HawgBeat - Where 2026 Arkansas targets land in latest Rivals250
HawgBeat breaks down which 2026 athletes Arkansas is targeting in the latest Rivals250.
arkansas.rivals.com
Rivals released its latest update for the 2026 Rivals250 last week, and several Arkansas targets in the class found themselves on the list.
Nine total Razorback targets are among the highly-rated group, with names ranging in the rankings as high as No. 2 in the country to No. 243.
One athlete who is noticeably absent from the Rivals250 is Arkansas commit Tay Lockett, a four-star defensive back out of St. John Bosco in southern California. In the previous iteration of the rankings, Lockett was ranked as high as No. 144 in the nation.
Something interesting regarding the targets on the list is the amount of quarterbacks that Arkansas is targeting. Given that Arkansas offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino already has a strong 2025 quarterback commit in four-star Grayson Wilson, the Hog play caller has the luxury of taking his time to find the right fit in the 2026 class.
Right now, Arkansas' 2026 class has just two commitments and is currently ranked No. 10 in the country, but that will change as the time for these athletes to sign their National Letter of Intent draws near.
HawgBeat has a breakdown of Arkansas targets in the class of 2026 Rivals250 with the latest intel:
OT Jackson Cantwell — No. 2
Previous ranking: No. 2
New ranking: No. 2
It feels like a pipe dream that Arkansas could land the No. 2 overall player in the country, but offensive tackle Jackson Cantwell has been a target of Sam Pittman and the Hogs for a long time.
The Nixa, Missouri, native reported an offer from the Razorbacks in March 2023 after a Prospect Day visit, and since then has added offers from the biggest college football brands like Georgia, Alabama and others.
Getting in on his recruitment early doesn't really have an effect on Arkansas' chances in the future, though. Cantwell told HawgBeat earlier this year that he's taking everything in stride and not focusing on committing too early.
RB Tradarian Ball — No. 30
Previous ranking: No. 37
New ranking: No. 30
Tradarian Ball was an in-state product at one point as he is originally from Ashdown, but he moved to Texas High in Texarkana and has seen his recruitment blow up ever since.
Arkansas offered the shifty running back on July 29, 2023, and since then he has received offers from almost every other big-time power program including Georgia, Texas, Florida State, Texas A&M and others.
WR Daniel Odom — No. 38
Previous ranking: No. 28
New ranking: No. 38
Daniel Odom is from the West Coast out in California and plays at St. John Bosco, the same school that fellow 2026 athlete and current Arkansas four-star commit Tay Lockett plays at.
Odom took a trip with Lockett to Fayetteville earlier this spring in March.
DT Danny Beale — No. 55
Previous ranking: No. 54
New ranking: No. 55
One of the most dynamic players in the state of Arkansas and best defensive linemen in the country is Danny Beale, who still stands at No. 1 in the state of Arkansas and only dropped one spot in the national rankings from No. 54 to 55.
Beale plays both ways for Cross County in
eastern Arkansas, and he'll have his pick of what side he wants to play on in college. His size of 6-foot-4 and 300 pounds coupled with his quick twitch and strength could prove to make him a formidable run stopper on the defensive line at the collegiate level, however.
HawgBeat got a close look at Beale in the Under Armour Next All-American Camp in March and he was head and shoulders above the rest.
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