Ryan Silverfield lands in-state trio to regain momentum on recruiting trail

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Arkansas Razorbacks head football coach Ryan Silverfield is barely a day into the job and he has wasted no time on a recruiting trail that has been under construction in recent times.

Shortly after saying that the Hogs were “going to put together one of the best signing classes in Arkansas history in a three-day period” Silverfield secured commitments from three of Arkansas’ top 2026 in-state players according the Rivals Industry Ranking.

Within about a 30-minute span, the Hogs earned commitments from Cross County defensive lineman Danny Beale, the state’s overall top player, plus Bryant running back TJ Hodges (No. 3) and Bryant edge Jakore Smith (No. 8). All will sign their letters of intent when the early signing period begins on Wednesday.

The additions bumped Arkansas’ depleted 2026 class that now sits at No. 16 up 20 spots in the rankings, but there is still a lot of work to do as the Hogs still rank last in the SEC. Beale, Hodges, and Smith join Dequane Prevo, Blair Irvin III, Tay Lockett, Tucker Young, and Kyndrick Williams as fellow prospects who plan to stay home.

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Putting a fence back around the state

Building and sustaining relationships with high school coaches within your state border is key in making sure the top prospects you want stay home year in and out. Arkansas missed out on 2025 top prospect Carius Curne, who committed to the Hogs before flipping to LSU.

Beale initially committed to Oklahoma State, but backed off when longtime head coach Mike Gundy was fired in September. Being a small school tucked away in the northeast corner, Cross County is not a well-known program statewide but Beale’s presence has brought top coaches in from across the country.

It is an exciting time for Beale individually, as well as his Thunderbird squad who will be playing for the Class 2A state championship on Friday.

Van Paschal is in his 40th season as a prep head coach and Cross County is the third program he has taken to a state championship so he knows the importance of keeping the best talent home.

“It is huge, you have to put a fence around your state,” Paschal said. “If you can not recruit your kids I just do not see how you can be very successful recruiting against the rest of the nation. It is a big deal for Coach Silverfield to come in to get Danny as one of the top ones.”

First time Hogs from juggernaut program

Hodges and Smith play for a powerhouse Bryant squad that has won six state championships since 2018, but they are the first two players in that span to commit to play for the Hogs, though there have been other Hornet players that have been pursued.

“Anytime a kid stays in-state I think it is huge, they will be the first ones (Arkansas signees) we have had from here,” Bryant head coach Quad Sanders said. “I am definitely excited about it because it is right up the road and I can go watch. I think it speaks volumes to the new coach already how he has come in and made this state a priority.”

Bryant will take on Prevo, Irvin and the Bentonville Tigers with a state title on the line for the second season in a row on Friday.

Smith was set to join Bryant teammate Matthew Nelson at Oklahoma, but Smith rescinded his commitment to the Sooners on Nov. 24. The Hogs were in Hodges’ final Top 5, but he originally picked Missouri on Oct. 4 before flipping to the Hogs Monday.

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Sanders never spoke directly with Silverfield during the latter’s Memphis tenure, but Sanders said the new Head Hog always made a point of keeping a footprint in Arkansas by way of his assistant coaches.

“Those coaches would come and spend the day, just talk ball and I think I even have a Memphis polo (from them),” Sanders said. “Some would go to other schools then come back, watch practice and just talk football but it was not a business trip all of the time.

“While it was not Coach Silverfield directly, he maintained a relationship. Obviously head coaches are super busy so you want to reserve their time for home visits. If you can make an appearance then you make an appearance, but I think the most important thing is the relationships with the staff.”

UPDATE: Since this story was published, Arkansas gained its fourth in-state commitment on Monday from Little Rock Central 3-star defensive lineman Anthony Kennedy Jr.