FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Arkansas has landed the commitment of linebacker Tavion Wallace, a consensus four-star linebacker for the class of 2025, according to WJCL’s Amy Zimmer.

A native of Jesup, Georgia and listed at 6-foot-1, 216 pounds, Wallace is the 57th overall prospect for the class of 2025 and the No. 3 linebacker, according to On3’s rankings. He was given just a 1% chance to choose the Razorbacks, according to On3’s predictor, but Wallace chose the Hogs over Florida, Georgia and Florida State.

Being an SEC linebacker runs in the Wallace family. His older brother Trevin played three years at Kentucky before being drafted in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft by the Carolina Panthers with the 74th overall pick.

With this commitment, Arkansas is now 26th in the class of 2025 recruiting rankings and 12th out of 16 SEC teams, with three four-star commits. Defensive coordinator Travis Williams had quite the reaction to Wallace’s commitment.

Wallace is the 16th class of 2025 commitment for the Razorbacks and coach Sam Pittman.

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The sounds that filled the Mad Butcher grocery store on Tuesday — the beeping barcode scanners, the rattle of shopping carts and cash register drawers opening — were familiar ones for customers and employees of the only grocery store in the small Arkansas town of Fordyce.

But this was not a normal day for the store, which reopened 11 days after a shooter killed four people and injured 10 others in Mad Butcher and its parking lot. Community leaders called Tuesday’s reopening an important part of the healing process for a town of 3,200 shocked by the mass shooting.

“It’s more than a store,” said Dallas County Sheriff Mike Knoedel, who had responded to the shooting and was on hand for the store’s reopening. “It’s a meeting place. Every time I’m in this store, I’m in it two or three times a week, you’re talking to neighbors. Everybody knows everybody.”

The store’s closure left Fordyce without a grocery store and few nearby alternatives in the aftermath of the shooting, prompting several food distribution sites to be set up throughout the community. Though the town has a Walmart and discount retailers with some food options, the closest grocery stores or supermarkets are located in neighboring cities at least half an hour away.

“This is Fordyce,” said Dick Rinehart, a mechanic who went to the store Tuesday to buy ribs, bread and lunchmeat. “Without this grocery store, where would we go?”

Employees and volunteers who were there for the reopening handed customers shirts that read #WeAreFordyceStrong. A banner with the same message has hung under the store’s green awning since the shooting occurred. Memorials to the victims of the shooting, including flowers and crosses, sit near the store’s parking lot.

Kent J. Broughton, a pastor in Fordyce who was loading up his cart with watermelons, said the store’s reopening restores a place for many in the community to connect with family or friends.

“If you’re bored and you need something to do, if you want to see somebody, just go to the grocery store,” Broughton said. “You’re going to run into somebody you know, a friend or cousin or something, and you pick up from there.”

Police have not given a motive for the shooting. Travis Eugene Posey, 44, pleaded not guilty last week to four counts of capital murder and ten counts of attempted capital murder and is being held in a neighboring county’s jail without bond. Posey was injured after a shootout with police officers who responded to the attack, authorities said.

Police have said Posey was armed with a handgun and a shotgun, and multiple gunshot victims were found in the store and its parking lot. Authorities have said Posey did not appear to have a personal connection to any of the victims.

The store reopened the day after the last of four funerals for the victims, who ranged in age from 23 to 81. Mayor John MacNichol said he never would have imagined a mass shooting occurring in his close-knit town, but said he’s been proud of the community’s response.

“I think we’re doing OK. I ain’t saying we’re doing great,” MacNichol said. “But I think it’s bringing the community closer together and uniting us.”

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The Razorbacks have a fight on their hands to fend off regional foes for best in-state athletes. Things have already turned south for coach Sam Pittman and his staff after losing out on four of Arkansas’ 10 best players in the 2025 class.

The best remaining uncommitted in-state prospect for 2025 is Parkview safety Omarion Robinson who will announce July 6 after previously visiting Oregon. The Razorbacks, Oklahoma, LSU and the Ducks will be in a fight for Robinson until the bitter end as his recruitment may not be over until National Signing Day after all.

For the 2026 class, Arkansas is in good shape with two 4-stars in Kane Archer (Greenwood) and Evan Goodwin (Benton). Archer has been highly regarded since his junior high days hyped as the next big thing in-state.

Arkansas should be considered leaders for Archer, but SMU is in play. Mustangs coach Rhett Lashlee’s connections in the Natural State have definitely helped their case for the Greenwood product.

Archer’s father tells allHOGS his son loves Lashlee and SMU, but the Bobby Petrino factor intrigues the rising junior. Petrino’s history developing quarterbacks helps Arkansas with many elite passers.

During his first season as a starter for Greenwood, Archer passed for 2,400 yards with 33 touchdowns and only three interceptions. He added another 659 yards on the ground and an additional 16 scores.

Cross County’s 4-star defensive lineman Danny Beale has emerged as the state’s top prospect for 2026. Beale stands at 6-foot-3, 320 pounds and moves well at his size, according to former coach Cody Goulart.

“He’s a big ol boy,” Goulart said. “Great athlete and great movement. Best way to describe him is he moves like he is 225 pounds and 320.”

Goulart tells allHOGS the Arkansas staff is making a concerted effort to recruit Beale. He believes he is Arkansas’ top priotiy for the class as a whole.

When it comes to protecting Arkansas’ borders, there is certainly work to be done for several prospects. The Natural State doesn’t offer a pair of 4-star defensive linemen in a single class often, but this cycle bucks the trend.

Little Rock Southwest defensive tackle Anthony Kennedy is certainly a prospect the Razorbacks will have to scratch and claw to keep away from Missouri. The 6-foot-4, 285 pound lineman is athletic for his size and can handle any position along the line.

Eli Drinkwitz and the Tigers’ staff offered Kennedy last October while an Arkansas offer didn’t arrive until January. He also holds offers from Kansas State, Georgia, Texas A&M and Tennessee.

Other notable prospects are 4-star running back TJ Hodges of Marked Tree who received an Arkansas offer in May. The 6-foot-1, 175 pound back has elite speed with a personal best 10.91 second 100 meter dash.

Little Rock Parkview linebacker Jakore Smith has seen his recruitment blow up recently with offers from Florida State, Alabama, Kansas State and Tennessee. Smith is the No. 232 overall prospect in the country, according to 247sports.

Another Greenwood talent, Cody Taylor, says social media has helped his recruitment surge this offseason. He has received bumps and initial evaluations from three of the four recruiting publications.

Taylor is rated the No. 7 in-state prospect for 2026 and is being heavily pursued by Oklahoma and Virginia Tech. The 6-foot-3, 280 pound offensive guard has bought into the Sooners and Hokies family atmospheres where he feels more at home.

An offer from Arkansas has yet to come for Taylor although he feels his time is coming. Other power conference schools who have been in contact with him are Oklahoma State, Ole Miss, USF and Alabama.

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