
Arkansas is currently in on a lot of talent that debuted in the Rivals250. Here’s a closer look at where those targets found themselves.
Jackson Cantwell - Nixa, Missouri - No. 2
Cantwell is no stranger to a five-star rating, as he’s been ranked since Rivals released the Rivals100 since October 2023.
Arkansas was one of the first to jump in on the Nixa, Missouri, native’s recruitment, as it offered him during a Prospect Day in March 2023. He has since picked up offers from Alabama, Georgia, Florida State and many others.
Cantwell's last visit to Arkansas was on Sept. 9, the day the Hogs played Kent State. Arkansas head coach Sam Pittman paid a visit to his high school in rural Missouri on Jan. 17.
Right now, Georgia, Missouri, Nebraska and Oklahoma are the early standouts for Cantwell in addition to Arkansas.
Tradarian Ball - Texarkana, Texas - No. 37
Ball isn't an in-state recruit, but he's not far from Arkansas as he plays for Texas High in Texarkana. The Hogs got into his recruitment on July 29, 2023, as they offered him during a visit for Arkansas' Hog Wild Hangout.
Arkansas will have to contend with schools like Texas, Texas A&M, Georgia, Florida State and others in his recruitment.
According to Ball's Hudl page, he runs a 4.48 40-yard dash and a 10.5 100-meter dash. As a sophomore, he rushed for 1,225 yards and 12 touchdowns. He added 24 receptions for 400 yards and six scores in the air.
Danny Beale - Cross County, Arkansas - No. 54
Beale was the 11th-highest riser in the Rivals250, as he debuted at No. 54 after not having a ranking at all prior. The Cross County product currently has 13 total offers including Arkansas, Georgia, Auburn, Ole Miss, Mississippi State and others.
The 5.9 four-star prospect plays both ways for Cross County High School in eastern Arkansas and told HawgBeat he's open to playing on either side at the next level too, but competed at the Under Armour Next Camp in Dallas on the defensive line and was ferocious.
Beale has the quick twitch and size to wreak havoc on opposing offensive lines and was virtually unstoppable in all of the drills at the camp. He was awarded one of the two MVPs of the camp for his performance.
Beale's recruitment is still early, but the Hogs along with Mississippi State and Ole Miss seem to be the schools pushing hardest for his services.
Colton Yarbrough - Durant, Oklahoma - No. 71
Yarbrough has been getting recruited hard by the usual powers like Alabama, Georgia and others. The Hogs got in the race nearly two years ago, as they extended an offer on May 14, 2022.
Arkansas was the first school to offer Yarbrough and it hosted the Durant, Oklahoma, product during the Hog Wild Hangout on July 29 of last year. Yarbrough was back again on Jan. 27 for another Prospect Day visit.
The Hogs do have a slight connection to Yarbrough, as his great-grandmother went to law school in Fayetteville. It probably isn't a huge factor in his recruitment, but it certainly can't hurt.
Brayden Robinson - Red Oak, Texas - No. 76
Brayden Robinson is another Arkansas target who is making a lot of noise on the recruiting trail in the 2026 class. The Red Oak, Texas, wide receiver hails roughly 30 miles south of Dallas Metro and holds offers from Notre Dame, Michigan, LSU and others.
Robinson made a trip to Fayetteville last week on March 12 to check out a spring practice. He also took a visit to Texas A&M recently.
As a sophomore, Robinson appeared in eight games and gained 1,039 all-purpose yards and nine touchdowns.
His Hudl says he runs a 4.38-second 40-yard dash, so speed is not an issue. His personal best in the 100-meter dash is 10.44 seconds.
Brodie McWhorter - Kingston, Georgia - No. 100
McWhorter is a name that Arkansas fans will likely get used to in the next few years, as Brodie's cousin, Bear, is currently in the fold for Arkansas' 2026 class.
The Hogs got into the race for Brodie's services on Feb. 3 and are battling other schools like South Carolina, Florida State, Georgia and others for his services.
As a sophomore, McWhorter led Cass High School to its first winning season in three years and defeated No. 1-seed Kell High School — featuring now-Arkansas linebacker Justin Logan — on the road in the playoffs.
McWhorter has been labeled a "gunslinger" by those who have seen him up close. He makes a lot of accurate throws and handles pressure well. He isn't afraid to take off and run, but his arm strength is where the real talent is.
