From @DanielFair
arkansas.rivals.com
There’s a new top-5 in the state of Arkansas for the class of 2026 following the release of Rivals’ in-state rankings last Friday.
After not having rankings as early as a week ago, there are now three four-star recruits and two three-star recruits in the early goings of the class.
Some names are familiar, as fans have known about quarterback Kane Archer for what feels like years and Danny Beale has blown up on the scene in recent months after picking up offers from Georgia, Auburn, Arkansas and others.
The aforementioned Archer isn’t the only quarterback in the class picking up some steam, though. Benton’s Drew Davis also received a ranking and while his offer sheet doesn’t look quite like Archer’s, he’s still a talented athlete in his own right.
Right now, the Razorbacks have two commitments in the class of 2026, though neither are from inside the state. Four-star defensive back Tay Lockett from Bellflower, California, and three-star offensive lineman Bear McWhorter from White, Georgia, are already on board.
The class currently ranks No. 6 in the country according to Rivals, but that number will fluctuate as the time for athletes to sign and get on campus draws nearer.
Here’s a closer look at the top five recruits in the state of Arkansas for the class of 2026:
Cherry Valley — which sits roughly an hour northwest of Memphis in eastern Arkansas — isn’t known for pushing out high-level talent, but Beale is a cut above the rest.
Beale plays both offensive and defensive line for Cross County, but the more that recruiting analysts and college coaches look at him, it appears that his future is on the defensive line. He told HawgBeat recently that he’s still open to playing on whatever side of the ball that his future college coaches want him.
The 6-foot-4, 300-pound trench monster has the strength and quick twitch that college programs desperately need, and he’s already caught the eye of eight different SEC programs.
Beale performed at the Under Armour Next Camp in Dallas, Texas, on March 10 and eviscerated the offensive linemen he went up against. Sometimes he used his quick hands to slide right by the opposition, and another he bullied straight through his man.
He was awarded one of the two camp MVP awards for his performance.
Not only is Beale ranked the No. 1 player in the state of Arkansas, he was ranked the No. 54 player in the country in the first edition of the Rivals250 on Tuesday.
For those who follow recruiting and high school football, Kane Archer has become a household name in the state of Arkansas. Even before reporting his first college offers from Missouri, Michigan and Arkansas in 2022, he was making a name for himself in the recruiting space.
Heading into his junior season at Greenwood, Archer is looking to lead the Bulldogs to a repeat 6A State Championship. Last season, he threw for 2,399 yards and 33 touchdowns to just three interceptions. He added 659 yards and 16 touchdowns on the ground as well.
The 6-foot-1, 207-pound passer was named the 6A Player of the Year after the 2023 season.
On the field, Archer is arguably the best quarterback in the state of Arkansas in any class. He displays accuracy both in the pocket and on the run, and has a good feel for when the pocket breaks down and he needs to escape.
He doesn’t typically utilize the run game, but he has a knack for using his legs to escape pressure and avoid sacks while keeping his eyes down the field to find his receivers.
Archer has a smooth release and his mechanics and fundamentals are top-notch. He doesn’t have a cannon for an arm but his throws do have a strong zip and he has a quick release.
As far as Archer’s recruitment goes, he’s got 16 total offers so far from the likes of Ole Miss, Missouri, Tennessee, SMU, Texas A&M and more in addition to Arkansas.
Sources tell HawgBeat that Arkansas is currently in a great place for his services, but an offer to his brother — three-star linebacker Cash Archer — will mostly seal the deal.
Other sources had indicated at one point last year that Southern California could be a major opponent to the Razorbacks for Archer, but given that the Trojans haven’t yet extended an offer, that seems to be fading. They did have a quarterback — five-star Julian Lewis — locked up in the class, but he reclassified to the class of 2025.
