Arkansas Razorbacks in Final Three for 4-Star Texas RB Devwah Whaley
Written by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @HogManInLA
As National Signing Day nears for the 2016 recruiting class, several top programs are still without some key players at positions of need heading into next season. One of the top areas of needs for the Arkansas Razorbacks for the 2016 college football season is at running back with senior Jonathan Williams expected to bypass an opportunity for a medical redshirt year to go pro and junior Alex Collins expected to be an early NFL draft entry after three consecutive 1,000-plus rushing seasons in the SEC.
The Hogs have one running back verbally committed to their 2016 class, T.J. Hammonds. Hammonds is expected to be a change of pace back who can also line up in the slot to create some difficult match-ups against opposing linebackers and safeties in the passing game. What the Hogs are missing is an every down kind of back that could come in and shoulder a 15 carry per game load if needed.
Help might be on the way. News broke on Monday that Devwah Whaley has narrowed his list of suitors down to Arkansas, Georgia, and Texas.
Whaley rushed for 1,225 yards and 11 touchdowns during his junior season off 172 carries and added to his stat total in 2015 with 234 carries for 1,389 yards and 22 scores. The 6’0”, 205 pound, back is largely considered a Top 10 running back in the nation. ESPN has the Beaumont (TX) native as the No. 3 back in the nation while 24/7Sports has him as the No. 4 player in the nation at his position.
College coaches seemingly agree with the recruiting assessment with more than 20 offers being extended to the Central High School star. News broke on Nov. 26 that Whaley had been a silent commitment to the Georgia Bulldogs since his official visit on Sept. 19. On Nov. 21, he officially visited Arkansas naming the Hogs as his leader, but was still silently committed to Georgia. When Mark Richt was dismissed from Athens, Whaley opened his recruiting back up paving a way for the Razorbacks and Longhorns to get into the mix.
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Whaley has long believed to be a commitment on NSD but the new news is he will announce during the Under Armour All-American Game on Saturday. The change in plans will help all three schools better focus their recruiting efforts but may also hurt the Longhorns’ chances cutting off an official visit set-up for Jan. 15.
Other players the Razorbacks are known to be recruiting in hopes of landing or flipping on or before NSD include Ole Miss commit D’Vaughn Pennamon, Kyle Porter from Katy High School (TX), North Webster (LA) running back Devin White, and Texas A&M commit Rakeem Boyd.
Arkansas Razorbacks 2016 Verbal Commitment List
SS Deon Edwards, 6’0”, 195 lbs, Lake Minneola HS, Minneola, FL
SS Alexy Jean-Baptiste, 6’3”, 205 lbs, Coconut Creek HS, Coconut Creek, FL
DE McTelvin Agim, 6’3”, 269 lbs, Hope HS, Hope, AR
DT Austin Capps, 6’4”, 306 lbs, Star City HS, Star City, AR
DT Briston Guidry, 6’3”, 275 lbs, Rummel HS, Metairie, LA
LB Jordan Carmouche, 6’1”, 230 lbs, Manvel HS, Manvel, TX
LB Dejon Harris, 5’11”, 235 lbs, John Ehret HS, Marrero, LA
OG Terrance Malone, Northwest Mississippi C.C., Senatobia, MS
OT Jake Heinrich, 6’5, 290 lbs, Urbandale HS, Urbandale, IA
QB Cole Kelley, 6’7”, 235 lbs, Teurlings Catholic HS, Lafayette, LA
RB T.J. Hammonds, 5’11”, 196 lbs, Robinson HS, Little Rock, AR
FB Hayden Johnson, 6’3”, 252 lbs, Rock Bridge HS, Columbia, MO
TE Grayson Gunter, 6’6”, 230 lbs, Madison Central HS, Madison, MS
WR Kofi Boateng, 6’1”, 175 lbs, Arlington Lamar HS, Arlington, TX
WR Jordan Jones, 6’2”, 175 lbs, Smackover HS, Smackover, AR
WR Kiel Pollard, 6’1”, 228 lbs, Colquitt County, Moultrie, AR
Photo credit: usatoday.com; Whaley poses with family after receiving Under Armour All-American jersey.