Arkansas’s 2026 class, which is now ranked seventh in 247sports and has two early commitments, continues to show
early promise. On Saturday, after Junior Day in Fayetteville, several of the guests were expected to get offers.
Anthony Kennedy Jr., a 6-6, 265-pound player who is anticipated to play edge rusher at the collegiate level, is one of
them. Two early offers were made to Kennedy, a sophomore at Little Rock Southwest, by Georgia and Missouri.
American Combine, he was offering too much to a lot of elite prospects.
Prior to the Razorbacks, the Tigers were aware of the Natural State product. Eli Drinkwitz, a native of Arkansas, has
been actively seeking out prospects from his home state ever since he moved to Columbia. His efforts are starting to
pay off, as evidenced by the addition of Pine Bluff receiver Courtney Crutchfield. While being the first institution to
offer isn’t always the case, cultivating ties with prospective students from outside the state early on is paying off.
Troy Pless, a sophomore offensive lineman from Shoemaker High School in Killeen, Texas, was also extended an
offer by the Hogs. The new offensive line coach for the Razorbacks, Eric Mateos, has greatly pleased him. “Coach
Mateos is a very good offensive line coach,” remarked Pless. His ability to attract students from various courses and
build strong bonds with them is impressive. I’m thinking of attending Arkansas Junior Day on the 20th or 27th.”
Mateos and Pittman also like to use Pless, another of those archetypal linemen. Currently holding offers from Texas
Tech and Baylor, two other Power Four institutions, he is 6 feet 6 inches and weighs 275 pounds. TCU, Texas A&M,
Oklahoma, and Notre Dame are among the other universities that have shown interest in Pless.
Two more 2026 prospects, offensive lineman Bear McWhorter of Cartersville, Georgia, and two-time Max Preps All-
American Tay Lockett, have committed to the Razorbacks.
The California standout Lockett was the first Arkansas commit of the class; he was raised in Arkansas before
relocating to Colorado. Forty college offers have been extended to the 5-11, 175-pound defensive back by schools
including Auburn, Colorado, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Michigan, Miami, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, Oregon, and
USC.
McWhorter committed to the Razorbacks over offers from Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Ole Miss, Penn State,
Tennessee and Texas. He gained notoriety for erecting a billboard in Fayetteville pleading with Pittman to sign him
to an offensive line contract so he could play in Arkansas.