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HawgBeat - Breaking down 5 best 2026 recruits in Arkansas
HawgBeat gives a break down of each athlete in the class of 2026 Top 5 in the state of Arkansas.
arkansas.rivals.com
There’s a new top-5 in the state of Arkansas for the class of 2026 following the release of Rivals’ in-state rankings last Friday.
After not having rankings as early as a week ago, there are now three four-star recruits and two three-star recruits in the early goings of the class.
Some names are familiar, as fans have known about quarterback Kane Archer for what feels like years and Danny Beale has blown up on the scene in recent months after picking up offers from Georgia, Auburn, Arkansas and others.
The aforementioned Archer isn’t the only quarterback in the class picking up some steam, though. Benton’s Drew Davis also received a ranking and while his offer sheet doesn’t look quite like Archer’s, he’s still a talented athlete in his own right.
Right now, the Razorbacks have two commitments in the class of 2026, though neither are from inside the state. Four-star defensive back Tay Lockett from Bellflower, California, and three-star offensive lineman Bear McWhorter from White, Georgia, are already on board.
The class currently ranks No. 6 in the country according to Rivals, but that number will fluctuate as the time for athletes to sign and get on campus draws nearer.
Here’s a closer look at the top five recruits in the state of Arkansas for the class of 2026:
No. 1: DL Danny Beale — Cherry Valley
Cherry Valley — which sits roughly an hour northwest of Memphis in eastern Arkansas — isn’t known for pushing out high-level talent, but Beale is a cut above the rest.
Beale plays both offensive and defensive line for Cross County, but the more that recruiting analysts and college coaches look at him, it appears that his future is on the defensive line. He told HawgBeat recently that he’s still open to playing on whatever side of the ball that his future college coaches want him.
The 6-foot-4, 300-pound trench monster has the strength and quick twitch that college programs desperately need, and he’s already caught the eye of eight different SEC programs.
Beale performed at the Under Armour Next Camp in Dallas, Texas, on March 10 and eviscerated the offensive linemen he went up against. Sometimes he used his quick hands to slide right by the opposition, and another he bullied straight through his man.
He was awarded one of the two camp MVP awards for his performance.
Not only is Beale ranked the No. 1 player in the state of Arkansas, he was ranked the No. 54 player in the country in the first edition of the Rivals250 on Tuesday.
No. 2: QB Kane Archer — Greenwood
For those who follow recruiting and high school football, Kane Archer has become a household name in the state of Arkansas. Even before reporting his first college offers from Missouri, Michigan and Arkansas in 2022, he was making a name for himself in the recruiting space.
Heading into his junior season at Greenwood, Archer is looking to lead the Bulldogs to a repeat 6A State Championship. Last season, he threw for 2,399 yards and 33 touchdowns to just three interceptions. He added 659 yards and 16 touchdowns on the ground as well.
The 6-foot-1, 207-pound passer was named the 6A Player of the Year after the 2023 season.
On the field, Archer is arguably the best quarterback in the state of Arkansas in any class. He displays accuracy both in the pocket and on the run, and has a good feel for when the pocket breaks down and he needs to escape.
He doesn’t typically utilize the run game, but he has a knack for using his legs to escape pressure and avoid sacks while keeping his eyes down the field to find his receivers.
Archer has a smooth release and his mechanics and fundamentals are top-notch. He doesn’t have a cannon for an arm but his throws do have a strong zip and he has a quick release.
As far as Archer’s recruitment goes, he’s got 16 total offers so far from the likes of Ole Miss, Missouri, Tennessee, SMU, Texas A&M and more in addition to Arkansas.
Sources tell HawgBeat that Arkansas is currently in a great place for his services, but an offer to his brother — three-star linebacker Cash Archer — will mostly seal the deal.
Other sources had indicated at one point last year that Southern California could be a major opponent to the Razorbacks for Archer, but given that the Trojans haven’t yet extended an offer, that seems to be fading. They did have a quarterback — five-star Julian Lewis — locked up in the class, but he reclassified to the class of 2025.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE
